Is irritable bowel syndrome just stomach pain that gets better by farting?

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on April 11, 2025
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is primarily a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, and changes in the nature of stools, meaning there are alternations between diarrhea and constipation. A notable feature of the abdominal pain associated with IBS is that it often diminishes after defecation. Therefore, it is not necessarily true that pain relief or disappearance occurs after passing gas; typically, the relief comes after bowel movements, this is a characteristic of the condition. In cases of abdominal pain, symptomatic treatment can be applied, for instance, using pain relief medications. If diarrhea is present, anti-diarrheal medications, such as smectite powder, may be used. For constipation, medications that help facilitate bowel movements can be administered. Regular intake of probiotics to adjust the gut flora can also effectively treat this condition.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
1min 9sec home-news-image

Is irritable bowel syndrome just stomach pain that gets better by farting?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is primarily a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, and changes in the nature of stools, meaning there are alternations between diarrhea and constipation. A notable feature of the abdominal pain associated with IBS is that it often diminishes after defecation. Therefore, it is not necessarily true that pain relief or disappearance occurs after passing gas; typically, the relief comes after bowel movements, this is a characteristic of the condition. In cases of abdominal pain, symptomatic treatment can be applied, for instance, using pain relief medications. If diarrhea is present, anti-diarrheal medications, such as smectite powder, may be used. For constipation, medications that help facilitate bowel movements can be administered. Regular intake of probiotics to adjust the gut flora can also effectively treat this condition.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
42sec home-news-image

Do you need to take medication for a long time for irritable bowel syndrome?

Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) do not have organic diseases in their intestines. The main issue is that the threshold of their intestinal tract is relatively low, making it easy for accumulations to occur, which subsequently leads to IBS. Patients are often tense and anxious. Therefore, patients with this condition often need to take medication for a long time to achieve relatively effective symptom control. However, patients with IBS should not be overly nervous or anxious, as IBS does not lead to malignant intestinal changes or other organic intestinal diseases.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Can irritable bowel syndrome cause mucus in stool?

Irritable bowel syndrome commonly presents with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation. Typically, passing mucus in stool is not a symptom of this condition. If mucus in stool occurs, it may suggest chronic colitis. A colonoscopy can be performed to confirm the diagnosis. If the colonoscopy reveals white mucus in the intestines, or signs of mucosal hyperemia, edema, or erosion, chronic colitis can be diagnosed. In terms of treatment, Western medicine primarily uses probiotics to adjust the gut flora. Chinese medicine, on the other hand, treats patients based on syndrome differentiation, using oral herbal medicine as well as external Chinese medicinal methods, which include moxibustion or herbal enemas, among others, to alleviate symptoms and treat the disease.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Does irritable bowel syndrome cause sensitivity to cold?

Irritable bowel syndrome may cause symptoms of feeling cold. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome are greatly influenced by emotions. If a patient is overly tense or anxious, it may lead to a sensation of feeling cold, although there may be no actual drop in body temperature or external temperature. Sometimes, patients with irritable bowel syndrome may need to use anti-anxiety medications for treatment, such as fluoxetine, buspirone, etc. It is also crucial to pay close attention to dietary adjustments, avoiding spicy, irritating, and cold foods, ensuring regular meals, and consuming easily digestible foods. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
56sec home-news-image

Can irritable bowel syndrome cause back pain?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders. Its primary symptoms are abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits and stool characteristics. The abdominal pain is related to bowel movements, meaning that the pain tends to decrease after defecation. These symptoms are a major manifestation of IBS. IBS rarely causes lower back pain. If lower back pain occurs, it is important to consider diseases that commonly cause this symptom, such as lumbar disc herniation, lumbar muscle strain, and kidney diseases like kidney stones and renal colic. Therefore, it is crucial to first identify the specific cause of the lower back pain before proceeding with targeted treatment. IBS is generally not associated with symptoms of lower back pain.