| If you have irritable bowel syndrome, the | | | | disease or ulcerative colitis as well as |
| signs and symptoms may vary greatly from one | | | | colon cancer. Your doctor may also help you |
| person to the next. These symptoms may often | | | | to avoid possible complications from symptoms |
| mimic those of other diseases. The most | | | | such as chronic diarrhea. |
| common symptoms are: | | | | |
| | | | IBS Screening and diagnosis |
| Â- Cramping or abdominal pain | | | | |
| | | | In order to come to the conclusion that you |
| Â- Feeling bloated | | | | have IBS, it is very important to have a |
| | | | comprehensive physical examination as well as |
| Â- Gas | | | | a complete medical history. |
| | | | |
| Â- Constipation or diarrhea - one can | | | | Criteria for making a diagnosis |
| sometimes have alternating bouts of both | | | | |
| | | | Usually there are no physical signs to |
| Â- Mucus in the stool | | | | definitely indicate that a person has |
| | | | irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore, the |
| Sometimes you may have only mild symptoms of | | | | diagnosis of IBS becomes a process of |
| IBS. At other times, they can be quite | | | | elimination. To help with this process, a |
| disabling for people. Sometimes these signs | | | | diagnostic criteria has been developed by |
| and symptoms will not respond well to medical | | | | researchers known as Rome criteria that is |
| treatment. It may happen that symptoms of IBS | | | | use to diagnose IBS along with other |
| will be present with other diseases. | | | | functional gastrointestinal disorders. These |
| Therefore, it is best to consult your doctor | | | | are conditions that are characterized by an |
| about your concerns. | | | | abnormality in bowel function but normal |
| | | | bowel appearance. |
| For most people, irritable bowel syndrome is | | | | |
| a chronic condition. However, there may be | | | | You should have certain symptoms and signs |
| periods when your signs and symptoms are | | | | according to these criteria before your |
| quite bad and even times when your symptoms | | | | doctor will diagnose you with IBS. The most |
| seem to improve dramatically or disappear | | | | important of these symptoms are discomfort |
| altogether. | | | | and abdominal pain that lasts for |
| | | | approximately twelve weeks. However, these |
| When to seek medical advice | | | | weeks do not have to occur consecutively. Two |
| | | | of the other symptoms must also be present: |
| Approximately one in five adults who live in | | | | |
| the United States has signs and symptoms of | | | | Â- Change in the consistency or frequency |
| IBS. Less than half of these seek any kind of | | | | of your stools. |
| medical help. If you happen to have a | | | | |
| constant change in your bowel habits or if | | | | Â- Urgency, straining or feeling that you |
| you have other symptoms or signs of irritable | | | | are not able to empty your bowels completely. |
| bowel syndrome, it is important that you seek | | | | |
| the help of your physician because such | | | | Â- Abdominal distention or bloating |
| symptoms may indicate that you have a more | | | | |
| serious underlying condition such as colon | | | | Â- Mucus in the stool |
| cancer. | | | | |
| | | | If you happen to fit the IBS criteria but you |
| Your doctor might find ways to help you | | | | do not seem to have any of the red flag |
| obtain relief from your symptoms as well as | | | | symptoms or signs, then your doctor may |
| eliminate some of the other more serious | | | | prescribe a course of treatment with your |
| conditions of the colon such as Crohn's | | | | having to undergo any additional testing. |