Everyone experiences bathroom issues now and then — a little constipation, diarrhea, and tummy pain could mean you ate a spicy meal, had too much cheese, or just overindulged. But those symptoms could also point to IBS; here’s how to tell.
Everything you put in your stomach affects your digestive system. Spicy foods can cause a bout of diarrhea, cheese can constipate you, and beans can make you gassy. These occasional occurrences don’t indicate a medical problem. However, if you have these symptoms often, regardless of what you eat, you may have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Our experienced specialists at Newtown Gastroenterology see people with IBS often, and we treat them with a combination of lifestyle changes, supplements, and medication.
But don’t assume you have IBS just because you have diarrhea and/or constipation. These symptoms can point to any of several medical issues, and the only way to know for sure what you’re dealing with is to come in for an accurate diagnosis.
To rule out other conditions and confirm IBS, we run diagnostic tests that explore your colon and gastrointestinal tract. Here’s a look at how we determine you have IBS.
You may hear the terms IBS and IBD interchanged, but they’re completely different.
IBS is a syndrome of symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, cramping, bloating, and gas, but a colon examination shows nothing wrong. It doesn’t affect your risk for colon cancer.
IBD is an irritable bowel disease that involves chronic and damaging intestinal inflammation that increases your risk for colon cancer.
Our Newtown Gastroenterology specialists can usually diagnose IBS by ruling out certain other conditions and assessing your symptoms.
Classically, IBS symptoms may include some or all of the following:
Because these symptoms can occasionally occur for benign reasons, we rely on a physical exam and other tests. Depending on your symptoms, we may check for lactose intolerance; test your blood, stool, and breath; or conduct a colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, or CT scan.
If you have IBS, it means the nerves in your gut are irritated and causing muscle spasms. The spasms can either delay your bowel movements and dehydrate the stool (constipation) or speed up your bowel movements so fast that your colon can’t absorb enough fluid before the stool rushes out (diarrhea).
While researchers haven’t yet nailed down the exact cause of IBS, stress may contribute to symptoms.
Your gut is connected to your brain by nerves, nerve signals, and hormones that control those functions, so anything that interferes with the messaging can affect your digestive system. When stressed, your nerves become hyperactive, causing your intestinal lining and muscles to contract more.
About 10%-15% of Americans have IBS, and women are twice as likely as men to have it.
You can do a lot on your own to calm your IBS symptoms. Regular exercise and other stress-relieving activities can do wonders.
You can also help control flare-ups by managing your diet. Try avoiding things that stimulate your intestines, like caffeine and certain spices. Eating smaller meals with more fiber and less fried food may help.
These changes deliver significant relief for many people with IBS, but if you need more help, we can suggest supplements and medication to help control your symptoms further.
If you suspect IBS, don’t suffer — call Newtown Gastroenterology in Elmhurst, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and College Point, New York, or book online.
