3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
This condition can come in the form of diarrhea, constipation, or a mixture of the two. If your flow seems off for a few days, there’s no need to assume that you’ve got IBS—it’s diagnosed after six months of chronic abdominal pain and change in the form or frequency of bowel movements, says Kisiel. IBS is actually pretty common: According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, between 25 and 45 million people in the U.S. have IBS.
Unfortunately, experts aren’t sure exactly what causes IBS (it’s a chronic illness). But it’s seen more in women than in men, because women’s bowels tend to be less supported in the pelvis. Regardless, if you have any strange symptoms, such as nocturnal bowel movements (getting up just to go), blood in the toilet, fevers, anemia, and unintentional weight loss, those are signs you should seek medical attention and talk to your doctor.
If you’re diagnosed, your doc can prescribe meds to manage the symptoms, and in rare cases, refer you for a colon cancer screening, especially if you have a family history of the disease. Staying up to date on preventative colon cancer screenings is important, because there aren’t often symptoms in the early stages.
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