Did you know that 7 – 10 % of people have IBS worldwide and it is 1.5 times more prevalent in younger women than in men?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the colon (large intestine), and while it is not considered life-threatening or dangerous, it can be very uncomfortable. Scientific studies show that keeping your stress under control can help you prevent or ease IBS symptoms. Stress and anxiety, infections, medications, excessive consumption of alcohol, caffeine, or carbonated beverages, and continued intolerance to lactose or gluten are often responsible for IBS.

Symptoms of IBS include:

• Abdominal pain, discomfort, or cramps
• Bloating
• Diarrhea, constipation, or alternating between the two
• Flatulence

Types of IBS

There are three types of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. They include:

• IBS with constipation. You may often have hard stools.
• IBS with diarrhea. You may often have loose stools.
• IBS with mixed bowel habits. You may have both hard and lumpy bowel movements and loose and watery movements on the same day.

Causes of IBS

The exact cause of IBS is not known. Factors that appear to play a role include:

• Brain-gut dysfunction: IBS may arise from how the gut nerves communicate with the brain, or how the brain processes that information. Dysfunction in the interactions between the brain and the intestines can cause the body to overreact to changes that occur usually in the digestive process and can cause pain, intestinal spasms, and an irregular pattern of bowel movements.
• Abnormal contractions of the GI muscles. Usually when food or fluids enter your GI tract, nerves trigger the muscles to initiate a series of wave-like contractions.  However, contractions which are stronger and last longer than usual can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea.  Also, weak contractions can slow food passage and lead to hard, dry stools.
• Severe infection-IBS can develop after severe gastroenteritis (a viral or bacterial infection).
• Bacterial overgrowth- IBSmight also be related to an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestines.
• Early life stress- Stressful early life events tend to cause more symptoms of IBS.
• Changes in gut microbes-Imbalances in bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which typically reside in the intestines and play a key role in health can cause intestinal inflammation and pain.

Who is at risk for developing IBS?

Certain factors seem to make people more likely to have IBS such as:

• Age- IBS can affect people of all ages, but it’s more likely to occur in people under age 50.
• Being female-IBS is more common among women. About twice as many women as men have the condition
• Having a family history of IBS-Genetics may make some people more likely to develop IBS.
• Emotional aspects- Stress, anxiety, and depression tend to worsen IBS symptoms.
• Food intolerances or sensitivities- Certain foods such as dairy products, wheat, citrus fruits, beans, carbonated drinks, and alcohol can trigger IBS symptoms.