This article will highlight important facts and statistics you should know about irritable bowel syndrome.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Overview
IBS is a disorder of the gut-brain interaction.
People with IBS have a more sensitive gut, which changes how the muscles in the bowel contract.
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Symptoms can come and go and range from debilitating for some people to only mild or moderate for others.
There is no cure for IBS.
However, medication, diet, andlifestyle changescan often manage symptoms.
How Common Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Ethnicity
Data relating to IBS and ethnicity are very limited.
One older U.S. study reported that IBS is more commonly diagnosed in White people than Black people.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Age and Gender
More women than men are diagnosed with IBS.
Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Risk Factors
Experts do not fully understandwhat causes IBS.
Sometimes IBS is triggered by an infection in your gastrointestinal tract or by trauma.
Some research suggests you might be more likely to develop IBS due to genetics.
Screening and Early Detection
There is no standard screening for IBS in the general population.
Many people experience symptoms for years before receiving a formaldiagnosis of IBS.
This can help with the overall management of your IBS, allowing you to experiencequality of life.
The exact cause of IBS is unknown.
American College of Gastroenterology.Irritable bowel syndrome.
Kim YS, Kim N.Sex-gender differences in irritable bowel syndrome.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.
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IFFGD.IBS facts and statistics.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of irritable bowel syndrome.
