Irritable Bowel Syndrom —a Common Disorder

Thomas Peller, MD, FACP
Gastroenterology
Southside Medical Clinic
Eau Claire

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder that a physician encounters. It is a chronic disorder of the digestive system that presents with recurrent abdominal pain and/or bloating with an associated change in bowel habits that cannot be explained after medical testing. The change in bowel habits includes diarrhea and/or constipation. It affects up to 20% of the adult population, and is more common in women. Historically, other terms have been used for IBS to include spastic colon, nervous colon and colitis.

For a long time, IBS was dismissed as a psychosomatic condition since no cause could be found, despite the patient’s symptoms. Today, research suggests there are potentially many causes of IBS. One of the theories suggests there could be abnormal contractions of the intestinal muscle resulting in inefficient movement of stool through the bowel. Other research points to a heightened sensitivity of the bowels to normal bowel function (a normal amount of gas or intestinal movement is felt to be excessive). Stress and anxiety are felt to play a role in IBS symptoms (it is known that stress and anxiety can affect the bowels), however neither are felt to be the cause of IBS. A history of physical, verbal or sexual abuse is more common in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, though how this plays into the cause is not known. Other possibilities include bowel infections and food intolerances.

IBS is usually diagnosed by a doctor. Some symptoms are not consistent with IBS and would prompt more extensive evaluation. These symptoms include blood in the stool, weight loss, severe diarrhea, fever, rectal pain or severe abdominal pain. Finding anemia or elevated inflammatory markers on the laboratory studies would also prompt further evaluation.

"Taking a history, performing a physical exam and ordering some simple laboratory tests is usually all that is required to arrive at the diagnosis of IBS.”

IBS can cause a great deal of discomfort, both physically and emotionally. Some patients with daily symptoms can have significant disruptions in their daily activities, resulting in missing work or even becoming housebound. Since the cause of IBS is not known, the goal of therapy is to help the patient manage their symptoms.

On a positive note, it is important to know that less than 5% of patients diagnosed with IBS will be diagnosed with another disease over time. Researchers continue to search out the cause of IBS and improve the various treatment options available.

Dr. Peller – Southside Medical Clinic
For information or to schedule an appointment:
715.830.9990 | www.oakleafmedical.com
Dr. Peller sees patients in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Cumberland.