Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common and perplexing conditions gastroenterologists treat.
It affects an estimated 6 percent of people in the United States, with more women diagnosed than men, and causes symptoms so debilitating they can be hard to ignore, including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and constipation.
Scientists don’t know exactly what causes I.B.S., and there is no cure, so the condition is often difficult to manage.
But a new study, published today in the journal The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, offers clues for how best to find relief.
The telltale symptoms of I.B.S.
Persons:
Brian Lacy
Organizations:
Hepatology, Mayo Clinic
Locations:
United States, Jacksonville, Fla, Bloating