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Description

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder running of the intestine which involves abdominal pains accompanied by constipation or diarrheas. The Irritable Bowel Syndrome is also called "spastic colon" or "spastic intestine" (these expressions are obsolete today) and functional colopathy. This disorder is sometimes confused with the colitis, which is in fact a more serious pathology which involves damage with the colon. Irritable Bowel Syndrome does not involve any damage, according to any appearance, and is not caused by an infection or another detectable disease. This is why it is about a "functional disorder" rather than of a disease. IBS touches approximately 20% of the population and is the second cause of absence at the school or work, after the cold. Contrary to the colitis and the Crohn Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome does not involve any increased risk of cancer of the colon. On the other hand, if the symptoms of IBS appear among people of more than 50 years, the doctor will wish to eliminate the possibility of a cancer from the colon while carrying out the direct inspection of the lower part of the intestine.

Causes

The causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome are badly established, but it seems that it depends on an over-sensitiveness of the intestine (and not only of the colon), or insufficient or excessive effect of the factors which contribute to provide the normal intestinal functions. At the people who suffer from one Irritable Bowel Syndrome, certain common factors start the pains and discomfort:

* food
* excessive gases
* cafeine, which often makes the saddles soft
* female hormones (the women which suffer from one IBS often note that their symptoms worsen during the menstruations)
* lubricate contained in the meats, cream cheese, butter and the lard
* chocolate, dairy products and alcohol consumption in great quantity
* psychological tensions (factor more particularly important).