Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS Basics
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an alteration of the intestinal bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea) accompanied by various symptoms (bloating, abdominal swelling, pain) affecting approximately 10 to 20% of the population.
Many people with IBS do not consult the doctor and, in the presence of these symptoms, they take some medication on their own. For this reason, it is an under-diagnosed condition.
Irritable bowel syndrome can affect person’s quality of life and is the leading cause of absence from work. While it is a syndrome with no cure, it can be controlled through medication and proper diet.
The typical symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome usually appear after a period of stress and then cease for a while and come back later.
These symptoms include:
- Constipation, diarrhea (sometimes alternating periods of constipation often with periods of diarrhea)
- Swelling / bloating
- Stomach cramps
- Tenesmus (a feeling of incomplete defecation)
These gastrointestinal symptoms are often accompanied by others that characterize irritable bowel syndrome:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Depression, anxiety
If you suffer from these symptoms, consult your doctor who will make a proper diagnosis. Be aware if you also have blood in the stool, fever, intense abdominal pain.
Long Distance Telephone Appointments
If you are not local to the clinic, Michelle Honda PhD Holistic Doctor can conduct telephone appointments with you very easily. So if you are anywhere in North America, you can now successfully receive high end, specialized help for your Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. If you are local to the clinic in Hamilton, Toronto or Mississauga Ontario – by all means come in for your appointment. If not, telephone appointments are very popular and convenient.
