Forsyth Medical Center 
Colorectal
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
| Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a pattern of symptoms such as pain and bloating that tend to occur together. It is a common disorder that may affect up to 30 percent of all Americans at some time during their lives. |
Symptoms of IBS may include:
- Constipation and/or diarrhea
- Cramps
- Urgency
- Gassy, bloated feeling in abdomen
- Mucus in bowel movements
Treatments of IBS include:
- Stress reduction
- Increasing amounts of non-digestible, bulk-forming foods in diet
- Increase water intake
- Medications to help intestinal muscles contract normally
Those with IBS should avoid the following foods:
- Caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, cola)
-
Dairy products (milk, cheese)
- Be sure to supplement the lost calcium intake when dairy is avoided in the diet.
- Alcohol (beer, wine, cocktails)
