Anne Arundel Gastroenterology Associates Blog

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) isn’t just one of the most common intestinal disorders, it’s also one of the hardest to treat effectively. It’s not as if there’s a magical pill that’ll make the gut-wrenching symptoms of IBS – abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, constipation and/or diarrhea – simply go away. At best, some medications relieve some of the symptoms for some people.

There are many different types of digestive disorders, which can range from mildly uncomfortable and temporary, to chronic and even life threatening. The digestive system starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. The digestive tract is a series of connected organs that take in food, digest it, remove the nutrients, and then expel the waste. Although it may sound simple, there is a tightly orchestrated ballet of chemicals, hormones, and other extremely complex interactions that have to happen in a very precise way in order for your body to properly use and excuse the food you eat.