Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Treatment
 Irritable bowel syndrome (or IBS) is a long-term condition that affects the digestive tract of many people. While there is no cure for IBS, the symptoms are often very manageable. However, since symptoms can vary in severity from person to person, IBS treatment is different for everyone. The most common symptoms that people experience range from cramping to bloating to severe pain. There is no definitive cause for IBS, but it is believed to be triggered in people with sensitive intestines by stress and some types of food.
The most common type of IBS treatment is simply prevention, and many suffers find that they have the most success when they try to prevent symptoms from occurring rather than dealing with them after they present themselves. This proactive approach may include:
- Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
- Increasing fiber intake to avoid constipation
- Avoiding foods that cause gas
- Getting plenty of rigorous exercise
- Practicing stress management techniques
Your doctor may also prescribe medications as part of your IBS treatment to help control your symptoms if they are severe or other methods fail to work. Your health care provider may be able to help you figure out what is causing your IBS symptoms and help you create a plan to manage the condition. Lifestyle changes, such as major changes in diet and adopting an exercise plan, may be part of your IBS treatment.
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