Irritable Bowel Syndrome

20 December 2024

cheese - possible food to avoid with IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome can cause daily discomfort and while the exact causes are unknown it is possible, with effective strategies, to manage symptoms and significantly improve your quality of life.

What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition affecting the large intestine (colon). While it doesn’t cause permanent damage to the bowel itself, it disrupts its normal function, leading to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms.

The exact cause of IBS remains unknown, but researchers believe it’s a complex interplay of factors, including:

Increased Gut Sensitivity: People with IBS may have a heightened sensitivity in their gut. The muscles in the colon may contract more intensely than usual in response to certain triggers, causing cramping and pain.
Abnormal Gut Nerve Function: Nerves play a crucial role in how your gut communicates with your brain. Changes in how these nerves function in IBS can lead to altered bowel habits and discomfort.
Stress: Emotional stress can significantly worsen IBS symptoms for many people. Stress hormones can trigger changes in gut motility and sensitivity.
Dietary Factors: Certain foods or food intolerances can trigger IBS symptoms. These triggers can vary from person to person, but common culprits include high-FODMAP foods (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols), caffeine, and dairy products.
Microbiome Imbalance: The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem of bacteria that plays a vital role in digestion and overall health. An imbalance in gut bacteria may contribute to IBS symptoms.

Symptoms of IBS

IBS symptoms can vary widely from person to person, and their intensity and frequency can fluctuate over time. Some of the most common symptoms include:

Abdominal Pain and Cramping: This is often the most bothersome symptom, and its location and severity can vary. Pain may be relieved by passing stool.
Bloating and Distention: Feeling swollen or puffed up in the abdomen is a common complaint, often accompanied by tightness and a feeling of fullness.
Changes in Bowel Habits:
- Constipation: Difficulty passing stool, infrequent bowel movements (less than three per week), and hard, dry stools are common.
- Diarrhoea: Loose, watery stools occurring frequently (more than three per day) or with urgency. Some people with IBS experience alternating constipation and diarrhoea.
- Mucus in the stool: The presence of mucus in the stool is a common symptom of IBS but can also be a sign of other conditions.
Incomplete Evacuation: Feeling like you haven’t completely emptied your bowels after going to the toilet can be a frustrating symptom.
Urgency: A sudden and strong urge to have a bowel movement, sometimes with difficulty holding it back.

Classifying IBS

IBS can be further classified based on the predominant bowel habit:

IBS with Constipation (IBS-C): Constipation is the main symptom, with diarrhoea occurring less frequently.
IBS with Diarrhoea (IBS-D): Diarrhoea is the main symptom, with constipation occurring less frequently.
IBS-Mixed: Alternating episodes of constipation and diarrhoea are the hallmark of this type.

Diagnosing IBS

There’s no single test to diagnose IBS. Your doctor will likely take a comprehensive approach, including:

Detailed Medical History: Discussing your symptoms, their severity, frequency, and any potential triggers is crucial.
Physical Exam: A physical exam may help rule out other conditions.
Ruling Out Other Conditions: Your doctor may order tests to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, or colon cancer. These tests may include blood tests, stool tests, or imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, or colonoscopy.

Living with IBS

While there’s no cure for IBS, the good news is that there are effective strategies to manage symptoms and significantly improve your quality of life. This often involves a combination of approaches tailored to your specific needs:

Dietary Changes

Identifying and avoiding trigger foods is a cornerstone of managing IBS.
A low FODMAP diet can be very helpful for many people. This diet involves restricting certain types of carbohydrates that are difficult to digest and ferment in the gut.
Keeping a food diary to track your meals and bowel habits can help identify potential triggers.

Stress Management

Finding healthy ways to manage stress is crucial, as stress can exacerbate IBS symptoms. Techniques like yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, and cognitive behavioural therapy can be very beneficial.

Fiber Supplementation

Fiber can help regulate bowel movements and improve stool consistency. However, it’s important to introduce fiber gradually and increase water intake to avoid bloating.

Medication

Several medications can help manage IBS symptoms:

Antispasmodics: These medications help relax the muscles in the colon, relieving cramping and abdominal pain.
Antidiarrheals: For people with IBS-D, medications like loperamide can help slow down intestinal transit time and reduce diarrhoea episodes.
Laxatives: For those with IBS-C, laxatives can help soften stool and promote bowel movements.
Probiotics: These supplements contain live bacteria similar to those found in a healthy gut. While research is ongoing, some studies suggest probiotics may improve symptoms for certain individuals with IBS.

Other Management Strategies

Mind-Body Techniques: Hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy can help manage stress and improve coping mechanisms for dealing with IBS symptoms.
Regular Exercise: Physical activity can help manage stress, improve gut motility, and promote overall well-being. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
Getting Enough Sleep: Adequate sleep is crucial for overall health and can also help regulate gut function.
Join a Support Group: Connecting with others who understand the challenges of IBS can provide valuable support, information, and a sense of community.

Arranging To Visit A Private GP

To discuss any issues related to irritable bowel syndrome make an appointment with one of our private GPs. Appointments are available to everyone and can often be booked for the same day. There is no need to be registered with our Buckinghamshire hospital, or live locally.

Should you have insurance which covers a GP visit, we can in most cases invoice. Where you are paying directly, the cost for a 30 minute consultation is £125.

Any additional costs will always be discussed. They could apply if you are referred for an MRI scan, or to a consultant, or for other agreed decisions to support your health.

Our Resident Private GP

Dr Chamali is welcoming and highly experienced. He offers his patients sound diagnosis and treatment, along with individual care focused on their future health.