What's second only to the common cold in causing lost work or school time?

Few people know the answer, because it's an ailment that is not readily discussed. Yet research shows that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects more than 15 percent of people in the United States and is prevalent worldwide.

People with IBS suffer from a decline in their quality of life, says Monica Jarrett, associate professor in biobehavioral nursing and health systems at the University of Washington School of Nursing.

"This can be explained by the unpredictability of their bowels and the discomfort. People manage by pulling back from social and work activities," Ms. Jarrett says. "Some say the pain gets so bad that they have gone to the emergency room thinking they had appendicitis."

Not only is IBS painful and embarrassing, but, depending on the severity of symptoms, it can also be disabling. The ailment is twice as common among women as men, but this could partly be because women are more open about health problems.

Many people let IBS persist for several years before seeing a health care provider. It might be as early as childhood, or not until later in adulthood.

Triggers for IBS

Although IBS tends to occur more often among people with stressful and emotionally distressing lives, stress is probably only one of a number of factors that triggers IBS symptoms. Others include:

Infectious disorders such as gastritis during a stressful period.

Hormonal influences. Increased estrogen seems to influence the activity of the bowels; on average, women's symptoms worsen around menstruation.

Food intolerance to dairy products and artificial sweeteners often exacerbates symptoms.

The symptoms that define IBS include abdominal pain that is relieved by a bowel movement; diarrhea and constipation -- sometimes both; a sense of urgency; incomplete passage of stool; and gas or bloating.

The symptoms are usually episodic, generally occurring from a few times a week to once a month, though IBS might go away for years and suddenly return. What distinguishes it from other gastrointestinal upsets is the frequency and severity of symptoms. It does not, however, damage tissue or lead to colon cancer.

Anyone with the symptoms of IBS should tell his or her health care provider.

Treatments for IBS

A number of drugs are available to treat IBS, but there is no single cure.

Some drugs affect the activity of the bowel, while others affect the hormones that are released by the bowel. Antidepressants can help those with psychological distress, and also can independently ease pain. People sometimes use herbal teas such as chamomile and ginger, or increased fiber for constipation.

*Source: Health Ink

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