The colon responds strongly to stimuli (for example, foods or stress) that would not bother most people coeliac-coeliac-disease The colon, which is about 5 feet long, connects the small intestine with the rectum and anus coeliac-coeliac-disease The major function of the colon is to absorb water, nutrients, and salts from the the partially digested food that enters from the small intestine coeliac-coeliac-disease Two pints of liquid matter enter the colon from the small intestine each day coeliac-coeliac-disease Stool volume is a third of a pint coeliac-coeliac-disease The difference in volume represents what the colon absorbs each day coeliac-coeliac-disease The following have been been associated with a worsening of IBS symptoms: The lining of the colon (epithelium) , which is affected by the immune and nervous systems, regulates the passage of fluids in and out of the colon coeliac-coeliac-disease In IBS, the epithelium appears to work properly coeliac-coeliac-disease However, fast movement of the colon's colon's contents can overcome the absorptive capacity of the colon coeliac-coeliac-disease The result is too much fluid in the stool coeliac-coeliac-disease In other patients, colonic movement is too slow, too much fluid is absorbed, and constipation develops coeliac-coeliac-disease The NIDDK conducts and supports research into many kinds of digestive disorders, including including IBS coeliac-coeliac-disease Researchers are studying gastrointestinal motility and sensitivity to find possible treatments for IBS coeliac-coeliac-disease These studies include the structure and contraction of gastrointestinal muscles as well as the mechanics of fluid movement through the intestines coeliac-coeliac-disease Understanding the influence of the nerves, hormones, and inflammation in IBS may may lead to new treatments to better control the symptoms coeliac-coeliac-disease The normal motility of the colon may not work properly coeliac-coeliac-disease It can be spasmodic or can even stop temporarily coeliac-coeliac-disease Spasms are sudden strong muscle contractions that come and go coeliac-coeliac-disease What are the symptoms of IBS? What causes causes one person to have IBS and not another? No one knows coeliac-coeliac-disease Symptoms cannot be traced to a single organic cause coeliac-coeliac-disease Research suggests that people with IBS seem to have a colon that is more sensitive and reactive than usual to a variety of things, including certain foods and and stress coeliac-coeliac-disease Some evidence indicates that the immune system, which fights infection, is also involved coeliac-coeliac-disease IBS symptoms result from the following: What does the colon do? What is the treatment for IBS? wheat, rye, barley, chocolate, milk products, or alcohol When it starts, there is a change in how how often you have a bowel movement coeliac-coeliac-disease When it starts, there is a change in the form of the stool or the way it looks coeliac-coeliac-disease With any medication, even over-the-counter medications such as laxatives and fiber supplements, it is important to follow your doctor's instructions coeliac-coeliac-disease Laxatives can be | 