Some people also have dietary intolerances to substances such as fructose, he said, and those symptoms can mimic IBS.
One factor that definitely does not cause IBS, Rao said, is stress -- though he said it could trigger symptoms in people who already have the digestive disorder.
A specific diagnostic test doesn't exist for IBS so to diagnose it, doctors must rule out other potentially more serious causes of digestive symptoms, such as colon cancer or Crohn's disease. Methods used to do this, Sandborn and Rao said, include blood tests, CT scans, a hydrogen breath test, endoscopy and colonoscopy.
Treatment generally aims to ease symptoms. People whose major problem is diarrhea may be given fiber supplements and possibly anti-diarrheal medications, according to Sandborn. For those whose main symptom is constipation, a doctor might suggest stool softeners.
Sandborn cautioned that people with IBS should "try to avoid stimulant laxatives as these can damage the bowel if used chronically." But he said that natural, beneficial bacteria known as probiotics -- whether from yogurt or a supplement -- may help ease some IBS symptoms.
Dietary changes also may help, but there's "not a perfect diet for this that helps everyone," Sandborn said. He suggested working with a nutritionist to try to eliminate foods that might trigger symptoms while still maintaining a balanced diet.
On the medication front, the antibiotic rifaximin, which is prescribed for traveler's diarrhea, may prove helpful for some people with IBS, though Sandborn said it's currently not approved for this use. Another medication that's being investigated for use in IBS with constipation and is currently under review by the FDA is linaclotide.
The only FDA-approved drug for IBS is alosetron (Lotronex), which was approved for IBS with di
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