Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is an illness that can really put a damper on social situations. Luckily, there are treatments that can help with the symptoms.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

• Also known as IBS, irritable bowel syndrome causes frequent diarrhea, constipation or abdominal pain. It is found mostly in women.

Main Causes of IBS

• While the official cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown, some experts believe that it is from a miscommunication between the brain and the intestinal tract. Stress, hormones and your diet also play a large role.

Home Treatments

• Watching what you eat can help limit the symptoms of IBS. Limit intake of dairy and foods with a lot of vitamin C. Pay attention to what you eat so you can find what foods trigger your symptoms.

Phsycological Treatments

• Irritable bowel syndrome often flairs up because of anxiety and stress. Limiting the amount of stress in every day life can drastically reduce symptoms.

Medicinal Treatments

• If diarrhea is the problem, try over the counter diarrhea medicine. If it's constipation that's causing you pain, a laxative can help. Also try anticholinergics for abdominal pain.

For Persistent IBS Difficulties

• If these treatments still aren't helping your symptoms, visit your doctor. They can help find a way to manage your illness.