What is the impact of IBS?
IBS is a common intestinal problem, particularly for women. It is said that the true impact of Irritable Bowel Syndrome can range from a mild nuisance to severe debilitation. It affects many factors in a person’s life such as the emotional and social aspects. The difficulty arises when the person finds it difficult to overcome the symptoms that lead to impairment of their everyday activities. Ilene Trevore is editor of http://www.IBS-Tips.com, the online guide to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. She also writes IBS FAQ’s for http://www.prettygreatanswers.com/articles/IBSQuestions/ .
IBS can affect the physical, social and emotional well being of sufferers. In a recent study, symptoms restricted participation in sports and recreational activities and interfered with intimacy or patients sex lives in one-third of IBS sufferers. On average, IBS symptoms caused women to change social plans or alter personal activities three days per month. That translates into 18 disrupted weekends per year. In addition, more than 70 percent of those patients may suffer from their IBS symptoms more often than once a week. IBS also has a severe economic toll, costing the U.S. healthcare system up to an estimated $30 billion annually. These statistics clearly demonstrate the need for women who experience the abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating and constipation associated with IBS to speak openly with their doctor for proper diagnosis and care.
