Wei Laboratories, Inc.
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What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine (colon). IBS commonly causes
cramping, abdominal pain, bloating gas, diarrhea and constipation. Despite these uncomfortable signs and
symptoms, IBS doesn't cause permanent damage to your colon.
Most people with IBS find that symptoms improve as they learn to control their condition. Only a small number of people
with irritable bowel syndrome have severe signs and symptoms.
Fortunately, unlike more-serious intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, irritable bowel
syndrome doesn't cause inflammation or changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colon rectal cancer. In many
cases, you can control irritable bowel syndrome by managing your diet, lifestyle and stress.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can vary widely from person to person and often resemble those
of other diseases. Among the most common are:
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• A bloated feeling
• Gas (flatulence)
• Diarrhea or constipation — sometimes alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea
• Mucus in the stool
Like many people, you may have only mild signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. However, sometimes
these problems can be disabling. In some cases, you may have severe signs and symptoms that don't respond well to
medical treatment. For most people, IBS is a chronic condition, although there will likely be times when the signs and
symptoms are worse and times when they improve or even disappear completely.
Causes
It's not known exactly what causes irritable bowel syndrome. The walls of the intestines are lined with layers of muscle
that contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm as they move food from your stomach through your intestinal tract to your
rectum. If you have irritable bowel syndrome, the contractions may be stronger and last longer than normal. Food is
forced through your intestines more quickly, causing gas, bloating and diarrhea.
In some cases, the opposite occurs. Food passage slows, and stools become hard and dry. Abnormalities in your
nervous system or colon also may play a role, causing you to experience greater than normal discomfort when your
abdomen stretches from gas.
Triggers bother some, not others
For reasons that still aren't clear; if you have IBS you probably react strongly to stimuli that don't bother other people.
Triggers for IBS can range from gas or pressure on your intestines to certain foods, medications or emotions. For
example:
• Foods. Many people find that their signs and symptoms worsen when they eat certain foods. For instance,
chocolate, milk and alcohol might cause constipation or diarrhea. Carbonated beverages and some fruits and
vegetables may lead to bloating and discomfort in some people with IBS. The role of food allergy or intolerance in
irritable bowel syndrome has yet to be clearly understood.
• If you experience cramping and bloating mainly after eating dairy products, food with caffeine, or sugar-free gum or
candies, the problem may not be irritable bowel syndrome. Instead, your body may not be able to tolerate the
sugar (lactose) in dairy products, caffeine or the artificial sweetener Sorbitol.
• Stress. If you're like most people with IBS, you probably find that your signs and symptoms are worse or more
frequent during stressful events, such as a change in your daily routine or family arguments. But while stress may
aggravate symptoms, it doesn't cause them.
• Hormones. Because women are twice as likely to have IBS, researchers believe that hormonal changes play a
role in this condition. Many women find that signs and symptoms are worse during or around their menstrual
periods.
• Other illnesses. Sometimes another illness, such as an acute episode of infectious diarrhea (gastroenteritis), can
trigger IBS.
Western Medicine Treatment
Because it's not clear what causes irritable bowel syndrome, treatment focuses on the relief of symptoms so that you
can live as normally as possible.
In most cases, you can successfully control mild signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome by learning to
manage stress and making changes in your diet and lifestyle. But if your problems are moderate or severe, you may
need more than lifestyle changes. Your doctor may suggest:
• Fiber supplements
• Anti-diarrheal medications
• Eliminating high-gas foods
• Anticholinergic medications
• Antidepressant medications
• Antibiotics
• Counseling
Medication specifically for IBS
Two medications are currently approved for specific cases of IBS:
• Alosetron
• Lubiprostone
Alternative Medicine
There is a significant progress using alternative medicine in this area.
If you want a referral of an expert alternative medicine practitioner in your
local area, please use our free referral service by calling our toll-free at
1-888-919-1188, or e-mail us to wei@weilab.com, or click the button
at the right to have us contact you.
