Irritable Bowel Syndrome

That anxiety may be in your gut, not in your head

For the first time, researchers at McMaster University have conclusive evidence that bacteria residing in the gut influence brain chemistry and behaviour.

Medical research created May 17, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (20) | comments 9 | with audio podcast

A new genetic fingerprint lives in your belly

Our bodies contain far more microbial genes than human genes. And a new study suggests that just as human DNA varies from person to person, so too does the massive collection of microbial DNA in the intestine.

Medical research created Dec 05, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New anti-inflammatory agents silence overactive immune response

A new way to fight inflammation uses molecules called polymers to mop up the debris of damaged cells before the immune system becomes abnormally active, researchers at Duke University Medical Center report.

Inflammatory disorders created Aug 15, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Rainforest remedy could spell end of dental pain

(Medical Xpress) -- An ancient Incan toothache remedy – for centuries handed down among an indigenous people in the rainforests of Peru – could be on the cusp of revolutionising worldwide dental ...

Medications created Mar 15, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

How the body uses vitamin B to recognize bacterial infection

An Australian research team has discovered how specialised immune cells recognise products of vitamin B synthesis that are unique to bacteria and yeast, triggering the body to fight infection.

Medical research created Oct 10, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Peppermint earns respect in mainstream medicine

University of Adelaide researchers have shown for the first time how peppermint helps to relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which affects up to 20% of the population.

Medications created Apr 19, 2011 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1

Survey: 1 in 4 women attacked by intimate partner

(AP) -- It's a startling number: 1 in 4 women surveyed by the government say they were violently attacked by their husbands or boyfriends.

Health created Dec 14, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

Marijuana use associated with cyclic vomiting syndrome in young males

Researchers have found clear associations between marijuana use in young males and cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), where patients experience episodes of vomiting separated by symptom free intervals.

Health created Jan 09, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 11

Fecal 'transplant' to cure gut infection?

(HealthDay)—Here's a new twist on the old idea of not letting anything go to waste. According to a small new Dutch study, human stool—which contains billions of useful bacteria—can be donated from one ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jan 16, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study: Probiotics reduce stress-induced intestinal flare-ups

For those with irritable bowel syndrome who wonder if stress aggravates their intestinal disorder, a new University of Michigan Health System study shows it's not all in their head.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Mar 14, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

Somatic symptom disorder: New condition could classify millions of people as mentally ill

Millions of people could be mislabeled as mentally ill when psychiatry's bible of diagnoses is updated in May, warns a senior doctor in this week's BMJ.

Psychology & Psychiatry created Mar 19, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Full wired: Planar cell polarity genes guide gut neurons

The enteric nervous system (ENS), the "little brain" that resides within the gut wall, governs motility, secretion, and blood flow in the human gastrointestinal tract. Failure of the ENS to develop normally leads to congenital ...

Medical research created Mar 08, 2013 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

New research deepens understanding of most common gastrointestinal disorder in US

Cedars-Sinai researchers have reported two advances in the understanding of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the United States, affecting an estimated 30 million people.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 11, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Negative emotions influence brain activity during anticipation and experience of pain

Neuroticism — the tendency to experience negative emotions — significantly affects brain processing during pain, as well as during the anticipation of pain, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the offici ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Sep 19, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Pain characteristics suggest higher benefit from gallbladder surgery

According to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, better understanding of a patient's abdominal pain could help physicians know which patients will benefit most from surgical removal of the gallbladder. Clinic ...

Other created Oct 12, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0


Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS, or spastic colon) is a symptom-based diagnosis characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits. As a functional bowel disorder, IBS has no known organic cause. Diarrhea or constipation may predominate, or they may alternate (classified as IBS-D, IBS-C or IBS-A, respectively). Historically a diagnosis of exclusion, a diagnosis of IBS can now be made on the basis of symptoms alone, in the absence of alarm features such as age of onset greater than 50 years, weight loss, gross hematochezia, systemic signs of infection or colitis, or family history of inflammatory bowel disease. Onset of IBS is more likely to occur after an infection (post-infectious, IBS-PI), a stressful life event, or onset of maturity.

Although there is no cure for IBS, there are treatments that attempt to relieve symptoms, including dietary adjustments, medication and psychological interventions. Patient education and a good doctor-patient relationship are also important.

Several conditions may present as IBS including coeliac disease, fructose malabsorption, mild infections, parasitic infections like giardiasis, several inflammatory bowel diseases, bile acid malabsorption, functional chronic constipation, and chronic functional abdominal pain. In IBS, routine clinical tests yield no abnormalities, although the bowels may be more sensitive to certain stimuli, such as balloon insufflation testing. The exact cause of IBS is unknown. The most common theory is that IBS is a disorder of the interaction between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract, although there may also be abnormalities in the gut flora or the immune system.

IBS has no effect on life expectancy. However, it is a source of chronic pain, fatigue, and other symptoms and contributes to work absenteeism. The high prevalence of IBS and significant effects on quality of life make IBS a disease with a high social cost.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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