Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Well known as IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a very common disorder of the intestine that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, bloating and changes in bowel habits. Some people with IBS have constipation and others have diarrhoea. The IBS victims often feel an urgent need to move the bowels. Some people experience both. Sometimes the person has a crampy urge to move the bowels but cannot do so.

IBS is just a mild annoyance, but for some people it can be disabling. They may be afraid to go to social events, to work or travel even short distances. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is also called Spastic Colitis or Spastic Colon. It is a functional disorder as there is no sign of disease when the colon is examined and so probably results from disturbances in intestinal activity, anxiety neurosis, stress and dietary deficiencies or intolerances. Over stimulation of the nerves that trigger bowel activity results in excessive bowel contractions, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation. Dietary deficiencies Taking Tobacco, Coffee, Alcohol, Irregularities in sleep.

IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress; but, it does not cause permanent harm to the intestines and does not lead to intestinal bleeding of the bowel or to any serious disease. Many victims mistake this for other inflammatory bowel disorders such as amoebiasis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Inflammation of the small intestine is usually called Crohn's disease while inflammation of the rectum and right portions of the colon is called Ulcerative colitis. In these disorders symptoms include diarrhoea, bleeding, abdominal pain, fever and weight loss. The victim may experience mucous sticky stools.