Information gathered from the Mayo Clinic
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine (colon). IBS commonly causes
cramping, abdominal pain, bloating gas, diarrhea and constipation. Despite these uncomfortable signs and
symptoms, IBS doesn't cause permanent damage to your colon.
Most people with IBS find that symptoms improve as they learn to control their condition. Only a small number of people
with irritable bowel syndrome have severe signs and symptoms.
Fortunately, unlike more-serious intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, irritable bowel
syndrome doesn't cause inflammation or changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colon rectal cancer. In many
cases, you can control irritable bowel syndrome by managing your diet, lifestyle and stress.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can vary widely from person to person and often resemble those
of other diseases. Among the most common are:
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• A bloated feeling
• Gas (flatulence)
• Diarrhea or constipation — sometimes alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea
• Mucus in the stool
Like many people, you may have only mild signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. However, sometimes
these problems can be disabling. In some cases, you may have severe signs and symptoms that don't respond well to
medical treatment. For most people, IBS is a chronic condition, although there will likely be times when the signs and
symptoms are worse and times when they improve or even disappear completely.
Causes
It's not known exactly what causes irritable bowel syndrome. The walls of the intestines are lined with layers of muscle
that contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm as they move food from your stomach through your intestinal tract to your
rectum. If you have irritable bowel syndrome, the contractions may be stronger and last longer than normal. Food is
forced through your intestines more quickly, causing gas, bloating and diarrhea.
In some cases, the opposite occurs. Food passage slows, and stools become hard and dry. Abnormalities in your
nervous system or colon also may play a role, causing you to experience greater than normal discomfort when your
abdomen stretches from gas.
Triggers bother some, not others
For reasons that still aren't clear; if you have IBS you probably react strongly to stimuli that don't bother other people.
Triggers for IBS can range from gas or pressure on your intestines to certain foods, medications or emotions. For
example:
• Foods. Many people find that their signs and symptoms worsen when they eat certain foods. For instance,
chocolate, milk and alcohol might cause constipation or diarrhea. Carbonated beverages and some fruits and
vegetables may lead to bloating and discomfort in some people with IBS. The role of food allergy or intolerance in
irritable bowel syndrome has yet to be clearly understood.
• If you experience cramping and bloating mainly after eating dairy products, food with caffeine, or sugar-free gum or
candies, the problem may not be irritable bowel syndrome. Instead, your body may not be able to tolerate the
sugar (lactose) in dairy products, caffeine or the artificial sweetener Sorbitol.
• Stress. If you're like most people with IBS, you probably find that your signs and symptoms are worse or more
frequent during stressful events, such as a change in your daily routine or family arguments. But while stress may
aggravate symptoms, it doesn't cause them.
• Hormones. Because women are twice as likely to have IBS, researchers believe that hormonal changes play a
role in this condition. Many women find that signs and symptoms are worse during or around their menstrual
periods.
• Other illnesses. Sometimes another illness, such as an acute episode of infectious diarrhea (gastroenteritis), can
trigger IBS.
Western Medicine Treatment
Because it's not clear what causes irritable bowel syndrome, treatment focuses on the relief of symptoms so that you
can live as normally as possible.
In most cases, you can successfully control mild signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome by learning to
manage stress and making changes in your diet and lifestyle. But if your problems are moderate or severe, you may
need more than lifestyle changes. Your doctor may suggest:
• Fiber supplements
• Anti-diarrheal medications
• Eliminating high-gas foods
• Anticholinergic medications
• Antidepressant medications
• Antibiotics
• Counseling
Medication specifically for IBS
Two medications are currently approved for specific cases of IBS:
• Alosetron
• Lubiprostone
Alternative Medicine
There is a significant progress using alternative medicine in this area.
If you want a referral of an expert alternative medicine practitioner in your
local area, please use our free referral service by calling our toll-free at
1-888-919-1188, or e-mail us to wei@weilab.com, or click the button
at the right to have us contact you.
Information gathered from the Mayo Clinic
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