Persistent pain in your stomach or abdomen could be a signal of irritable bowel syndrome, which should be treated by a gastroenterologist.

Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS, affects your large intestine and can be caused by poor functioning of your gastrointestinal nervous system as it relates to your GI function. The condition causes the walls of your intestines to not move as they should, which impairs the passage of food from your stomach through your intestines.

Irritable bowel syndrome has several signs and symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, you may experience:

• Moderate to severe abdominal pain and cramping
• Frequent or chronic gas and bloating
• Frequent or chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Mucus occurring frequently in your stools

When you have irritable bowel syndrome, you can lessen your symptoms by practicing a few simple tips like these:

• Limiting or avoiding spicy foods, fats, nightshade vegetables, beans, fruits, milk, carbonated drinks, alcohol, and chocolate
• Limiting or avoiding high-gluten content foods and foods with a high sugar content
• Managing your stress with exercise, meditation, and yoga

Irritable bowel syndrome is best treated by your gastroenterologist. Professional treatments for IBS include:

• Prescription-strength anti-diarrheal medications
• Prescription-strength medications to reduce intestinal spasms
• Antibiotics to treat any underlying infection or bacterial imbalance
• Medications to relax the colon, including Alosetron
• Medications to increase fluid secretion like Lubiprostone
• Dietary and lifestyle counseling

Irritable bowel syndrome can be effectively treated by your gastroenterologist. Professional treatment for IBS can help you live a life free of annoying and painful symptoms. To find out more about the causes and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, talk with your gastroenterologist today!

Is it constipation? Is it diarrhea? Frankly, when a patient complains to his or her physician about GI problems, the doctor has to wonder, "Is it Irritable Bowel Syndrome?" If you alternate between infrequent and too frequent bowel movements, you may need evaluation by a gastroenterologist. An expert in all things from your esophagus through your stomach and intestines, a GI doctor can uncover the reasons behind bowel issues, including IBS.

About IBS and its symptoms

Unfortunately, no one knows the real origin of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. However, it definitely is a cluster of symptoms which millions of people in the US--more women than men--suffer, before the age of 50. The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders reports that stress appears to increase symptoms; however, anxiety and a high-pressure job or life circumstance do not actually cause the condition.

Besides constipation and/or diarrhea, individuals with IBS have:

• Bouts of gas
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Pain
• Cramps
• Mucus in the stool
• Fatigue
• Intolerance to a variety of foods, including those containing gluten and lactose (dairy)