{"id":484,"date":"2022-11-05T05:26:27","date_gmt":"2022-11-05T05:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/?p=484"},"modified":"2022-11-06T05:38:03","modified_gmt":"2022-11-06T05:38:03","slug":"what-is-irritable-bowel-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/irritable-bowel-syndrome-medications\/what-is-irritable-bowel-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>IBS is one of the most common chronic health conditions, with up to 15 percent of Americans having some form of it.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>While the causes of IBS are still being researched, the symptoms and their treatment are well understood.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Causes can be physical, emotional, genetic, or a combination of any of these.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>There are three types of IBS, each with its own set of symptoms.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>There is no cure for IBS, but the condition can be managed with a combination of lifestyle changes and treatment.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>BidRx can help you get the lowest price for IBS symptom medication.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Up to 11 percent of the global population <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3921083\/\">has some form of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)<\/a> and may be living with their symptoms without realizing they can be treated. Diagnosis and treatment is simple and can often improve quality of life. While IBS can\u2019t be cured, you can learn how to manage it.<br \/>\n<b><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the large intestine, or colon. The main symptom of IBS is abdominal pain, which can be debilitating. Other symptoms include bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. IBS is a chronic condition, meaning it can last for months or years. There is no cure for IBS, but lifestyle changes and medications can relieve symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IBS is divided into three types, and symptoms vary depending on the type a person has. The three types of IBS are:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C), with constipation as the primary symptom<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D), where diarrhea is the most common symptom<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M), where sufferers experience both constipation and diarrhea, depending on triggers and circumstances<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common symptoms of all types include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abdominal pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cramps or bloating tied to passing bowel movements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in the appearance of your bowel movements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Going to the bathroom more frequently or less often<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sense of still needing to defecate after using the toilet<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More frequent gas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mucus or blood in the stool<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See a doctor immediately if:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You experience symptoms more frequently at night<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The pain is frequent or severe<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You experience weight loss due to IBS<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-488\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2.jpeg-7.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor talking to patient\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These do not have to be constant, ongoing symptoms. Many people with IBS may think they have a stomach bug or had a brief moment of upset and gone about their day. Only a small percentage of people with IBS have severe, ongoing symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most commonly, these symptoms arrive together suddenly, called a flare-up or attack, and are usually associated with a trigger, such as stress. In other cases, you can experience these symptoms separately and may not take note of them because they don\u2019t interfere with your life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you experience one or more of these symptoms every month with no other good explanation, ask your doctor about IBS.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Irritable Bowel Syndrome Causes<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What causes IBS remains uncertain, and there may be multiple causes that interact to cause symptoms or make them more severe. As of this writing, several potential causes are under investigation.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Immune system response.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Research is finding that some IBS patients experience autoimmune issues, with attacks on the gastrointestinal system explaining some of the symptoms. Similarly, some autoimmune disorders <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/ibs\/is-ibs-an-autoimmune-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have symptoms similar to those of IBS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Previous infection.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Up to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/aboutibs.org\/what-is-ibs\/post-infectious-ibs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10 percent of people reporting IBS for the first time<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> experience onset after a severe gastroenteritis infection or similar illness. Researchers are studying whether the infection damages the body or triggers an ongoing immune response.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gut microbiota.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Introduction of new microorganisms to the gut, such as fungi or protozoa, through food and water may induce IBS.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Psychological stress.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Stress and anxiety are among the key triggers of IBS, and may be either a cause or an aggravating factor for IBS attacks. There\u2019s also some evidence that early childhood trauma may raise the chances of getting IBS.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Genetic factors.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you have a family history of IBS, you\u2019re more likely to have it yourself. Which genes and why, though, remains a topic of research.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Irritable Bowel Syndrome Risk Factors<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-487\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/3.jpeg-7.jpg\" alt=\"Researcher looking at a Petri dish\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several factors may expose you to more risk for IBS. They include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Age.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> IBS is most common in people under 50, although late onset is also fairly common.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gender.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Women are more likely to experience IBS.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Medical treatment.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Hormone treatments and some other forms of medication have been connected to IBS onset.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Family history.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> People with a genetic history of IBS are more likely to experience it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health, particularly depression or anxiety, is sometimes also considered a risk factor. It\u2019s unclear whether mental health is a symptom of IBS, a cause of IBS, or both.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diagnosis<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no diagnostic test to identify IBS. Instead, doctors start by ruling out more serious conditions with similar symptoms. For example, if you have a family history of bowel cancer, that will be ruled out first.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once other possibilities have been eliminated, the Rome criteria is used for IBS diagnosis. You must experience recurring abdominal pain at least one day a week on average over at least the previous three months, along with two or more of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms related to bowel movements\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A change in bowel habits\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in the appearance of your stool<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Irritable Bowel Syndrome Complications<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most common complications of IBS are hemorrhoids and psychological impacts, like depression or anxiety. Psychological effects are usually caused by the effects of IBS on daily life, such as missing work or social events.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-486\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/4.jpeg-2.jpg\" alt=\"Happy man eating a salad\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because IBS has multiple possible causes, the recommended approach is a combination of treatment and symptom mitigation.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dietary changes.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Work with a dietician to test for trigger foods and then eliminate them from your diet.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other lifestyle changes.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Regular exercise, quitting smoking or using tobacco products, and reducing alcohol consumption can all reduce IBS symptoms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mental health care.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In addition to traditional therapy, your doctor may also recommend adding yoga, meditation, or a similar stress management practice to your daily routine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Medication changes.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Review the medications you take with your doctor, both over-the-counter and prescribed, to ensure they\u2019re not aggravating your symptoms. You might also speak with your doctor about adding a medication. Antidepressants are often prescribed for people suffering from IBS, and several other medications are available for certain types of IBS.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Get the Lowest Price for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Medications<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BidRX can help you get the lowest price for all your medications, including your IBS treatments. Simply submit your bid request, and pharmacies across the country compete to offer the lowest price. Choose the bid that best suits your needs, and have your medication shipped right to your door.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IBS shouldn\u2019t control your life, and neither should the cost of the medications you need to control your symptoms. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find your medication<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, then create a bid. BidRX will get you the lowest price for your IBS medications.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Highlights IBS is one of the most common chronic health conditions, with up to 15&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":485,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-irritable-bowel-syndrome-medications"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=484"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":491,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484\/revisions\/491"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}