Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Digestive & StomachIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of gut function — the bowel is not damaged but doesn't work smoothly. It causes recurring abdominal pain with changes in bowel habit (diarrhoea, constipation, or both).
Also known as: IBS, Irritable colon
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Videos about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (9)
8:46आईबीएस क्या है? - जानिए कारण और इलाज | Dr Rajiv Ratan on Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Hindi | IBS
Dr Rajiv Ratan
9.8K views
6:45আইবিএস নিয়ন্ত্রণ করবেন কিভাবে? | Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in Bangla | Dr Tania Mondal
Dr Tania Mondal
770 views
6:02ਇਰੀਟੇਬਲ ਬਾਉਲ ਸਿੰਡਰੋਮ ਕੀ ਹੈ? | Dr Gaurav Kapur on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in Punjabi
Dr Gaurav Kapur
565 views
15:05ઇરીટેબલ બોવેલ સિન્ડ્રોમ:કેવી રીતે સારવાર કરવી? |Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Gujarati| Dr Hardik Parikh
Dr Hardik Parikh
375 views
9:15ఇరిటబుల్ బోవెల్ సిండ్రోమ్ - కారణాలు, చికిత్స | Irritable Bowel Syndrome | Dr Apoorva Mangalgiri
Dr Apoorva Mangalgiri
214 views
8:50ইৰিটেবল বাৱেল চিণ্ড্ৰোম: উপচাৰ কি? | Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Assamese | Dr Bhupendra Mahanta
Dr Bhupendra Mahanta
3.9K views
10:12ଝାଡ଼ାରେ ଲାଳ ପଡୁଛି କି? | Mucus in Stool: How to Treat? in Odia | IBS | Dr Gadadhar Panda
Dr Gadadhar Panda
82K views
6:40સૌથી સામાન્ય પાચન વિકૃતિઓ કઈ છે? | What are Digestive Disorders? in Gujarati | Dr Maunil Tomar
Dr Maunil Tomar
80 views
17:34পেট ফোলাভাব: কিভাবে চিকিৎসা করবেন? | How to Prevent Bloating? in Bangla | Dr Debashis Dutta
Dr Debashis Dutta
291 views
About Irritable Bowel Syndrome
About this summary: Written by Swasthya Plus for Indian readers, using MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine as a reference source. For personal guidance, please consult a qualified Health Expert.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of gut function — the bowel is not damaged but doesn't work smoothly. It causes recurring abdominal pain with changes in bowel habit (diarrhoea, constipation, or both). Symptoms come and go, often triggered by stress, certain foods, and hormonal changes. IBS does not shorten life or cause cancer — but it can substantially reduce quality of life.
Symptoms
- Recurrent crampy abdominal pain, often relieved by passing stool.
- Bloating.
- Loose stools, hard stools, or alternation.
- A feeling of incomplete emptying.
- Mucus in stool.
- Symptoms for at least 6 months, often longer.
Red flags — these point away from IBS
- Blood in stool.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Night-time symptoms that wake you.
- New symptoms over 50.
- Family history of bowel cancer, IBD, or coeliac disease.
- Persistent fevers, anaemia, or any other red flag in this set — needs further tests before diagnosing IBS.
What helps
- Identify trigger foods — a food diary for a few weeks helps. Common Indian triggers: dals (especially rajma, chana), wheat, onion/garlic in large amounts, dairy (if lactose-intolerant), very spicy or oily meals, caffeine, fizzy drinks.
- A low-FODMAP diet — structured, usually with a dietitian — helps many people; not a forever diet.
- Regular meals, slow eating, adequate water.
- Daily physical activity — walking, yoga — improves symptoms and mood.
- Stress management — stress strongly drives IBS flares; yoga, pranayama, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness help.
- Probiotics — some strains help some people; worth a trial.
- Medicines — for pain (antispasmodics), diarrhoea, constipation, or overall flare frequency. Low-dose antidepressants (not for depression — for the gut-brain pathway) help some.
- Don't use long-term stimulant laxatives or constant antacids as a substitute for working out the pattern.
IBS is real — not "all in your head." But mind-body treatments work because the gut and the brain are deeply linked. A patient plan, not a one-off fix, works best.
Reference source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine