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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a health condition in which the large intestine is affected by a simultaneously occurring group of intestinal symptoms. IBS causes stomach discomfort or pain, diarrhea or constipation, and changes in stool consistency (thin, hard, soft or liquid stools). It affects an estimated 10 to 15 percent of Americans.
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Irritable bowel syndrome is also known as spastic colitis, mucous colitis, irritable colon or spastic colon. Although bowel changes occur, the risk of colorectal cancer does not increase with IBS. It is uncommon for intestinal damage to occur with IBS; however, symptoms may significantly alter one's lifestyle.
There are four types of irritable bowel syndrome:
- Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C)
- Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D)
- Irritable bowel syndrome with mixed patterns of constipation and diarrhea (IBS-M)
- Irritable bowel syndrome that does not easily fit into the other categories (IBS-U)
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