Colon cancer causes rectal bleeding while IBS does not. Other signs and symptoms of colon cancer that do not occur in IBS include anemia due to blood loss, fatigue, pale skin, unexplained weight loss, and rectal pain. Irritable bowel syndrome is not contagious and does not cause colon cancer.
Can IBS cause long term damage?
But the good news is that the syndrome does not cause permanent harm to the intestines, doesn’t lead to intestinal bleeding and doesn’t cause cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis). Moreover, if you have IBS, you may not have symptoms all the time. IBS is often chronic.
Can you die from irritable bowel syndrome?
Pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea or constipation hit frequently or for long stretches — or both. Stress doesn’t cause these symptoms, which are known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but tension can make them worse. You won’t die from IBS or suffer serious health consequences, but it can make life miserable.
What is the difference between irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease, including UC and CD, is different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Unlike IBD, IBS does not cause inflammation, ulcers or other damage to the bowel. Instead, IBS is a much less serious problem called a functional disorder. IBS has also been called spastic colon or spastic bowel.