Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a medical condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Roughly 20 percent of American’s are affected by IBS which is around 54 million people. It is hard to tell whether or not women or men suffer more from IBS.

Although there are three times more cases reported in women than men, the medical community is not convinced that more women tend to suffer more. They believe that men could be suffering as much as women but they are too embarrassed or scared to tell their doctor or anyone else about it.

Not only is there debate over which sex if affected more, but there is also debate over how IBS should be labeled. Currently, IBS is characterized as a syndrome which is a grouping of symptoms that characterize a disease. Many people in the medical community are not happy with this label and believe that IBS is more of a disorder than a disease.

Disease or Disorder?

The symptoms of IBS are very consistent from one sufferer to another. Most people that suffer from IBS experience cramps or abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation periodically or on a regular basis. The cramps or abdominal pain is so intense that many sufferers describe it as like being stabbed with a knife.

Medical professionals are not 100 percent sure on the cause of IBS. Some feel that it is purely psychological while others believed that it is because individuals that suffer from it already have a sensitive colons and it is stress and diet that trigger the events. Finding out what actually causes IBS is the key to determining whether or not it really is a disease or disorder.

If it is 100 percent psychological then is not a disease but rather a disorder. However, if some of the reason for the episodes is because of physical reasons like an over sensitive colon than it could be seen a disease. Until more research is done medical professionals will not be able to determine whether or not is should be officially categorized as disease or a disorder.

Not only is does confusion surround how IBS should be categorized but also whether or not an individual is actually suffering from it or another medical condition. IBS is often confused with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases like Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis or Dyspepsia.

Treating IBS

Since there are different degrees of IBS there are also different levels of treatment. Furthermore, IBS is an individualized medical condition when it comes to treatment. Although the symptoms may be the same from person to person, everyone seems to respond differently to different treatments and therapies. Therefore, they only way to treat IBS effectively is to find out what works the best for each individual person.

Some ways to treat IBS include diet, exercise, behavioral therapy, stress reduction, medication for severe cases, or alternative therapy. Natural and herbal supplements have also been an effective way of treating IBS.

Find additional ways to alleviate your symptoms of IBS here.

Sources:
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/401_ibs.html
http://www.webmd.com/ibs/treating-diarrhea