To add to the difficulty in establishing if one has irritable bowel syndrome, there is no specific test that checks for IBS. On the other hand, there are various diagnostic tests that medical practitioners utilize to rule out other abdominal and colon diseases. Of the available tests, the ones most likely to be used include blood tests, x-rays, stool sample analysis, colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies. These tests help to rule out similar diseases: these other diseases include but are not limited to lactose intolerance, acid malabsorption, fructose malabsorption (also known as dietary fructose intolerance), blastocystis, dyspepsia, colitis, Crohn's disease or bacterial overgrowth.

After ascertaining through diagnostic testing that a patient does not have other possible ailments, the doctor will likely conclude that the diagnosis is irritable bowel syndrome. However, there are specific symptoms that must be present in a patient for a doctor to diagnose IBS as the present disorder. These symptoms are as follows:

• 12 weeks throughout the previous year must have had abdominal pain or irritation.
• Discomfort or pain must have two out of the three attributes
• Frequency of bowel movements changes
• Pain and discomfort is relieved through a bowel movement
• The consistency and appearance of the feces is different than normal
• Stool contains mucus
• Urgency while needing to have a bowel movement is considerably increased
• Abdominal bloading
• Constipation and/or diarrhea

Irritable bowel syndrome also has factors and triggers that are linked to elevated symptoms:

• Large portions of food
• Certain medications
• Colon based gas buildup
• Dairy
• Upsetting arguments
• Stress
• Rye, Wheat, or Barley
• Caffeinated beverages
• Emotional disturbances
• Alcohol
• Chocolate

From light cramping to tremendous urgency, the symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome can be extremely painful, uncomfortable and inconvenient. However, there are ways that these symptoms can be somewhat alleviated and in some cases avoided entirely. The quickest aspect of one's life that can be changed to help aid in the discomforts of irritable bowel syndrome is to cut overly greasy and fatty foods from his or her diet. Furthermore, removing any possible stressful elements from one's life will pay dividends toward his or her IBS symptoms. Understandably, removing or lessening stressful parts of someone's life is a difficult task, so these changes should be dealt with accordingly, especially when one considers that too many changes can likewise cause new stress.