Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS); Symptoms and Causes

Did you know that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects about 15% people worldwide but often goes undiagnosed?
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that affects the large intestine.
The signs and symptoms of IBS are like a common stomachace, so no wonder many people often overlooked it as just ‘a normal stomachache’ and never getting it checked.
Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) include:
- Cramping
- Bloating
- Excess gas
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea or constipation, or both
- Mucus in the stool
Only a small number of people with IBS show severe signs and symptoms. Some people with IBS can control their symptoms by managing stress, diet, and having a healthy. Medications are only useful in severe cases of IBS.
More-serious signs and symptoms of IBS include:
- Weight loss
- Unexplained vomiting
- Diarrhea at night
- Rectal bleeding
- Difficulty swallowing
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Persistent pain in the stomach that isn’t relieved by passing gas or a bowel movement
How to Prevent Yourself From getting IBS?
To avoid getting this disease, you should take care of your lifestyle first. Some of the best ways to prevent yourself from getting irritable bowel syndrome are:
- Taking small meals at regular intervals
- Managing your stress
- Increasing fiber consumption
- Drinking more water
- Get enough sleep
- Exercise regularly
A good stress management plus healthy lifestyle can mostly help you combat the common symptoms. Although it is unrealistic to expect all the stress to go away, but the better you can handle it, the more relaxed you are and help to reduce symptomps of IBS.
Moreover, dietary changes may also help you to reduce the bloating
Should I Get Checked?
The answer is yes if you are experiencing above symptoms for a quite some time. Even if it’s not IBS, you might find more helpful insight about your health once you get checked.
Relevant evaluation of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms may include the following tests:
- Physical exam
- Blood test to check intestinal swelling or tissue damage
- Stool test to check bacterial infections
You should always talk to doctor to help with medication for any gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome.
You can use Okadoc to book in-person or virtual consultation to talk more about your health with the best doctor. Try Okadoc to book online doctor appoinment now.
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