9 The most common symptom of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

Irriteble bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disease that affects the work of the large intestine, which is characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. Diet, stress, lack of sleep, and changes in gut bacteria can trigger symptoms. However, triggers are different for everyone, so it's hard to name specific foods or stresses that everyone should avoid. So, what are the most common symptoms of IBS?

The most common symptoms of IBS

1. Abdominal pain and cramps

Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of IBS. Normally, the gut and brain work together to control digestion, through the hormones, nerves, and signals released by the good bacteria that live in your intestines.

However, in IBS the signal is not well received, causing the colon muscles to tense up and not coordinate well.

This pain usually occurs in the lower abdomen or the entire stomach, and rarely occurs only in the upper abdomen. This pain usually subsides after you have a bowel movement.

2. Diarrhea

Diarrhea being the predominant symptom of IBS occurs in about one third of patients. One study showed that IBS patients had an average of 12 bowel movements per week.

The digestive process in the intestines becomes faster, which often causes a sudden urge to defecate.

In addition, the stools of IBS patients tend to be watery and may contain mucus.

3. Constipation

Apart from causing diarrhea, IBS can also cause constipation. Constipation-dominated IBS is the more common symptom of IBS, affecting nearly 50 percent of people with IBS.

The changing signals between the brain and intestines can speed up or slow down the time that stool is formed. When this formation time slows down, the intestines absorb more water from the stool, making the stool more difficult to pass.

4.Constipation and diarrhea (mixed)

Constipation, diarrhea, or both occur in about 20 percent of IBS patients. The diarrhea and constipation in IBS cause recurring chronic stomach pain.

IBS with both symptoms tends to be more severe than others with more frequent and intense symptoms.

5. Changes in bowel movements

The slowed movement of stool in the intestines often becomes dehydrated as the intestines absorb water. So that it makes the stool hard which can worsen symptoms of constipation.

While the rapid movement of stool through the intestines leaves little time to absorb water, the stool becomes more fluid and causes diarrhea.

IBS can also cause mucus to accumulate in feces, which is not usually associated with other causes of constipation.

In addition, the stool may contain blood. This is a potentially more serious symptom of IBS and should be checked by a doctor immediately. Blood in the stool may appear red but often appears darker or black.

6. Stomach gas and bloating

The digestive changes in IBS cause the production of more gas in the intestines and cause flatulence.

In a study of 337 IBS patients, 83 percent reported experiencing flatulence and cramps. These two symptoms are more common in women and in IBS that is predominantly constipated or of mixed type IBS.

7. Food intolerance

This food intolerance is not an allergy. Some people with IBS report that certain foods can trigger IBS symptoms. However, the reasons why certain foods can trigger IBS are not clear.

These IBS trigger foods are also different for each person. However, the most common ones include FODMAP, lactoa, and gluten.

8. Fatigue and difficulty sleeping

A study reports that 160 adults diagnosed with IBS have low stamina, so they feel tired quickly. IBS patients become more restricting physical activity at work and social interactions.

IBS is also linked to insomnia, which includes difficulty sleeping, frequent waking, and feeling uncomfortable in the morning when you wake up.

In a study of 112 adults with IBS, 13 percent reported poor sleep quality.

Another study of 50 men and women found that people with IBS slept about an hour longer but felt less refreshed in the morning than those without IBS.

In addition, these two IBS symptoms can also signal a worse gastrointestinal symptom.

9. Anxiety and depression

Other symptoms of IBS are anxiety and depression. It is unclear whether these symptoms are an expression of mental stress or the stress of living with IBS which makes people more susceptible to psychological disorders.

In a study conducted on 94,000 men and women, people with IBS were more than 50 percent more likely to have anxiety disorders and more than 70 percent more likely to have mood disorders, such as depression.

Another study compared levels of the stress hormone cortisol in patients with and without IBS. As a result, people with IBS experience higher cortisol changes, which means that they show higher levels of stress.