What Are The Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can be troublesome and persistent. They vary greatly from one person to another, but they usually include a feeling of bloating and fullness, cramping discomfort, and disruption or change in bowel habit. These symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can range from infrequent or difficult passage of stool (constipation) to loose of frequent motions and urgent need to defecate (diarrhea), or can be both.

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome appear to be caused by an increased bowel sensitivity, which often results in the bowel muscle spasm. The irritable bowel syndrome is the disruption in the bowel functions. This is why this condition is also referred to as the functional bowel disorder.

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are extremely common especially in developed countries. More than 50% of all the patients in gastroenterology outpatient clinics suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. Around one-third of American population suffers from occasional symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and 1 in 10 of these 30% has symptoms that are severe enough to seek medical attention.

Severe IBS symptoms are more severe in women than in men, but the prevalence of this condition in men and women is almost the same. The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome start to manifest between the age of 15 and 40, but the condition may occur to anyone at any age.

The Different Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

The IBS symptoms may differ from one patient to another and may also differ from time to time; however, the following symptoms are common among all patients:

• Abdominal pain, usually colicky in nature, may be experienced somewhere in the abdomen particularly on the lower left part. A lot of patients feel more pain when they are constipated and could only be relieved by passing flatus or by opening the bowels. In women, this symptom may be associated with their menstrual periods.

• Bloating and fullness, making clothes feel uncomfortable and tight

• Tenderness in the abdomen

• Nausea
• Changes in bowel habit, such as diarrhea, constipation, or both.

• Sensation of incomplete defecation

• Ineffectual straining to defecate

• Sharp pain at the lower portion of the back passage

• Incontinence

• Alteration in the appearance of bowel movements

• Mucus in the stool

• Inability or difficulty to pass stool

• Feeling of uncontrollable urgency to defecate

Because most of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are associated with bowel movements, they can be distressing or embarrassing. However, there are some things that can be done to prevent these symptoms from occurring. Lifestyle changes such as healthy diet and getting adequate sleep and stress reduction are some of these.

It is not good to keep in silence since it can only make the symptoms worse. Thus, it is a better idea to consult your doctor or physician about this. Don’t worry, there's nothing to be ashamed of because this condition happens to a lot of people!