by Sharon Lea Hill

Created on: March 30, 2008   Last Updated: May 13, 2008

For many years, people have suffered with intestinal problems before it was labeled Irritable Bowel System (IBS), and doctors have called it by many names: colitis, mucous colitis, spastic colon, irritable colon, or spastic bowel. No matter what it's called, IBS is one of the most common intestinal disorders diagnosed today. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the twenty percent of American adults who have IBS, but it can be controlled.

What is IBS and What Causes It?

IBS is a disorder that interferes with the motility (movement) and normal functions in your colon (lower intestine).

Researchers don't know exactly what causes IBS; some think it may be caused by a bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, while others suggest that it's affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body. Recent research claims that people with IBS have too much serotonin (a neurotransmitter) in their GI tract, resulting in problems with motility (movement) of their bowels and with sensitive pain receptors.

What are the symptoms of IBS?

The main symptoms are bloating, abdominal pain, discomfort, and frequent urges to go to the bathroom. The urges will usually start with cramps, followed by diarrhea (loose and watery stools), or alternate between diarrhea and constipation.

IBS symptoms can cause severe discomfort and distress, but will not permanently harm your intestines. More importantly, IBS does not lead to cancer. However, if you experience bleeding, blood in your stool, fever, weight loss, and persistent severe pain, these are not symptoms of IBS, but rather an indication of some kind of inflammation, or worse, cancer.

Who suffers from IBS?

Most people who suffer from IBS have a highly sensitive colon or large intestine that adversely reacts to certain foods and stress levels. IBS is found more often in women than men, with more symptoms appearing during a woman's menstrual period, which suggests to researchers that reproductive hormones can irritate an IBS problem.

In addition, many people who suffer from IBS also suffer from depression and anxiety, which can amplify the IBS symptoms. Similarly, having IBS can cause you to feel depressed or anxious; but, doctors do not believe that IBS is the result of any personality disorder.

At this time, researchers can find no link between IBS and other inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis; however, people who have had gastroenteritis will sometimes develop IBS or post-infectious

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