The Big Question: What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

When it comes to the question of what is irritable bowel syndrome there are really a few different answers. Irritable bowel syndrome is quite a complex condition, one that is very commonly diagnosed. When people ask the question what is irritable bowel syndrome the first thing they should know is that it is that it is a disorder in which the nerves that control the muscle in the gastrointestinal tract are too active.

As a result, the gastrointestinal tract becomes incredibly sensitive to food, stool, and gas. This condition can range from being mild to so severe that it is practically debilitating.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome - The Symptoms

Another issue that must be discussed when answering the question of what is irritable bowel syndrome involves the symptoms that are experienced as a result of the condition. Irritable bowel syndrome can cause diarrhea, constipation, and actually most often a mixture of both.

There is typically pain with the syndrome, and these symptoms may get worse when the person is under stress such as when they are traveling or change their daily routine.

Diagnosis is usually quite easy with this syndrome, and your doctor may start asking you particular questions regarding your symptoms. If your symptoms have had some sort of pattern over the course of you experiencing them then it is generally clear that irritable bowel syndrome is the problem here.

Treatment

Also in the discussion of what is irritable bowel syndrome is the issue of treatment. The first recommendation that most doctors make for this syndrome is a change in diet. Fiber in particular is often helpful because it improves how the intestines work and may help to reduce bloating, pain and other symptoms of the condition.

There are many different foods that are high in fiber which you can choose to include in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, just to name a few. Eating any of these will add a substantial amount of fiber to your diet and you may even notice an improvement in your condition almost immediately.

It is important to increase the amount of fiber in your diet gradually however, because if you do it too quickly your body may respond in a negative manner. You also need to make sure that you are increasing your intake of water at the same time because otherwise you may end up becoming constipated.