Irritable bowel syndrome can cause a wide range of symptoms that affect the digestive system.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that affects the large intestine, specifically the colon and rectum. It causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. IBS is also known as spastic colon or irritable colon. Symptoms vary from person to person, but they usually include diarrhea or constipation; abdominal pain; bloating; and gas.
IBS has no cure but treatment options are available to help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life for people with this condition. The most common treatments for IBS are medications like laxatives or stool softeners, dietary changes such as eating more fiber-rich foods or following a low-FODMAP diet, stress management techniques, and pelvic floor exercises. IBS may also be treated with medications like anti-spasmodic drugs and anti-diarrheals like loperamide or diphenoxylate/atropine.
