Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can majorly disrupt a person’s life, while also contributing to increasingly poor health if the condition is not properly managed. In order to receive proper treatment, identifying the symptoms and health effects caused by IBS is key for receiving an accurate diagnosis (while also ruling out similar health conditions).
People with IBS frequently experience the following symptoms:
Symptoms of IBS usually occur for an extended period, which differentiates them from temporary gastrointestinal issues (such as stomach flu or food poisoning).
While most people with IBS experience the above symptoms, the following symptoms are less likely but still linked to IBS:
IBS can also affect a person mentally due to the impact symptoms have on daily life. For instance, a person with IBS may feel unduly stressed and anxious.
While many of the symptoms of IBS are hard to ignore, they can also accompany many other conditions and disorders. Accordingly, you must receive a diagnosis from a doctor to be sure that you have IBS.
A doctor will ask you about your symptoms and medical history, while also performing blood and stool tests. Medical staff can also perform procedures like colonoscopies to have a full understanding of your symptoms.