Ask Dr. Shah

IBS is not a life-threatening disorder. IBS has not been shown to lead to any serious, organic diseases. No link has been established between IBS and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. IBS does not lead to cancer.

Moreover the severity of symptoms of IBS varies from person to person and for vast majority of the sufferers it is just a nuisance. In small proportion of people having severe symptoms, IBS can have a negative impact on one's lifestyle. Such individual may experience difficulties performing their jobs or attending social functions or traveling.

However, if IBS symptoms go untreated in an individual with severe symptoms such as severe chronic constipation or severe chronic diarrhea, the person can have other complications that may affect their health.

1. A person with either type of distress can end up with depression, anxiety, emotional problems, or mental health problems, which need to be treated, as this will further worsen the IBS symptoms, causing a downward spiral in the individual's mood, quality of life, and overall health.

2. A person with severe constipation may get anal fissures (tiny cuts in the colon) noticeable by blood in the stool, leaving the individual possibly more susceptible to infection. Prolonged contractions of the colon, in some, may lead to Diverticulosis, a disorder in which balloon-like pockets push out from the bowel wall because of excessive, prolonged contractions.

3. A person with chronic diarrhea that goes untreated may suffer from lack of nutrition, vitamin deficiencies, sudden weight loss, and severe dehydration.

Other disorders such as Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis (together called as inflammatory bowel diseases/ IBD) can mimic IBS symptoms and these disorders can have more serious complications.

	IBS	IBD
Pathology	IBS is a functional disorder without having evidence of inflammation or ulceration inside the digestive tract.	IBD is a condition characterized by inflammation and ulceration inside the lining of digestive tract.
Symptoms	Many patients of IBS present with constipation or constipation alternating with diarrhea. Patients with IBS may pass mucus but not the blood in the stools.	Patients usually present with diarrhea rather than constipation.
Symptoms	Patients with IBS may pass mucus but not the blood in the stools.	IBD patients usually present with bloody diarrhea.
Investigations	Reports like stool test, x-rays, endoscopies do not reveal any abnormality.	IBD patients depict typical findings during investigations like x-rays and endoscopies.
Future	IBS is relatively a minor condition without posing any danger of complications or cancer.	IBD is relatively a serious condition with known side-effects and some chances of developing cancer.