Irritable Bowel Syndrome: What is it?

At least 58 million Americans have suffered IBS at some stage in their lives. They complain of diarrhoea and/constipation and cramp like abdominal pains. These symptoms vary in individual IBS patients and also from day to day. President of the IBS Self Help and Support Group, Jeffrey Roberts, says, “IBS is an illness which seems to strike people down.”

IBS is a collection of symptoms that are present for 12 weeks in twelve month period. It is characterised by abdominal pain and must include at least two of the following three facts. The pain is relieved with bowel movement, and associated with a change in the frequency of bowel movement and appearance of the stools.

Certain foods and stress can trigger symptoms or cause a flare up of IBS. Experts are still uncertain as to what exactly IBS is or what causes it. What we knowat present is the Large Gut in IBS sufferers are more sensitive and, hormonal changes may be a trigger because 80% of IBS patients are women. There is higher incident in individuals who were physically or sexually abused as children and it can develop after a severe bout of gastroenteritis.

In IBS, there is no abnormality in the gut even though you have distressing symptoms such as abdominal pains, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and rectal pain. If during investigation an abnormality is found, then the diagnosis in no longer IBS.

If you have symptoms of IBS, make sure you see your family physician for a diagnosis. Your family physician will do tests to exclude serious diseases before a diagnosis of IBS is made. A diagnosis can be made using the Rome Criteria with minimal diagnostic test. However, if you have bleeding from the rectum, loss of appetite, weight loss, anaemia or symptoms developing after fifty years of age, you should see your doctor very soon because you will need addition investigation.

Some IBS sufferers think their illness is “All in the head.” This is not true but the brain has a role in symptom development and experts think that Brain-Gut connection is very important. IBS and Serotonin are linked. Low blood levels are found in Constipation predominant IBS and high levels are present in Diarrhoea predominant IBS.

In Irritable Bowel Syndrome, there is no abnormality in the large gut, it is not a cancer and will not lead to cancer or other gastrointestinal disease and it is very common. It is estimated that 20% of the global population has or had IBS at some time in their lives.

To come to terms with IBS is difficult for patients especially when experts tell them the true cause is unknown, no single medication works for everyone and that there is no cure. Depending on the type of IBS you have, dietary changes, behavioural therapy, stress management and various alternative treatments options are available.

Some IBS patients have severe abdominal pains soon after eating certain foods. This is often due to eating a large meal and this can triggers strong Gastro-colic reflex. This a powerful peristaltic contraction in response to stretching of the stomach. In IBS patients, this can be very painful. It is better to have smaller meals and eat frequently. It is important that you do not avoid foods. You need important nutrients to remain healthy.

Stress is a trigger for IBS symptoms. Relieve stress and your IBS will improve.