Irritable
Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is
defined as a intestinal disorder that affects the colon (the
large intestine). The colon's main function is to absorb water
and nutrients from partially digested food. Anything that is not
absorbed is slowly moved through the colon toward the rectum and
out of the body as waste in the form of feces (also called
stool).
Muscles in the colon work to get rid of the body's waste
products by contracting and relaxing as they push the undigested
food through the large intestine. These muscles must also work
together with other muscles in the body to push the waste out of
the anus. If the muscles in the colon don't work at the right
speed for proper digestion or if the coordination with muscles
in the rectum or pelvis is somehow interrupted, the contents of
the colon are not able to move along smoothly. When this
happens, a person can feel the abdominal cramps, bloating,
constipation, and diarrhea that may be signs of IBS.
It is estimated that 6% to 14% of all teens have symptoms of
IBS. The condition appears to affect more girls than guys. The
good news is that although IBS can be uncomfortable,
embarrassing, and even downright painful for some people, it's
not life threatening. And, unlike other digestive conditions,
such as inflammatory bowel disease, IBS doesn't carry a risk of
permanent damage to the intestines. Irritable bowel syndrome is
also referred as spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis,
nervous stomach, or irritable colon.
IBS is classified as a "functional" disorder. it refers to a
disorder where the primary abnormality is an altered
physiological function - the way the body works, rather than an
identifiable structural or biochemical cause.
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by a group of symptoms
in which abdominal pain or discomfort is associated with a
change in bowel pattern, such as loose or more frequent bowel
movements, diarrhea, and/or constipation.
The actual cause of IBS or irritable bowel syndrome is unknown.
Abnormal movements of the lower and greater part of the large
intestine (the colon), whether too fast or too slow as seen in
some cases of IBS suffers.
In different people the affects and symptoms of IBS are
different. Some may have symptoms such as cramping and pain in
the abdominal (stomach area) from the bowel movements or
irregular and painful periods of diarrhea and constipation (Most
people with have either diarrhea or constipation, but some
people have both.) and etc.
It's the most common gastrointestinal disorder seen by doctors.
Abdominal pain, cramps, gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation
are among the symptoms. For years, many thought it was a
psychological condition, rather than a physical one. But the
discomfort and inconvenience that result from the gut-wrenching
pain of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are very real.
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