Irritable Bowel Syndrome: What It Is and How to Find Relief

What is IBS?   

IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is a common gut condition that affects how the gut moves and functions, without any disease or changes in what the gut looks like.   

It causes symptoms like tummy pain and a change in your stools (poo). IBS affects between 5-10 % of people and is twice as common in women than men. Most people with IBS are under the age of 50.   

Symptoms of IBS  

The main symptoms of IBS are   

• abdominal (tummy) pain at least once a week  
• a change in how often you poo, or what your poo likes OR  
• Relief or worsening of tummy pain when you poo  

Other gut symptoms can include:   

• Bloating  
• Wind 
• Excessive farting 
• Bloating  
• Burping  
• Urgency to poo
• Diarrhoea  
• Constipation  
• Nausea  
• Acid reflux 
• Rumbling tummy noises  
• Passing mucus  
• Symptoms get worse after eating  

Non-gut symptoms can include:  

• Fatigue  
• Headache  
• Backache  
• Poor sleep  
• Depression  
• Anxiety 
• Pain  

If you think you might have IBS, or you’ve noticed a change in your bowel habits lasting more than a couple of weeks, book an appointment with your GP. IBS shares symptoms with other conditions, so getting the right diagnosis is important. Your GP can arrange simple tests to help identify what’s causing your symptoms.

What causes IBS?  

Experts think IBS develops when communication along the network of nerves that link the brain and gut becomes dysregulated. The network of nerves that line the gut is the ‘enteric nervous system’ or ENS. The ENS controls the function, movement and sensitivity of the gut.  

Alterations in the ENS can make the gut more sensitive, and trigger changes in your poo. This is why IBS is known as a disorder of gut brain interaction.

Other factors which may be involved in development of IBS include:  

• Genetics  
• Stress  
• Changes in the gut microbiome  
• A previous gut infection  
• Repeated antibiotic use  

As well as these factors, certain foods and lifestyle factors may trigger or worsen symptoms. For example, high stress levels, caffeine, high fat / fried foods, alcohol and poor sleep can make symptoms worse.  

How is IBS treated? 

IBS is a long-term condition, and symptoms can fluctuate. There isn’t any cure for IBS. Instead, treatments aim to manage or improve the symptoms of IBS, so they have less impact on your daily life.  

Treatments include:    

• Simple changes to diet like adjusting how much fibre and caffeine you consume  
• Changes to your lifestyle, like including regular exercise and finding ways to help manage stress  
• A low FODMAP diet – a type of diet which reduces a group of sugars that can trigger symptoms
• Medications that target symptoms like abdominal pain or diarrhoea
• Talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy 
• Gut-directed Hypnotherapy, a type of therapy that aims to regulate the communication between brain and gut.

Simple changes to your diet and lifestyle is the first step to managing IBS, and many people find them helpful. You can also try these changes without the help of a dietitian. To get started, read this handy factsheet from the British Dietetic Association, which covers what to try.

If these changes don't improve your symptoms, you can think about trying a low FODMAP diet with the help of a dietitian. You can learn more about this approach (including what FODMAPs are and how they trigger symptoms) in this next article.