Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) What Is It? Irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that causes a variety of
symptoms, including: - Abdominal pain - Diarrhea and/or
constipation The severity of the disorder varies from person to
person. Some people experience symptoms that come and go and are
just mildly annoying. Others have such severe daily bowel
problems that IBS affects their ability to work, sleep and enjoy
life. In addition, symptoms may change over time. A person may
have severe symptoms for several weeks and then feel well for
months or even years. Most people are never cured of IBS.
However, the disorder is not related to any other disease. It
does not develop into colitis. People with IBS do not have an
increased risk of colon cancer. IBS usually starts in early
adulthood. It affects twice as many women as men. Approximately
10% to 20% of the population has IBS. But half of all people
with the condition never seek medical care for their symptoms.
No one knows what causes IBS. Some studie