IBS Affects the Entire GI Tract

In IBS, the normally rhythmic muscular contractions of the digestive tract become irregular and uncoordinated. This interferes with the normal movement of food and waste material, and leads to the accumulation of mucus and toxins in the intestine. This accumulated material sets up a partial obstruction of the digestive tract, trapping gas and stools, which in turn causes bloating, distention, and constipation. IBS may affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth through the colon. Click here to Learn More about the gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of IBS

Symptoms of IBS may include constipation and/or diarrhea (often alternating), abdominal pain, mucus in the stools, nausea, flatulence, bloating, anorexia, and intolerances to certain foods (especially dairy and gluten containing grains such as wheat, oats, barley & rye). Pain is often triggered by eating, and may be relieved by a bowel movement. Because of the pain, diarrhea, nausea, and sometimes severe headaches and even vomiting, a person with IBS may dread eating. Whether or not an individual with IBS eats normally, malnutrition may result, as nutrients often are not absorbed properly. As a result, people with IBS require as much as 30 percent more protein than normal, as well as an increased intake of minerals and trace elements, which can quickly be depleted by diarrhea.

Causes of IBS

There are no physical signs of disease in bowel tissue with this disorder, and its cause or causes are not well understood. Some scientists believe a virus or bacterium may play a role. Lifestyle factors such as stress and diet are probably common causes. The overuse of antibiotics, antacids, or laxatives, which disturb the bacterial micro flora of the bowel, may also be a factor.

Diseases Associated with IBS

Many other diseases can be related to IBS including candidiasis, colon cancer, diabetes mellitus, gallbladder disease, malabsorption disorders, pancreatic insufficiency, ulcers, and parasitic infections (amebiasis and giardiasis). Over 100 different disorders may be linked to the systemic effects of IBS. One disorder that is linked in about 25 percent of adults with IBS is arthritis, usually peripheral arthritis, which affects the ankles, knees, and wrists. Less frequently, the spine is affected. IBS can also be related to skin disorders, but this is unusual. Some people with IBS have abnormalities in the levels of liver enzymes in their blood.

Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome requires ruling out disorders that can cause similar symptoms, such as Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, lactose intolerance, and ulcerative colitis. IBS should not be confused with the more serious bowel disorders, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These are also inflammatory bowel diseases but unlike IBS they result in demonstrable lesions in the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease affects the entire length and thickness of the wall of the large and/or small intestine; ulcerative colitis affects the lining of the large intestine, the last five to seven feet of the digestive tract.  A physician may recommend one or more of a variety of procedures to diagnose your condition, including barium enema, colonoscopy, rectal biopsy, sigmoidoscopy, and stool examination to check for the presence of bacteria, blood, and/or parasites. A specific stool test called a CDSA 2.0 can also be used to help distinguish between various disorders of the bowel.

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