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What is irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS)?
Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by abdominal discomfort or pain,
bloating and altered bowel symptoms (constipation, diarrhea, or alternating).
The term "syndrome" refers to a collection of symptoms that together comprise a
specific medical condition.
How common is IBS?
All forms of IBS impact the lives of millions of people. As many as one in five
adults in the United States or 20 percent of the population, suffer from the
abdominal discomfort or pain, bloating, and altered bowel symptoms associated
with IBS. IBS typically begins early in life. In more than 50 percent of
patients, symptoms begin before age 35. IBS occurs in both men and women.
However, the prevalence appears to be greater in women. Approximately seven out
of every ten IBS sufferers are women.
How serious is IBS?
IBS is a real medical condition with recurring symptoms. Without proper
diagnosis and management, IBS symptoms can disrupt the lives of sufferers.
However, IBS has not been shown to cause any dangerous or life-threatening
diseases such as cancer.
What is the impact of IBS?
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IBS affects up to 20% of the adult
American population. |
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More than 70% of patients may suffer
from their IBS symptoms more often than once a week. |
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IBS costs the U.S. healthcare system
up to an estimated $30 billion annually. |
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On average it takes up to three years
before IBS sufferers receive a proper diagnosis from the time they first
experience their symptoms. This may in part be due to the fact that patients'
symptoms were not initially recognized as a serious medical condition. |
What is IBS with constipation?
A common form of IBS is IBS with constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome with
constipation is characterized by abdominal discomfort or pain, bloating, and
constipation as the primary bowel symptom. Approximately 6 million women in the
U.S. suffer from IBS with constipation.
What causes IBS with constipation?
Contrary to what many people think, IBS is not caused by stress or eating
habits. Until recently, the cause of IBS has been poorly understood and
under-appreciated. However, in recent years, new research has yielded a better
understanding of the cause of IBS. People who suffer from the abdominal
discomfort or pain, bloating, and constipation of IBS may have a digestive
system that may be more sensitive or work more slowly than it should. This may
be due to the way their digestive system reacts to changes in a naturally
occurring chemical in their body called serotonin. Serotonin regulates movement
in the digestive system and the perception of abdominal discomfort and pain.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Women:
The Unmet Needs 
