Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract and causes symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation and bloating. People with IBS are typically diagnosed during their teens and early adulthood. According to gastroenterologist Pranav Periyalwar, MD, it’s rare for people to be diagnosed with IBS in late adulthood.
One of the challenges of diagnosing IBS is that many of its symptoms also are produced by conditions such as lactose intolerance and inflammatory bowel disease. “It’s the overlap of specific symptoms we look for when diagnosing IBS,” said Dr. Periyalwar. “The duration of these symptoms also gives us insight.”
To provide a starting point for dealing with IBS, Dr. Periyalwar shared the top signs of this condition. If you have experienced these symptoms or are concerned about IBS, our gastroenterologists can help.
