A common gastrointestinal disorder that affects the muscles and nerves of the intestine and can lead to a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms.

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of gut-brain interaction that affects how the brain and digestive system communicate. This disruption can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, gas, and changes in bowel habits.

IBS is a chronic condition, but symptoms often come and go over time. While IBS can significantly affect quality of life, it does not cause permanent damage to the digestive tract.

There are four main types of IBS:

  • IBS-C: Constipation-predominant IBS
  • IBS-D: Diarrhea-predominant IBS
  • IBS-M: Mixed IBS with both constipation and diarrhea
  • IBS-U: Unclassified IBS that does not fit a specific pattern

It is common for a person's IBS subtype to change over time.

What causes IBS?
The exact cause of IBS is not fully understood, but several factors are believed to contribute to symptoms.

These may include:

  • Changes in communication between the brain and the digestive tract
  • Increased sensitivity of the intestines
  • Abnormal intestinal muscle contractions
  • Changes in the gut microbiome
  • Low-grade inflammation in the digestive tract
  • A history of intestinal infection or food poisoning

Stress and emotional health can also play an important role in symptom severity.

Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
Symptoms can vary from person to person and may range from mild to severe.

Common symptoms include:

  • Abdominal pain or discomfort
  • Bloating
  • Cramping
  • Excess gas
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Alternating constipation and diarrhea
  • Urgent bowel movements
  • A feeling of incomplete bowel emptying
  • Mucus in the stool

Symptoms are often related to bowel movements and may improve or worsen after using the bathroom.

When to seek care
Contact your healthcare provider if you experience:

  • A significant change in bowel habits
  • Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Symptoms that wake you from sleep
  • Iron deficiency or anemia
  • A family history of inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal cancer

You should also seek care if IBS symptoms are interfering with your daily activities or quality of life.

Contact us
If you have questions about irritable bowel syndrome or treatment options, please contact our office at 612-871-1145.

Additional Resources
“Master your IBS” by the American Gastroenterology Association
“Making Sense of IBS” by Brian Lacy, PhD, MD
www.theromefoundation.org (Rome Foundation website)
www.iffgd.org (International Foundation for the Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders website)