Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), also known as spastic colon, irritable colon, nervous indigestion, spastic colitis, intestinal neurosis, or laxative colitis, is a condition characterized by diarrhea, constipation, or both.  IBS is a functional disorder, and it is not associated with an increased risk of cancer. Although not life threatening, IBS can be very debilitating. Over 17% of the American population suffers from the syndrome, and it is estimated that over 50 million prescriptions are written annually to deal with its associated problems.

Causes

People who are at risk for developing IBS are those who consume diets high in fat, lactose, carbonation, caffeine and/or alcohol. People who smoke, lead stressful lives, and do not have a regular sleep routine are also at high risk.  Although there may be a variety of different causative factors, most patients seem to recognize what makes their individual symptoms worse.

Symptoms

Symptoms of IBS include, but are not limited to abdominal cramps, changes in bowel movement patterns, constipation, diarrhea, mucus in stool, flatulence, loss of appetite, nervousness, weakness and anxiety and/or depression. Women usually experience an increase in symptoms around the time of menstruation.

Treatments

Currently, there are no medications with specific application to IBS, though varying anti-diarrheals, laxatives, calcium channel blockers and antispasmodics have been used with some success. Doctors have also had success in treating children with peppermint oil. The medication used for a patient depends on what his or her symptoms are and what the causative factors are.  Patients experiencing depression and/or anxiety may benefit from antidepressants and may find an IBS support group and therapeutic counseling helpful.

In addition to medicine, diet management is an effective treatment of IBS. Increasing fiber in the diet seems to help both patients who are experiencing diarrhea and those experiencing constipation. In addition to increasing fiber intake, clients should also drink 6-8 glasses of water daily, practice relaxation techniques, exercise regularly, and avoid carbonation, alcohol and any other foods or drinks that seem to precipitate symptoms.