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IBS Cure

IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a term used to identify a number of symptoms that persist in the absence of any other identifiable cause. It is an extremely common, non life-threatening condition affecting around 20% of the population. Symptoms include diarrhoea or constipation, bloating and feeling full, changes in stool form (either hard or runny), perhaps excessive wind or indigestion, a feeling after a bowel movement that there is still more to come, and sometimes nausea, headaches, dizziness and even vomiting.

There is no single identifiable cause of IBS and there is no identifiable cure either. The way that IBS presents and what brings relief or makes it worse can vary significantly from person to person. Treatment therefore involves dealing with the individual symptoms and learning how to avoid factors that trigger or exacerbate these symptoms. It can be a distressing, painful and debilitating condition for some people.

How is IBS Diagnosed?

As there is no set pattern to IBS, diagnosis can be complex and take time. For example, one person may complain of abdominal pain and diarrhoea with mucous and yet another may complain of a bloating sensation, constipation and hard and painful stools. Both may be caused by something else and so a doctor or health professional would first have to rule out other causes, and yet both are also classic symptoms of IBS. When no other cause can be found for the symptoms of IBS then IBS may be diagnosed. The Rome 11 Diagnostic Criteria is the most popular criteria for diagnosing IBS. Usually, a patient will have for at least a period of 12 weeks within the previous year, experienced abdominal pain or discomfort and at least two of the following three factors:

The pain and discomfort is relieved by having a bowel movement and/or associated with a change in the frequency of having a bowl movement, i.e. either more often (diarrhoea) or much less (constipation) and/or associated with a change in the form of the bowel movement, i.e. more runny or hard and dry.

What can you do about it?

Despite the fact that a diagnosis of IBS is unlikely to change, it is possible to identify what makes the symptoms worse and what brings relief and so some lifestyle changes are likely to be necessary. In diarrhoea predominant IBS it is wise to eliminate or reduce stimulants such as caffeine from the diet. Similarly, with constipation as the predominant symptom, perhaps increasing the amount of fibre in the diet might help, although fibre has also been found to exacerbate the symptoms of IBS for some people. Each person is different and so keeping a food diary of triggers helps to identify foods or other substances that make the symptoms worse and eliminating them from the diet might offer substantial relief. It is known that stress and anxiety can increase the intensity of the symptoms although stress itself is not believed to be a cause of IBS.