Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS is a common disorder of the large intestine that causes cramping, pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. It does not cause severe complications. Find out more about this common condition.

Recommended Actions

Boost digestive health by increasing physical activity, avoiding food triggers, incorporating probiotics into your diet, and effectively managing stress.

Recommended Avoidances

To manage digestive discomfort, consider avoiding high-gas foods, gluten, and FODMAPs (specific types of carbohydrates).

Prevention Tips

While IBS has no known cure, many people find their symptoms improve as they learn to control their condition, often through diet, lifestyle changes and stress management.

Condition 101

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the large intestine, marked by a combination of symptoms such as cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and changes in bowel habits. While it can cause significant discomfort, IBS does not lead to severe complications or changes in intestinal tissue.

Abdominal pain or cramping
Bloating
Gas
Diarrhoea, constipation or both (often alternates)
Mucus in the stool
Muscle contractions in the intestine
Abnormalities in the nervous system
Inflammation in the intestines
Severe infection
Changes in bacteria in the gut (microflora)
Being young
Being female
Family history
Mental health problem
Seek medical attention if you experience a persistent change in bowel habits or other signs or symptoms of IBS, as they may indicate a more serious condition, such as colon cancer.

Diagnosing IBS involves ruling out other conditions and considering the likelihood of IBS based on symptoms, including:

Rome criteria: These criteria include abdominal pain and discomfort lasting on average at least one day a week in the last three months, associated with at least two of these factors: Pain and discomfort are related to defecation, the frequency of defecation is altered, or stool consistency is altered.
Manning criteria: These criteria focus on pain relieved by passing stool and having incomplete bowel movements, mucus in the stool and changes in stool consistency. The more symptoms present, the greater the likelihood of IBS.
While not directly causing more serious diseases, IBS can affect the quality of life and lead to unwanted weight loss.
IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), nor is it a precursor to serious conditions such as cancer.
Conditions that need to be differentiated from IBS include celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and bacterial overgrowth.

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Treatment Options

Need more information about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, contact us for more help on treatment or advise.

Antispasmodic medications
Laxatives
Anti-motility medications
Low-dose antidepressants

Fiber supplements
Anticholinergic medications
Antibiotics
Counseling

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