Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Print Version)

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/irritablebowelsyndrome.html

Also called: Also called: IBS, Irritable colon

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a problem that affects the large intestine. It can cause abdominal cramping, bloating and a change in bowel habits. Some people with the disorder have constipation. Some have diarrhea. Some go back and forth between constipation and diarrhea. Although IBS can cause a great deal of discomfort, it does not harm the intestines.

IBS is a common disorder and happens more often in women than men. No one knows the exact cause of IBS. There is no specific test for IBS. However, your doctor may run tests to be sure you don't have other diseases. These tests may include stool sampling tests, blood tests and x-rays. Your doctor may also do a test called a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Most people diagnosed with IBS can control their symptoms with diet, stress management and medicine.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

Irritable Bowel Syndrome(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs/
Irritable Bowel Syndrome(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/irritablebowelsyndrome/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/irritablebowelsyndromespanish/htm/index.htm

Overviews

Irritable Bowel Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/irritable-bowel-syndrome/DS00106/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
JAMA Patient Page: Irritable Bowel Syndrome(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/295/8/960.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/292/7/886/DC1/1
What I Need to Know about Irritable Bowel Syndrome(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs_ez/

Latest News

Exercise May Help People with Irritable Bowel(09/29/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69808.html

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Colonoscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colonoscopy/
Colonoscopy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/colonoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/colonoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/sigmoidoscopy/
Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)(International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders) - http://www.aboutibs.org/site/about-ibs/symptoms/

Treatment

Drug Approved for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/ibsdrug050108.html
Lotronex (Alosetron Hydrochloride) Information(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/lotronex/lotronex.htm

Alternative Therapy

Introduction to Probiotics(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/probiotics/index.htm
Peppermint Oil(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/peppermintoil/index.htm

Nutrition

Fiber: How to Increase the Amount in Your Diet(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/food/general-nutrition/099.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/food/improve/099.printerview.html
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Diet: Can Yogurt Ease Symptoms?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/ibs-diet/AN01346/METHOD=print

Disease Management

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Tips on Controlling Your Symptoms(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/digestive/disorders/112.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/digestive/disorders/112.printerview.html

Related Issues

Spastic Colon: What Does It Mean?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/spastic-colon/AN00498/METHOD=print

Tutorials

Colonoscopy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/colonoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/colonoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm
Irritable Bowel Syndrome(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/irritablebowelsyndrome/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/irritablebowelsyndromespanish/htm/index.htm

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Colonic Diseases, Functional(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Colonic+Diseases,+Functional%22

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Impact of depressive symptoms on visceral sensitivity among patients with... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18791434&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Use of complementary and alternative medicine by pediatric patients with... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18662934&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Serine proteases: new players in diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18628370&tool=MedlinePlus
Irritable Bowel Syndrome -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=irritable+bowel+syndrome[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt]))&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Directories

GI Physician Locator(American College of Gastroenterology) - http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/phylocator.asp

Organizations

American Gastroenterological Association - http://www.gastro.org/
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/

Children

Irritable Bowel Syndrome(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/stomach/ibs.html
Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Children(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibschildren/

Teenagers

Irritable Bowel Syndrome(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/digestive/ibs.html

Women

Irritable Bowel Syndrome(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/faq/ibs.htm
Also available in Spanish http://womenshealth.gov/espanol/preguntas/ibs.htm

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Digestive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/digestivesystem.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Irritable Bowel Syndrome is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/irritablebowelsyndrome.html

Date last updated: September 30 2008

Topic last reviewed: July 21 2008