Bowel, Constipation and IBS

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What irritable bowel syndrome is

This is a condition where tests show nothing particularly wrong, yet abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation) keep coming back. It is not life-threatening, but it lowers quality of life a lot. It is closely tied to stress and eating habits, so managing it matters.

Source: 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 · as of 2026-08-05

These changes need testing

  • Blood in the stool, or black stools
  • Unexplained weight loss, or diarrhea that wakes you at night to use the toilet
  • A change in bowel habits that newly appears after age 50
  • Symptoms that persist when there is a family history of colorectal cancer

In these cases it is safer to have it checked with a colonoscopy at gastroenterology (소화기내과).

Source: 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 · as of 2026-08-05

How to manage it

  • Constipation type: more water and dietary fiber, regular meals and exercise, and do not hold in the urge to go
  • Diarrhea type: keep a diary to find and cut back trigger foods such as greasy food, dairy, and artificial sweeteners
  • A low-FODMAP diet helps some people, so if it is severe, discuss it at your appointment
  • Medicines matched to your symptoms (antispasmodics, laxatives and so on) can be prescribed

Source: 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 · as of 2026-08-05

Frequently asked questions

Do probiotics help?

They help some people, but the effect differs by strain, so they are hard to recommend across the board. Try them for 4~8 weeks, and if nothing changes there is no need to keep going.

Sources for this page

· 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 (as of 2026-08-05)

Last checked: 2026년 8월 5일
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