Being one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, irritabable bowel syndrome, or  IBS, affects between 10 and 20% of adults in the United States. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a term used to describe multiple problems that can occur in the bowel. It can be caused by a number of different reasons however the medical profession has identified a few that are most common. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is common problem that can occur due to an unhealthy digestive system. The diet is a major contributor to the onset of IBS, in particular fiber deficiency or lack of fluid intake. Antibiotics has been shown to be a major cause of many of the symptoms of irritable bowel. The main purpose of antibiotics is to kill bad bacteria, however the good bacteria in our digestive system are also killed which then leads to problems with digestion.

IBS has significantly diminished the quality of life of many sufferers who typicall experience constipation or diarrhea symptoms leading to extreme discomfort, pain and have changing patterns in bowel movements. Most Doctors will agree that there is currently no certain cure for IBS, but there are ways to relieve the symptoms. The first step in any treatment is to make a number of lifestyle and dietary changes that can subsequently make a difference for sufferers.

IBS often effects people who are lactose intolerant, which is an intolerance to the lactose from dairy products. there are also a number of other foods that increase the chance of IBS. Unfortunately the dietary changes that must sometimes be made to fight IBS requires restricting or eliminating foods we like from our diets. Probiotics have been proved to suppress the symptoms of IBS and in some cases eliminate symptoms entirely. Although not a definite cure, Probiotics prevent the causes of IBS by boosting the health of the digestive system. 

As mentioned above, the most common symptoms that are related to IBS are persistent diarrhea, alternating constipation and diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating.  Constipation is recognized by less regular bowel movements and hard, dry stools. People with this problem complain of painful bowel movements that are difficult to pass. Diarrhea is recognized by loose, dry stools occurring multiple times in a day. Although diarrhea normally passes on its own after a day or two, it can sometimes persist, which points to other problems. It can lead to dehydration, which is a lack of fluids in the body that can be significant health risk.

In summary, irritable bowel syndrome is a common gastrointestinal disease with no cure.  It can cause significant discomfort and pain to sufferers typically in the form oc constipation or diarrhea.  .  There are effective ways of treating the symptoms, such as making changes to diet and lifestyle and including natural dietary supplements such as probiotics.  

IBS Resources:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome at National Digestive Diseases Clearing House
• Irritable Bowel Health Centre at WebMD
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self Help Group