Understanding the Four Types of IBS
January 29, 2026
One day you might feel fine, and the next you’re dealing with debilitating cramps, bloating, and unpredictable bathroom emergencies.
Where some people eat to live, most live to eat. With this juxtaposition, your colon health plays a truly important role in day to day activities.
Where some people eat to live, most live to eat. With this juxtaposition, your colon health plays a truly important role in day to day activities. It is quite common for people to ignore seemingly harmless symptoms of heartburn and stomach aches, but it is crucial to take such matters into the hands of medical professionals to assess risk and treatment options.
Whether or not you are experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, it is important to regularly schedule checkups with your doctor. During these visits, you will be given opportunities to screen for medical issues, determine your risk of future medical problems, plan for a healthy lifestyle, and help you get to know your provider in case of an illness.
If you are under age 50, you should be screened if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps. Screening may also be considered if you have risk factors such as a history of inflammatory bowel disease.
If you are between ages 50 to 75, you should be screened for colorectal cancer. There are several screening tests available. Some common screening tests include:
You may need a colonoscopy more often if you have risk factors for colon cancer, such as:
One in five men has felt the burning discomfort of heartburn in the past month, and for many men it is a chronic malady requiring daily medication. For a variety of reasons, those with chronic heartburn end up having one or more endoscopies, in which a doctor uses a flexible lighted instrument to check for trouble down below in the esophagus.
With this procedure, you can be assured of the accuracy of the diagnosis. An endoscopy—upper or lower—is more accurate than an X-ray for detecting inflammation, ulcers, or small tumors of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, or lower GI tract. Endoscopy is also excellent for finding the causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. If you have had major surgery, it can be used to evaluate the inside of your esophagus or stomach to search for signs of bleeding.
One day you might feel fine, and the next you’re dealing with debilitating cramps, bloating, and unpredictable bathroom emergencies.
A person can have polyps for years and be completely unaware, which is why screening is so important.
An IBS self-assessment of your symptoms can suggest you have the condition, but it cannot replace a clinical evaluation.
A diet rich in diverse, whole foods supports a wide variety of good bacteria, a state known as high microbiota diversity.
Dealing with diarrhea is never pleasant. The urgent, frequent trips to the bathroom leave you feeling drained and uncomfortable.
Understanding the link between IBS and hemorrhoids is the first step toward finding effective relief and improving your quality of life.
By focusing on credentials, key quality metrics like ADR, and your own comfort, you can make an empowered choice.
Fatigue is not just a minor complaint for those with IBS; it’s a major, pervasive issue. This isn’t just feeling a little tired; it’s a profound sense of exhaustion that isn’t relieved by rest.
The connection between your weight and your reflux symptoms is a two-way street, with each one influencing the other.
A primary care doctor is an excellent starting point; finding a specialist who understands the complexities of IBS can be a game-changer.
Knowing what to expect can help ensure you are fully prepared for your colonoscopy, a critical tool in preventing colorectal cancer.
When a flare-up strikes, the natural instinct is to reach for pain relievers. But can these common medications help, or make things worse?
