Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon. There are many causes of constipation including:

• Medications
• Poor bowel habits
• Low fiber diets
• Abuse of laxatives
• Hormonal disorders and
• Diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Learn about symptoms, causes, and foods that trigger IBS. Get lifestyle tips for managing IBS through diet and with IBS medications.

IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) are both problems with the digestive tract (gastrointestinal or GI tract), but they are not the same disease. IBS is a functional disorder (a problem with the way the GI tract functions), and IBD is a disease that causes chronic prolonged inflammation of the GI tract, that can lead to ulcers and other problems that may require surgery. The most common forms of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, or UC.

Researchers do not know the exact cause of either disease, but they believe that IBS may be caused and triggered by a variety of factors (foods, stress, and the nervous system of the GI tract), while IBD may be genetic or due a problem with the immune system.

Common symptoms of both diseases are an urgent need to have a bowel movement, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain and cramping.

There are differences between the signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, for example, symptoms unique to IBD are:

• Fever
• Joint pain or soreness
• Skin changes
• Rectal bleeding
• Anemia
• Eye redness or pain
• Unintentional weight loss
• Feeling tired

Symptoms unique to irritable bowel syndrome include:

• Sexual problems
• Fibromyalgia
• Abdominal bloating
• Whitish mucous in the stool
• Changes in bowel movements and in the way stools look
• An urgent need to urinate
• Urinating frequently

Treatment for IBS is with diet recommendations from a doctor or nutritionist, medication, and lifestyle changes like stress management and avoiding foods that trigger the condition. Treatments for IBD depend upon the type of disease, its symptoms, and health of the patient. Surgery may be necessary for some individuals.

REFERENCES:

Brown, AC, et al. "Existing Dietary Guidelines for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis." Medscape.

Lehrer, J. "Irritable Bowel Syndrome." Medscape. Updated: Apr 04, 2017.

Rowe, W. "Inflammatory Bowel Disease." Medscape. Updated: Jun 17, 2016.

Romanowski, A, MS, RD. "Matching the Right Diet to the Right Patient." Medscape. Jan 27, 2017.

IBS-D or irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea refers to IBS with diarrhea. Symptoms of IBS-D include

• intestinal gas (flatulence),
• loose stools,
• frequent stools,
• abdominal pain,
• diarrhea, and
• nausea.

New non-FDA approved IBS tests may help diagnose IBS and IBS-D. Treatment of IBS-D is geared to toward managing symptoms with diet, medication, and lifestyle changes.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a GI (gastrointestinal) disorder with signs and symptoms of:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Increased gas (flatulence)
• Abdominal cramping
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Food intolerance

Two new tests are now available that may help diagnose irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea and constipation (IBS-M) and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D). Treatment for IBS includes diet changes, medications, and other lifestyle changes to manage symptoms.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children is a functional gastrointestinal disorder with signs and symptoms of:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Constipation

The cause of IBS is unknown, however, certain foods, stress, anxiety, and depression may contribute to the symptoms of IBS. There is no cure for IBS in children; however, medications, dietary changes, and stress management may relieve symptoms.

Stool color changes can very from green, red, maroon, yellow, white, or black. Causes of changes of stool color can range from foods a person eats, medication, diseases or conditions, pregnancy, cancer, or tumors. Stool can also have texture changes such as greasy or floating stools. Stool that has a uncharacteristically foul odor may be caused by infections such as giardiasis or medical conditions.