Over 60 million people in the United States struggle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), most of them suffer in silence for years. The seriously uncomfortable issues caused by IBS can affect your quality of life, family time, and work. It may be uncomfortable talking about these problems, but new research has dramatically changed treatment.
If You Suspect Irritable Bowel Syndrome, It Is Important To Talk To A Doctor
Don’t ignore any changes in your bowel function. Whether not going enough, too often, bloating, or painful gas, speak up!
It may not be easy to talk about, but it can affect the quality of your life.
A gastroenterologist is a specialist with the entire digestive system. They are used to handling these issues and more familiar with symptoms, treatments, and potential causes.
The latest information on Irritable bowel syndrome from the American College of Gastroenterology.
IBS is common and affect about 5% of the population in the U.S. or about 1 in 20 people.
#1 PAIN Abdominal pain is the major symptom of IBS
QUALITY OF LIFE IBS greatly reduces patients’ quality of life
$1.5 BILLION TO $10 BILLION PER YEAR Direct medical costs of IBS are high, not including Rx or over-the-counter medications
10 TO 15 YEARS OF LIFE. A majority of IBS patients would give up 10 to 15 years of life expectancy for an instant cure for their condition
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IBS is not just found in women, it’s an “equal opportunity” disorder and impacts men too
IBS is considered a DISORDER OF GUT-BRAIN INTERACTION
TYPES OF IBS
IBS-C: IBS with constipation
IBS-D: IBS with diarrhea
IBS-Mixed: IBS with mix constipation and diarrhea
BLOATING The sense of bloating is a common symptom of IBS
HOPE IBS symptoms can be frustrating and discouraging, but there is hope and there are treatment options:
diet
over-the-counter medications
prescription medications
gut-directed therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy
When you TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR, make sure you bring your list of symptoms and questions