Digestive Health - Irritable Bowel Syndrome 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a very common condition relating to the way your digestive system functions. You will have a number of symptoms which can range from diarrhoea to abdominal pain and constipation, which makes it complicated for doctors to diagnose.

However it is important that you get the condition confirmed as this will enable you to be confident that other causes of your symptoms have been eliminated.

The underlying causes of IBS are not well understood, but for every sufferer (and suffering is often the right word as it can be very painful and distressing!) the most important thing is to manage the symptoms in order to lead as normal a life as possible.

Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

If you are experiencing the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) then you are not alone. IBS is one of the most common digestive tract disorders with about 20% of people experiencing occasional mild discomfort while others experience severe often disabling symptoms.

IBS symptoms tend to come and go and may include one or more of any of the following:

Abdominal cramps or pain
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Flatulence (passing wind)
Bloating

Any of these symptoms if prolonged could also indicate other underlying conditions so consultation with you doctor would be recommended.

The causes of IBS

There is no one cause of irritable bowel syndrome.  Medical examination usually cannot find a physical abnormality that can explain the symptoms, but in general symptoms are believed to be caused by malfunction of the digestive tract lining, by uncontrolled muscle contractions in the bowel wall and/or by disruption of the natural gut microorganisms.

Other major triggers of IBS include diet and stress. Within your diet specific foods may interact with your gut lining resulting in problematic symptoms. Find out more from our sister website www.ibshealthcare.co.uk  

Diagnosing IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is generally diagnosed after describing the symptoms to your general practitioner. Your Doctor may recommend further tests such as blood tests, x-rays or endoscopy, but in general these are used to eliminate other causes leaving IBS as the diagnosis.

New guidelines have been issued which for the first time allows for positive diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. The guidelines offer advice to GPs that IBS should be specifically considered in patients with abdominal pain/discomfort stating that patients should have two out of four symptoms including: altered stool passage; abdominal bloating; symptoms made worse by eating; or passage of mucus. It is acknowledged in these guidelines that Doctors should clearly exclude causes other than IBS using a blood sample, to check full blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level and antibody testing for coeliac disease, and note that for those with symptoms (noted as red flag indicators) such as unexpected weight loss, rectal bleeding or a family history of bowel of ovarian cancer it is recommended that they should be referred to secondary care for investigation.

Treatment of IBS

Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome can vary from over the counter laxatives to prescription drugs and there is no magic cure-all. However, there are a number of specific over-the-counter medicines and nutraceuticals, which have been shown to be effective at relieving the symptoms with many sufferers.

These products range from common laxatives to treat constipation , antispasmodics to treat cramping, probiotics and other products designed to improve the health of the gut lining.

For more detail on the products available please browse our full product range or select products for particular symptoms.