Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
What is IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a medical term used to describe a collection of gut symptoms. In other words, it is a problem in your stomach and bowel function.
Symptoms
They can vary from person to person, but usually involves a combination of disordered defecation; constipation, diarrhoea or both, together with abdominal pain and distension.
Note: It also has a similar symptom to other diseases like coeliac disease, so it is important to get the right diagnosis by a doctor.
Diagnosis
There is no single symptom for IBS but the most common are:
Abdominal pain relieved by defecation or associated with change in frequency or consistency of stools and an irregular pattern of defecation for at least 2 days including three or more of the following:
- Altered stool frequency (>3 times/day or <3 times/week)
- Altered stool form (hard/loose)
- Altered stool passage (straining, urgency, sense of incomplete evacuation)
- Passage of mucus (is a type of rectal discharge)
- Abdominal bloating or feeling of distension
Note: These symptoms can be from mild or severe and the condition might appear and the disappear
Bristol Stoll Chart
Will help you identify if you have diarrhoea or constipation:
Cause
The cause if IBS is unknown. However, there has been some evidence that stress or emotional disturbance (e.g. anxiety or depression) could be a consequence of having IBS, rather than being the cause of it.
Management of IBS
Because IBS is poorly understood and often misdiagnosed there is not universally agreed approach to treatment. However, these are two strategies that might help:
Treating gastrointestinal symptoms
- Giving antidiarrheal drugs to reduce bowel syndrome movement frequency
- Giving smooth muscle relaxant for pain
- Increase fibre intake only with those with constipation
- Exploring with patient other possible dietary triggers
2. Treating psychological symptoms
- Make sure you understand that IBS is harmless
- Identify psychological factors which may contribute to the symptoms
- Use psychological and behavioural strategies to cope with stress with the help of your specialist
- Use drug treatment to relieve depression and anxiety as appropriate
Note: always with the supervision of a professional, if food intolerance is suspected, a dietitian is needed to perform a food exclusion regiment in order to find the food intolerance.
Helpful Tips you can start doing:
Take time to relax – meditation, yoga, aromatherapy or massage may help
Do regular exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming
Take your time to eat meals – chew your food well and slowly
Keep a food and symptom diary whilst you are making changes so you can see what has helped
Make one change at a time so that you can see what has improved your symptoms
Make changes according to your symptoms
Probiotics
Some studies have demonstrated that probiotics may improve IBS symptoms. So, you could try ‘probiotic’ supplements or yoghurts and fermented milk drinks. Everybody is unique and different so what works for someone else may not work for you.