IBS Articles

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects around 12 million people in Britain. It's a common, painful and very distressing condition yet few people are aware of IBS.

So how do you know if you are a sufferer?

Dr Chris Steele looks at the syndrome, its symptoms, causes and more importantly, the treatments available.

IBS can produce a number of symptoms, which vary from patient to patient, making diagnosis difficult, but all sufferers will experience more than one of the following symptoms:

• Tummy pain, in the lower part of the abdomen. Usually griping or colicky, the pain is often relieved by moving the bowels or passing wind. With the pain, stools may be passed more frequently and may be looser yet the person may be left with the sensation of not having fully emptied the bowel
• The abdomen may be distended, giving a bloated feeling and the tummy may runble a lot
• A slimy fluid or mucus may be passed with the bowel movement
• Urgency - the need to rush and quickly open the bowels
• Tenderness or soreness on touching or pressing the abdomen
• Short, sharp pains felt inside the back passage or rectum
• Burping, feelings of sickness, and even vomiting can occur
• Some patients don't have loose stools, but just the opposite, suffering with constipation, or irregular bowel movement varying between diarrhoea and constipation

What causes IBS?

IBS is the result of the bowel muscle working incorrectly. If the muscle propels the bowel contents too quickly, diarrhoea results, and if the muscle acts too slowly, constipation occurs. Over activity or spasm of the muscle can cause stomach cramps and great discomfort, which although unpleasant are not serious.

The exact cause of such abnormal bowel muscle action is not really known, but we do know that stress and anxiety can trigger symptoms. A diet low in fibre or roughage is also often associated with the condition. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not due to inflammation or infection of the bowel, and is only seldom caused by a reaction to certain foods. It is not an inherited condition.

What can be done?

Anxiety and stress can aggravate IBS, so try to relax. Special exercises, yoga and hypnosis can be very helpful. Try not to worry about the condition. Be reassured that IBS does not lead to serious illness.

One third of sufferers benefit from eating a high fibre diet, so increase your intake of fresh fruit, green vegatables, bran-containing cereals, brown rice and whole wheat bread. However - a word of warning here - some patients find that wheat bran can actually make their symptoms worse - so try to avoid this type of bran. Having small regular meals and avoiding spicy foods might also be helpful to you.

When the symptoms are troublesome, medicines, known as anti-spasmodics which relax the bowel muscle, can be useful. Those available without a prescription from your pharmacist include Relaxyl.

Peppermint oil has been found to be helpful to some IBS sufferers - this is available from pharmacies.

If you have been diagnosed as suffering from IBS, over-the-counter remedies give you the option to take control of your own health by self-treating the symptoms. But if the symptoms are not improving or you suspect that you could be suffering from IBS, you should consult your GP. Diagnosis is important to exclude other conditions which have similar symptoms to IBS.

Remember you're not alone with the problem, it's very common, so don't be embarrassed to speak about your symptoms. You can talk to others who are living with IBS in our talkIBS forum.