Definition

Noun: - A common functional gastrointestinal disorder: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition characterized by a group of symptoms that occur together, primarily involving recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, without evidence of underlying damage or disease in the digestive tract.

Usage

Irritable bowel syndrome is used as a non-countable noun to name the medical condition. It is often abbreviated as IBS. - Her doctor diagnosed her symptoms as irritable bowel syndrome. - Managing irritable bowel syndrome often involves dietary changes and stress reduction.

Advanced Usage

• "IBS-D": A subtype of irritable bowel syndrome where diarrhea (D) is the predominant symptom.
  • Patients with IBS-D may experience urgent and frequent bowel movements.
• "IBS-C": A subtype of irritable bowel syndrome where constipation (C) is the predominant symptom.
  • Treatment for IBS-C often focuses on increasing fiber intake.

Variants and Related Words

• IBS (abbreviation): The common acronym for irritable bowel syndrome.
  • He was reading an article about new treatments for IBS.
• Spastic colon (dated term): An older, less precise name for irritable bowel syndrome, reflecting the symptom of colon muscle spasms.
  • The term "spastic colon" has largely been replaced by "irritable bowel syndrome".

Synonyms

• Functional bowel disorder: A broader category of digestive issues where the gut-brain interaction is impaired, and irritable bowel syndrome is the most common example.
• Mucous colitis (dated/less accurate): An outdated term that is sometimes incorrectly used interchangeably with irritable bowel syndrome.

Related Phrases

• IBS flare-up / IBS attack: A period when symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome worsen significantly.
  • Stress at work triggered a severe IBS flare-up.
• IBS management: The ongoing process of controlling the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
  • Effective IBS management is key to improving quality of life.

Noun

1. recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea (often alternating with periods of constipation); often associated with emotional stress