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Once called ‘spastic colon’, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that involves the entire digestive tract. Symptoms vary from person to person and frequently change over time. They can include any combination of constipation, diarrhoea, gas, bloating, fatigue, abdominal pain or cramping, and headaches. With IBS there is no structural damage to the body – the disorder is believed to stem from impaired nervous system regulation of the normal functioning of the lower digestive tract. Inflammation at the microscopic level in the lower intestine may also play a role; however, IBS is distinct from IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.