Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disease of the intestine that causes stomach ache, cramps, and diarrhea or constipation. Statistics show that IBS is a relatively common condition and affects almost 20 percent of the citizens, with women getting more affected than men. Some other terms used to refer to this health condition are a spastic colon, irritable colon, and spastic colitis.

Symptoms of IBS
The main symptoms of IBS include:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Bloated stomach
• Excess gas
• Mucus in the stool
• Belly cramps
• Pain after eating

These symptoms may get severe and even lead to rectal bleeding, anemia, insomnia, and vomiting. In many cases, the symptoms of IBS may interfere with your libido.

Causes of IBS
The causes of irritable bowel syndrome vary from person to person. Some of the most common causes are:

• A weakened immune system that leads to inflammation in the intestine
• The presence of other digestive disorders
• Bacterial or viral infections

While not life-threatening, irritable bowel syndrome may truly reduce the quality of your life. A single flare-up may last anywhere between four days to a week.

Treatment options for IBS
Let’s take a look at some of the viable treatment options for IBS.

• Take proper medicines
  Depending on whether IBS is causing loose stools or constipation, your doctor will prescribe diarrhea medicines or laxatives respectively. Apart from these, multivitamins and food supplements such as fiber supplements help restore the loss of nutrients from constant loose motions. Antibiotics, anti-depressants, and painkillers may also be prescribed. In some cases, peppermint oil tablets have been known to provide immense relief from the symptoms of IBS.
• Avoid trigger foods
  Ask any layman and he or she will tell you that ‘prevention is better than cure’. IBS is often a reaction in your body caused by certain foods you never knew you were prone to allergy. Some of the foods in this category are milk and milk-based products, gluten-based products like wheat and rye, aerated beverages, high-fat and cream-rich foods, and vegetables that cause excess flatulence such as cabbage and cauliflower.
• Manage stress
  Chronic stress is known to trigger the sensitive nerves in the colon which may interfere with the smooth removal of toxins from the body. Also, high levels of stress lower your body’s immunity. One of the side-effects of a lowered immunity is a heightened sensitivity in the digestive tract which may lead to IBS. To avoid or manage such stress, some of the things that you may try are to have proper sleep, to engage in physical activities, and to not get overworked.
• Consume probiotics
  Probiotics are live bacteria in food that are extremely healthy for the digestive tract. As irritable bowel syndrome is a disease of the digestive tract, it does make sense to up one’s consumption of probiotics. Foods in this category include yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, and cottage cheese. If you are not a fan of any of these, ask your doctor for probiotic supplements.
• Exercise regularly
  Studies have shown that a vast number of people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome live sedentary lives. Exercising releases endorphins which help alleviate stress and keep your digestive system working well. Aerobic exercises such as walking or jogging, yoga, and swimming are some of the best ways to keep yourself fit. Also, try out some deep breathing exercises and practice meditation to keep your mind at ease.
• Follow regular meal times
  IBS symptoms may worsen if meal times are not kept regular. Keeping extremely large gaps between meals is as bad as eating large meals too frequently. So, make sure you balance it out. Leading nutritionists always recommend eating six to eight small meals at frequent intervals as compared to eating three large meals a day. Moreover, if you suffer from IBS, crash diets are an absolute no-no.