Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS)

The first disease process that I want to tackle is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS is the most common gastrointestinal disorder seen in general practice, and represents 30–50% of all referrals to GI docs. Many sufferers never seek medical attention, so it’s hard to determine exactly how many people suffer from IBS. It has been estimated that approximately 15% of the population has complaints of IBS, with women outweighing men 2 to 1.

The factors that contribute to the increased motility of the colon seen in IBS has been attributed to physical, mental, and dietary factors.

Some of the MAIN SYMPTOMS of IBS include distension of the abdomen, relief of abdominal pain with bowel movements, and the onset of loose or more frequent bowel movements with pain. Most of the time, IBS is a clinical diagnosis that is made based off of symptoms alone.

Testing that I recommend to further define the origins of IBS include a comprehensive stool and digestive analysis, complete blood count, sedimentation rate and food allergy & sensitivity testing should be performed to find the cause.

If no obvious cause can be identified, sigmoidoscopy is typically recommended.

Remember all post are informational and not meant to treat or diagnose. If you need personalized solution based recommendations, please schedule a consult with me.