IBS can cause a wide range of symptoms, including digestive issues, changes in bowel movements, fatigue, and anxiety. Identifying triggers and making changes to your diet and lifestyle may be beneficial.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) involves changes in the frequency or form of bowel movements and lower abdominal pain.
Diet, stress, not getting enough sleep, and changes in gut bacteria may all trigger symptoms.
However, triggers are different for each person, making it difficult to name specific foods or stressors that everyone with IBS should avoid.
This article will discuss the most common symptoms of IBS and what to do if you suspect you have it.
Abdominal pain is the most common symptom and a key factor in diagnosis.
Usually, your gut and brain work together to control digestion. This happens via hormones, nerves, and signals released by the beneficial bacteria that live in your gut.
In IBS, these cooperative signals become distorted,
This pain usually occurs in the lower or entire abdomen, but is less likely to be in the upper abdomen alone. Pain typically decreases following a bowel movement.
Diet modifications, such as a diet low in FODMAPs, may improve pain and other symptoms.
Other treatments include bowel relaxants like peppermint oil, cognitive behavior therapy, and hypnotherapy.
For pain that doesn’t respond to these changes, a gastroenterologist can help you find a medication specifically proven to ease IBS pain.
Diarrhea-predominant IBS, or IBS-D, is one of the three main types of IBS.
People with IBS-D typically have more than 25% loose stools and fewer than 25% hard stools.
Accelerated bowel transit in IBS can also result in a sudden, immediate urge to have a bowel movement. This
Additionally, stool in the diarrhea-predominant type tends to be loose and watery and may contain mucus.
IBS can cause constipation as well as diarrhea. Constipation-predominant IBS, or IBS-C, is another main type of IBS.
Altered communication between the brain and bowel
Constipation is defined as having
“Functional” constipation describes chronic constipation not explained by another disease. It is not related to IBS and is very common. Functional constipation differs from IBS in that it is generally not painful.
In contrast, constipation in IBS includes abdominal pain that eases with bowel movements.
Constipation in IBS also often causes a sensation of an incomplete bowel movement. This may lead to unnecessary straining.
Along with the usual treatments for IBS, exercise, drinking more water, eating soluble fiber, taking probiotics, and the limited use of laxatives
Some people with IBS experience mixed or alternating constipation and diarrhea (IBS-M), sometimes within the same bowel movement.
Diarrhea and constipation in IBS involve chronic, recurring abdominal pain.
Slow-moving stool in the intestine often becomes dehydrated as the intestine absorbs water. In turn, this creates hard stools, which can worsen symptoms of constipation.
Prompt movement of stool through the intestine leaves little time for water absorption, resulting in the loose stools characteristic of diarrhea.
However, 2021 research in people with IBC-C and IBS-D suggests both may involve slower stool movement.
IBS can also cause mucus to accumulate in stool, which is not usually associated with other causes of constipation.
IBS does not cause blood in stool, but this may indicate another potentially serious medical condition and require a visit to a doctor. Blood in stool may appear red, but it often appears very dark or black with a tarry consistency.
Altered digestion in IBS can lead to more gas accumulation in the gut. This can cause bloating, which can be uncomfortable or painful.
Many with IBS identify bloating as one of the most persistent and nagging symptoms of the disorder.
Avoiding lactose and other FODMAPs
However, it’s best to talk with a doctor or a registered dietitian before making any drastic changes to your diet.
For some people with IBS, particular foods may trigger symptoms.
Because of this, many people with IBS actively avoid certain foods. Sometimes these individuals exclude multiple foods from the diet.
It is unclear why these foods trigger symptoms. These food intolerances are not allergies, and trigger foods don’t cause measurable differences in digestion.
While trigger foods are different for everyone, some common ones include gas-producing foods, such as FODMAPs, as well as lactose and gluten.
Many people with IBS experience fatigue. Research from 2021 suggests IBS may cause increased levels of a chemical messenger in the blood called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. TNF alpha causes increased inflammation, which may result in fatigue.
IBS is also
An older study in 50 people found that those with IBS slept about an hour longer, yet felt less refreshed in the morning than those without IBS.
Poor sleep also predicts more severe gastrointestinal symptoms the following day, according to another older study.
IBS is linked to anxiety and depression, as well.
Research suggests a few possible explanations for the connection, which may include:
- shared genetic risk factors for both IBS and mood disorders
- gut dysbiosis (an impaired gut microbiome) leading to mood disorders through autonomic nervous system dysfunction
- the impact of IBS symptoms on a person’s daily life
A small study from 2015 compared levels of the stress hormone cortisol in people with and without IBS. During a 2-week teaching practice, those with IBS experienced greater changes in cortisol, suggesting greater stress levels.
Additionally,
Lifestyle changes may also help. These can include:
- following a low FODMAP diet
- stress relief
- exercise
- drinking plenty of water
- over-the-counter laxatives
A low FODMAP diet may be one of the most promising lifestyle changes for alleviating symptoms.
Identifying other trigger foods can be difficult, as each person’s triggers are different. Keeping a diary of meals and ingredients can help identify triggers.
Probiotic supplements may also reduce certain IBS symptoms, like bloating and constipation.
Additionally, avoiding digestive stimulants, such as
If your symptoms don’t respond to lifestyle changes or over-the-counter treatments, doctors may recommend certain medications to relieve your symptoms.
If you think you have IBS, consider keeping a journal of foods and symptoms. Then, take this information to a doctor to help diagnose and control the condition.
How does IBS usually start?
Common symptoms of IBS
What is an IBS flare-up like?
An IBS flare may come on suddenly after eating trigger foods or experiencing a stressful event. You may not even know what has triggered the flare. Common symptoms of an IBS flare include:
- stomach pain
- cramping
- bloating
- heartburn
- gas
- an urgent need to go to the bathroom
- diarrhea, constipation, or both
- nausea
- fatigue
What foods trigger IBS?
Common IBS trigger foods include:
- foods with gluten
- fruits
- fruit juice
- garlic and garlic salts
- high fiber foods
- dairy products like milk, soft cheeses, yogurt, and ice cream
- wheat and rye products
- honey
- foods with high-fructose corn syrup
- candy and gum, with sweeteners such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and maltitol
When should you get help from a doctor for IBS?
If you have symptoms of IBS that interfere with your quality of life, visit a primary care doctor, who can help diagnose IBS and rule out other diseases that mimic it. If you don’t already have a physician, you can use the Healthline FindCare tool to find a doctor near you.
IBS is diagnosed by recurrent abdominal pain for at least 6 months, combined with weekly pain for 3 months, as well as some combination of pain relieved by bowel movements and changes in frequency or form of bowel movements.
A doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist, a specialist in digestive diseases, who can help you identify triggers, rule out other causes, and discuss ways to control your symptoms.