Meditation helps us relax, but that’s not its only benefit. People who meditate can lower their blood pressure, improve their circulation and increase their overall feeling of well-being.

But research shows that meditation may relieve IBD and IBS symptoms, according to a pair of studies conducted in the past few years on the link between stress and digestive issues.

Are you looking for ways to manage your IBS or Crohn’s disease in your daily life?

Like the iPhone commercials used to say, there’s an app for that. In fact, there are several smartphone apps to help manage IBS and Crohn’s disease. In this week’s blog post, we’ll look at a few that can help you cope with your symptoms.

There’s a lot we know about irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.

For example, we know it affects up to 25 million people around the U.S.  We know what it’s symptoms look like: gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, cramps and abdominal pain. And we know that, while there is no cure, there are ways to deal with those symptoms.

But does IBS run in families? When it comes to the causes of IBS, science is still somewhat in the dark. There is evidence that it’s the result of anxiety and depression, past traumas, diets and genetics.

When you live with irritable bowel syndrome, you might feel like your illness limits your potential.

No one wants to worry about IBS symptoms like bloating, constipation and diarrhea at home, let alone another city or country.

But with planning, resolve, and a dose of courage, it’s possible for you to explore unfamiliar places despite your illness. Here a few tips for traveling with IBS.

While the origins of irritable bowel syndrome may be murky, one thing is clear: it’s an illness that affects women far more than men.

A growing body of research shows that hormones such as progesterone and estrogen may be the reason. Let’s take a closer look at how hormones affect IBS symptoms.