Irritable Bowel Syndrome: What is it?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is very common and in America at least 58 million have or had Irritable Bowel Syndrome at some stage in their lives. They complain of diarrhoea and/constipation and cramp like abdominal pains. These symptoms vary in individual Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers and also from day to day. Jeffrey Roberts, president of the IBS Self Help and Support Group, says, “IBS is an illness which seems to strike people down.”

Irritable Bowel Syndrome 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 by defecation, associated with change in the frequency of stool and change in the appearance of stools.

Certain foods and stress can trigger symptoms or cause a flare up of IBS. No one is certain what exactly Irritable Bowel syndrome is or what causes it. What we know, however, is that the Large Gut in IBS sufferers are more sensitive and, because 80% of IBS patients are women, hormonal changes may be a trigger. It can develop after a severe episode of gastroenteritis and there is a higher incident in individuals who were physically and sexually abused as children.

Although Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a distressing condition with abdominal pains, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and rectal pain, there is no abnormality of the gut. 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 major ilness 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 are made to feel that their illness is “All in the head.” This is not true but the brain and symptom development are linked and there is a strong belief that Brain-Gut connection is very important. Serotonin is linked to IBS. High blood levels are present in Diarrhoea predominant IBS and low levels are found in Constipation predominant IBS.

In Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the gut is normal, 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 they are told 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 an increasing range of alternative treatments options are available.

A few IBS patients are unfortunate to have severe abdominal pains soon after eating certain foods. This may be because it is a large meal and in a sensitive gut triggers strong Gastro-colic reflex. This a powerful peristaltic contraction in response to stretching of the stomach. This can be very painful for a patient with IBS. You can reduce this by having smaller meals and eat frequently. You need nutrients from food to remain healthy, so it is important that you do not avoid foods.

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