Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): What Increases Your Risk
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What Increases Your Risk
It is estimated that between 10% and 15% of people in North America have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).6 Only about 30% of people with IBS will consult a doctor about their symptoms.7
IBS tends to be more common in:
- People younger than age 35. Half of the people who have IBS develop symptoms before age 35, and 40% develop symptoms between the ages of 35 and 50.8
- Women. IBS is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men.9
- People who have panic disorder or other psychological conditions.
- People who have a family history of IBS.
- People who have a history of physical or sexual abuse or other psychological trauma. Several studies have found a link between a past history of abuse and gastrointestinal disorders.4
- People with other conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome (which causes severe fatigue), fibromyalgia (which causes widespread muscle and soft-tissue pain and tenderness), and temporomandibular (TM) disorder (which causes pain and discomfort in the jaw muscles and joint).
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| Last updated: | June 15, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Arvydas D. Vanagunas, MD - Gastroenterology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman |
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