IBS

Around one in seven people experiences the unpleasant symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which include abdominal pain, mucus in the stools, and alternating diarrhoea and constipation. Other terms for irritable bowel syndrome include 'spastic colon' and 'irritable colon'. It seems that people with IBS have sensitive bowels that are easily 'upset'. More women than men are prone to IBS, and symptoms tend to first occur in early adulthood. The cause is unknown, but environmental factors - such as changes of routine, emotional stress, infection and diet - can trigger an attack. Irritable bowel syndrome doesn't cause lasting damage, and doesn't contribute to the development of serious bowel conditions, such as cancer or colitis.

Symptoms of IBS
Some of the more common signs of irritable bowel syndrome include: 
* Abdominal pain or cramping that is often relieved by passing wind or faeces 
* Alternating diarrhoea and constipation 
* A sensation that the bowels are not fully emptied after passing a motion 
* Abdominal bloating 
* Mucus present in the stools 
* Nausea 
* Loss of appetite 
* Other types of indigestion, such as heartburn.
None of these symptoms are exclusive to IBS. In particular, it would be unusual for IBS to produce these symptoms, for the first time, after the age of 40.

Two main IBS categories
Irritable bowel syndrome can be subdivided into two major categories, including: 
* Constipation-predominant - the person tends to alternate constipation with normal stools. Symptoms of abdominal cramping or aching are commonly triggered by eating. 
* Diarrhoea-predominant - the person tends to experience diarrhoea first thing in the morning or after eating. The need to go to the toilet is typically urgent, and cannot be delayed. Incontinence may be a problem.

Click HERE to view a video by the Mayo Clinic on IBS.

IBS and SCD