Irritable Bowel SyndromeA 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 normal bowel functions (NIH, 2003, para.1). Symptoms can vary from person to person, but are generally characterized by diarrhea, bloating, constipation and abdominal pain. According to the National Institutes of Health, 1 in 5 Americans suffer from IBS, and women around age 20 are more prone to it, making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. To diagnose IBS, make an appointment with your doctor to have a medical examination such as a physical exam, blood tests, bowel X-ray, or endoscopy (AGA, 2005, para. 4). The physical symptoms of IBS are that you must have experienced abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 12 weeks in the previous 12 months, although it does not have to be consecutive. Additionally, if your abdominal pain or discomfort is relieved by the bowel movement, then you may have symptoms of IBS (NIH, paragraph 4). Unfortunately, there is no cure for IBS, but there are a wide variety of options for treating symptoms, such as medication, stress management, and diet changes. Antidepressants can also relieve some IBS symptoms. In people with IBS, stress and emotions can greatly affect the colon. As students, we face 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, para.3). Some suggestions for reducing stress include getting enough sleep, exercising regularly to reduce tension, exploring the benefits of meditation and yoga, and eating a well-balanced diet. The way you eat can also affect IBS symptoms. As research shows, dietary fiber can improve some symptoms of IBS, such as constipation. Diets high in fiber consist of whole grain breads and cereals, beans, fruits and vegetables (Alice, 2003, para.2). It's also important to drink six to eight glasses of water, but drinking soda and soft drinks can lead to increased gas and discomfort..