Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects the large intestine and can cause bloating, abdominal cramping and a change in bowel habits. Some patients with IBS have constipation while others have diarrhea. Some people go back and forth between the two. Though IBS is uncomfortable, it does not harm the intestines.
IBS is common and more frequently affects women than men. No one knows the exact cause of IBS, but most people can control symptoms with a change in diet, medicine and stress management.