IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not cause permanent harm to the intestines and does not lead to intestinal bleeding of the bowel or to a serious disease such as cancer.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the intestines that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, bloating, and changes in bowel habits.
The person with IBS seems to have a colon that is more sensitive and reactive than usual, so it responds strongly to stimuli that would not bother most people.
People with IBS, on the other hand, usually have crampy abdominal pain with painful constipation or diarrhea.
IBS usually is diagnosed after doctors exclude the presence of disease.
Many people report that their symptoms occur following a meal or when they are under stress. No one is sure why this happens, but scientists have some clues.