9 Common Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome could be defined as a gut problem which could lead to cramps, bloating, and in severe stages could cause diarrhea or constipation along with some other symptoms. It is actually the disturbed communication between the brain and the gut which lead to functional gastrointestinal disorder.

However, there is still undergoing research which aims to find the reason behind IBS and it is assumed that a gut which is sensitive to stress may cause IBS while IBS has affected around 12 percent of adults in the US out which most of the patients are under the age of 50 and the number of women having the condition is twice as of men. Today, we will be discussing 9 of the most common symptoms of IBS so that you can seek early medical support to avoid any further health issues.

Cramps with Pain: the first and most common symptom you may experience with IBS include cramps and pain. IBS or irritable bowel syndrome increases the gut sensitivity which ultimately leads to contraction opposing normal bowel movement. In certain cases, excessive contraction can cause pain in the lower abdomen as well as cramps.

Acidity and Gas: patients with IBS could experience a greater level of acidity and gas in their stomach. It could happen because of bacteria which increases stomach toxicity levels or because of reduced function of tolerating gas.

Bloating: another symptom which patients with IBS could experience is bloating where gas is collected in the gut bringing a full feeling and rounder abdomen appearance.

Diarrhea: IBS can also be detected through excessive contraction of the gut which causes diarrhea and cramps. Normally, a gut has a rhythmic process of contraction and relaxation which IBS disturbs to cause higher contractions with slow down the stomach functions.

Constipation: IBS may cause difficulty passing the stool which can happen because of less than 3 bowel movements a week, or the patient may experience pain passing stool with a feeling of incomplete bowel movement. Because IBS affects the process of contraction of the gut, doctors can classify IBS into three categories i.e. with Diarrhea, with constipation, or with mixed bowel habits.

Fatigue: another common symptom which you may experience with IBS is fatigue. However, it is still under the process of research why people with IBS start to experience fatigue along with other symptoms like stress or health quality issues.

Joint Pain: people with IBS can also experience joint pain which is mostly related to increased inflammation in the body

Stress: also, patients with IBS are likely to suffer through stress. As the nervous system plays a major role in regulating the gut as well as works on psychological stress balance, people who feel too much stress can experience worsen IBS.

BrainFog: gas in intestine and bloating can be claimed as reasons which lead to brain fog. This is actually a state of confusion which leads to lack of concentration and trouble with judgment.

So, if you are facing any of the above symptoms in your routine and you are in doubt about what is the reason behind all such health issues, make sure you visit an expert for IBS checkup in order to start the early treatment and ensuring faster recoveries.



Dr. Susanne Bennett


1526 14th Street, Suite 111, Santa Monica, CA 90404


310-315-1514