Irritable Bowel Syndrome Questions and Answers

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Q For a few years now I have had to deal with abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation. I'm 45 years old, and I've had this condition for the past two years. I really don't know if certain foods aggravate the condition because the discomfort just seems to occur without warning. What could be my problem? A.W., Phoenix

A Abdominal problems could result because of a variety of reasons, but your description appears to indicate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is a chronic condition that's characterized by abdominal pain or cramping and changes in bowel function.

Doctors say IBS is a functional disorder of the intestines that currently affects 40 million Americans. It affects nearly two times as many women as men and typically begins in late adolescence, but can affect people of any age.

In IBS sufferers, the intestines squeeze too hard or not hard enough, causing slow or accelerated movement of waste through the intestines. It isn't a life-threatening condition, and it can be controlled by eating a healthy diet that includes enough fiber and by avoiding foods that aggravate the condition--fatty and spicy foods, milk products, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate.