The bowel is the lower, or large intestine, also called the colon. It is much more prevalent in women than in men. The symptoms, which can range from mild to severe, include abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, usually constipation or diarrhea.
Some people experience alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea.
A Poorly-Understood Condition IBS is a somewhat mysterious disorder. The cause is unknown. It may be that a number of contributing factors combine in just the right way to create an ultra-sensitivity in the bowel. This sensitivity makes the symptoms flare up in response to certain triggers. You may not be familiar with the term irritable bowel syndrome, but you've probably heard of colitis and spastic colon.