Irritable bowel syndrome is incredibly common in the United States and throughout the world, yet there’s still a lot researchers don’t know about it. It’s not yet crystal clear what causes the chronic digestive symptoms of IBS, considering the condition leaves no evidence of a problem in the digestive tract.
This mystery creates a problem: When doctors don’t know what’s causing a health issue, they usually don’t have a perfect way to treat it. Treatment for IBS “requires a multidisciplinary approach, and it’s really about focusing on the patient’s symptoms and improvement in their symptoms,” says Benjamin Cohen, MD, gastroenterologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Dr. Cohen is a gastroenterologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
References
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2017). Definitions & facts for irritable bowel syndrome.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2017). Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.
Wald, A. (2023). Patient education: irritable bowel syndrome (beyond the basics). UpToDate.
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