If you think you have IBS, seeing your doctor is the first step crohns-crohns-colitis IBS is generally diagnosed on the basis of a complete medical history that includes a careful description of symptoms and a physical examination crohns-crohns-colitis In many cases, dietary fiber may lessen IBS symptoms, particularly constipation crohns-crohns-colitis However, it may not help pain or diarrhea crohns-crohns-colitis Whole grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables are good sources of fiber crohns-crohns-colitis High-fiber diets keep the colon mildly distended, which may help prevent spasms crohns-crohns-colitis Some forms of fiber also keep water in the stool, thereby preventing hard hard stools that are difficult to pass crohns-crohns-colitis Doctors usually recommend a diet with enough fiber to produce soft, painless bowel movements crohns-crohns-colitis High-fiber diets may cause gas and bloating, but these symptoms often go away within a few weeks as your body adjusts crohns-crohns-colitis (For information about diets for for people with celiac disease, please see the Celiac Disease fact sheet from NIDDK.) In people with IBS, stress and emotions can strongly affect the colon crohns-crohns-colitis It has many nerves that connect it to the brain crohns-crohns-colitis Like the heart and the lungs, the colon is partly controlled by by the autonomic nervous system, which has been proven to respond to stress crohns-crohns-colitis For example, when you are frightened, your heart beats faster, your blood pressure may go up, or you may gasp crohns-crohns-colitis The colon responds to stress also crohns-crohns-colitis It may contract too much or too little crohns-crohns-colitis little crohns-crohns-colitis It may absorb too much water or too little crohns-crohns-colitis Is IBS linked to other diseases? It is also important to note that medications affect people differently and that no one medication or combination of medications will work for everyone with IBS crohns-crohns-colitis You need to work with with your doctor to find the best combination of medicine, diet, counseling, and support to control your symptoms crohns-crohns-colitis It is relieved by having a bowel movement crohns-crohns-colitis large meals Medications are an important part of relieving symptoms crohns-crohns-colitis Your doctor may suggest fiber supplements or occasional laxatives for constipation, constipation, as well as medicines to decrease diarrhea, tranquilizers to calm you, or drugs that control colon muscle spasms to reduce abdominal pain crohns-crohns-colitis Antidepressants may also relieve some symptoms crohns-crohns-colitis Medications available to treat IBS specifically are the following: medicines Most people can control their symptoms by taking medicines medicines (laxatives, antidiarrhea medicines, tranquilizers, or antidepressants) , reducing stress, and changing their diet crohns-crohns-colitis No cure has been found for IBS, but many options are available to treat the symptoms crohns-crohns-colitis Your doctor will give you the best treatments available for your particular symptoms and encourage you to manage manage stress and make changes to your diet crohns-crohns-colitis No particular test is specific for IBS crohns-crohns-colitis However, diagnostic tests may be performed to rule out other diseases crohns-crohns-colitis These tests may include stool or blood tests, x rays, or endoscopy (viewing the colon through a flexible tube inserted through through the anus) crohns-crohns-colitis If these tests are all negative, the doctor may diagnose IBS based on your symptoms: that is, how often you have had abdominal pain or discomfort during the past year, when the pain starts and stops in relation to bowel function, and how your bowel bowel frequency and stool consistency are altered crohns-crohns-colitis People with IBS have colons that are more sensitive and react to things that might not bother other people, such as stress, large meals, gas, medicines, certain foods, caffeine, or alcohol crohns-crohns-colitis Points to Remember regular exercise such as walking or yoga yoga Research has shown that very mild or hidden (occult) celiac disease is present in a smaller group of people with symptoms that mimic IBS crohns-crohns-colitis People with celiac disease cannot digest gluten, which is present in wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats crohns-crohns-colitis Foods containing gluten are toxic to to these people, and their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine crohns-crohns-colitis A blood test can determine whether celiac disease is present crohns-crohns-colitis (For information about celiac disease, see the Celiac Disease fact sheet from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) .) Researchers Researchers have also found that women with IBS may have more symptoms during their menstrual periods, suggesting that reproductive hormones can exacerbate IBS problems crohns-crohns-colitis Some evidence suggests that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body crohns-crohns-colitis The immune system is also affected by by stress crohns-crohns-colitis For all these reasons, stress management is an important part of treatment for IBS crohns-crohns-colitis Stress management comprises Sometimes people with IBS have a crampy urge to move their bowels but cannot do so or pass mucus with their bowel movements crohns-crohns-colitis stress reduction (relaxation) training and and relaxation therapies, such as meditation stress, conflict, or emotional upsets Stress--feeling mentally or emotionally tense, troubled, angry, or overwhelmed--stimulates colon spasms in people with IBS crohns-crohns-colitis The colon has a vast supply of nerves that connect it to the brain crohns-crohns-colitis These nerves control the normal rhythmic contractions of of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort at stressful times crohns-crohns-colitis People often experience cramps or butterflies when they are nervous or upset crohns-crohns-colitis But with IBS, the colon can be overly responsive to even slight conflict or stress crohns-crohns-colitis Stress also makes the mind more tuned to the sensations | 