A bad bellyache or bout of the stomach flu isn’t IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome is a life-long condition that brings severe stomach pain and repeated diarrhea, constipation, or both. Between 25 million and 45 million people in the U.S. have IBS.
It’s More Than an Inconvenience
You don’t know when IBS symptoms will strike, or how bad they will be. Sometimes, they’re manageable. Other times, they’re disabling. Someone with IBS-D (IBS with diarrhea) may have 10 or more bouts of loose stools a day – even with medication. Symptoms get in the way of work, school, and social activities.
It’s Not Just a Woman’s Disease
Yes, IBS is more common in females. But guys get it, too. About 1 in 3 people who have IBS are male. However, guys in North America are less likely to tell their doctors about it than fellas from other continents.