Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

• While the name is probably indication enough, this type of irritable bowel syndrome is generally characterized by bouts of fairly intense diarrhea for a length of approximately three days. Usually, a person with diarrhea-predominant IBS will experience loose or watery stools around three times a day, though it can be more or less depending on the person. These loose bowel movements will typically occur after meals (or eating) and are often accompanied by cramps and bloating, which are generally relieved after going to the bathroom.
  
  

Constipation-Predominant IBS

• Constipation-predominant IBS is essentially the opposite of diarrhea-predominant IBS, as this condition manifests as bouts of constipation where you will ultimately only have about three bowel movements in a week's time. With this form of irritable bowels, your stool is rather hard and can be difficult to pass, even when it is small in size. Many times, people with constipation-predominant IBS will feel as if they've still got stool to pass after they have gone to the bathroom, but cannot pass it. Though this type of IBS doesn't generally come with cramping, people will often complain of bloating and gas.
  
  

Combination IBS

• If you hadn't guessed, combination IBS will be a combination of the two other forms of this condition. People will alternate between bouts of diarrhea and constipation with cramping, bloating and gas. There stool will be loose for a period of time and then hard for another stretch, or vice versa.
  
  

Other Symptoms

• Though the majority of the problems with IBS will involve the bowels, there are a number of other issues that can accompany this digestive disorder, including headache, fatigue, pressure to the lower back, insomnia and loss of libido. Some people have even suffered from depression or heart palpitations during episodes. These are not necessarily indicative of the condition, so you should consult your physician when experiencing such symptoms.
  
  

Causes

• Since no two people are really alike, the cause of irritable bowel syndrome will differ from person to person. According to the Department of Gastroenterology at the Cleveland Clinic, some researchers believe that it has everything to do with the muscles of the bowels, in that they do not contract like those in a "normal" organ. Other experts believe that it has everything to do with stimulus, be it diet, lifestyle or stress. In this scenario, the bowel reacts to stimulus differently than it should normally, instigating spasms that can cause either constipation or diarrhea. There are even those experts who insist it has a lot to do with hormones, since more women than men suffer from IBS. No matter the actual cause, people with IBS will generally suffer the same symptoms and have the same treatments available.
  
  

Treatments

• The predominant form of treatment will be a change in lifestyle, which usually means eliminating stimulants like caffeine or nicotine; increasing dietary fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables and whole-grains; improving hydration through water intake and relieving overall stress. Sometimes, people will also take medications for IBS, especially when a change in lifestyle alone hasn't shown an improvement in the condition. Medications can run from antispasmotics and laxatives to Imodium and fiber supplements.