Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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IBS is Not a Disease
Although
the symptoms of IBS may be severe, the disorder itself is not a serious
one. There is no actual disease present in the colon. In fact, an
operation performed on the abdomen would reveal a perfectly normal
appearing bowel. Rather, it is a problem of abnormal function. The condition usually begins in young people, often below 40. It is not uncommon in the teens. The symptoms may wax and wane, being particularly severe at some times and absent at others. Over the years, the symptoms tend to become less intense.
IBS is very common and is present in perhaps half the patients that see a specialist in gastroenterology. It tends to run in families. The disorder does not lead to cancer. Prolonged contractions of the colon, however, may lead to diverticulosis, a disorder in which balloon-like pockets push out from the bowel wall because of excessive, prolonged contractions.
