Irritable Bowel Syndrome A short car ride home or sitting in the middle of a class can be an uncomfortable and painful experience for someone with irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the large intestine (colon) that interferes with the normal functions of the intestine (NIH, 2003, para. 1). Symptoms can vary from person to person, but are usually characterized by diarrhea, bloating, constipation and abdominal pain. According to the National Institutes of Health, 1 in 5 Americans suffer from IBS, and women in their 20s are more likely to suffer from it, making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. To diagnose IBS, make an appointment with your doctor to undergo medical tests such as a physical exam, blood tests, bowel x-rays, or endoscopy (AGA, 2005, para.4). The physical symptoms of IBS are that you must have had abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 12 weeks of the previous 12 months, although not necessarily consecutive. Also, if abdominal pain or discomfort is relieved by having a bowel movement, you may have symptoms of IBS (NIH, par.4). Unfortunately, there is no cure for IBS, but there are a wide variety of options to treat symptoms such as medications, stress management, and dietary changes. Antidepressants can also relieve some IBS symptoms. In people with IBS, stress and emotions can strongly affect the colon. As college students we deal with stress every day, and to prevent stress from causing serious physical harm, you need to know how to deal with it. If you feel mentally or emotionally tense, angry, or overwhelmed, this can trigger colon spasms in people with IBS. These strong muscle contractions can result from mental stress because the nerves that control the normal rhythmic contractions of the colon are connected to the brain (AGA, par.3). Some tips for reducing stress are getting adequate amount of sleep, getting regular exercise to reduce tension, exploring the benefits of meditation and yoga, and eating a well-balanced diet. How you eat can also affect your IBS symptoms. As research highlights, dietary fiber can reduce some IBS symptoms such as constipation. High fiber diets consist of whole grain breads and cereals, beans, fruits and vegetables (Alice, 2003, para.2). Drinking six to eight glasses of water is also important, but drinking sodas and carbonated drinks can cause increased gas and discomfort.