Irritable Bowel Syndrome (ibs)

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What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gut disorder, although the cause is still not known. When X-rays, blood tests, endoscopies and other diagnostic tests are carried out, the results do not reveal any obvious abnormality. For that reason IBS is often called 'a functional disorder' of the bowel; in other words, an illness associated with a disturbance of bowel function without any change in structure or obvious cause.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome may include:
Abdominal pain and spasms, often relieved by going to the toilet
Diarrhoea, constipation or an alternation between the two
Bloating or swelling of the abdomen
Rumbling noises and excessive passage of wind
Urgency (an urgent need to visit the toilet) / Incontinence (If a toilet is not nearby)
Sharp pain felt low down inside the rectum
Sensation of incomplete bowel movement

Who gets IBS?

At any one time between 10% and 20% of people living in western countries fulfil the diagnostic criteria for IBS. IBS is more frequently ...
... diagnosed in women compared with men (twice as many), in young compared with old and in western countries compared with the developing world. It is commonly associated with emotional tension, is frequently triggered by life changes, difficult life situations or stressful life events.

What causes IBS?

The cause is not clear. It is thought that it may be linked to overactivity of part of the gut. The area of overactivity in the gut may determine whether constipation or diarrhoea develops. Again, the cause of overactivity in parts of the gut is not clear. One or more of the following may play a part:

Overactivity of the nerves or muscles of the gut. It is not known why this may occur. It may be linked to overactivity of messages sent from the brain to the gut. Stress or emotional upset may play a role. About half of people with IBS can relate the start of symptoms to a stressful event in their life. Symptoms tend to become worse during times of stress or anxiety.

Infection and bacteria in the gut. IBS is not caused by an ongoing gut infection. However, in about 1 in 6 cases, the onset of symptoms seems to follow a bout of gastroenteritis (a gut infection which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting).

Intolerance to certain foods may play a part in some cases. However, this is thought to be only in a small number of cases.

How can IBS be managed?

Recent research has shown that a prebiotic supplement (galactooligosaccharide) is proven to improve the symptoms of IBS. This supplement is not destroyed, digested or absorbed in the stomach or small intestine and therefore reaches the colon intact to selectively target and feed the body's immunity boosting bifidobacteria while reducing harmful bacteria, all of which helps to reduce the symptoms of IBS.

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