At least 58 million Americans have suffered Irritable Bowel Syndrome at some stage in their lives. They have cramp like abdominal pains, diarrhoea and/ constipation. These symptoms vary in individual IBS sufferers and also from day to day. Jeffrey Roberts, president of the IBS Self Help and Support Group, says, “IBS is an illness which seems to strike people down.”

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a collection of symptoms that are present for 12 weeks in twelve month period. It is characterised by abdominal pain and must include at least two of the following three facts. The pain is relieved with bowel movement, and associated with a change in the frequency of bowel movement and appearance of the stools.

Certain foods and stress can trigger symptoms or cause a flare up of IBS. No one is certain what exactly IBS is or what causes it. What we knowat present is the Large Gut in IBS sufferers are more sensitive and, hormonal changes may be a trigger because 80% of IBS patients are women. There is higher incident in individuals who were physically or sexually abused as children and it can develop after a severe bout of gastroenteritis.

In IBS, there is no abnormality in the gut even though you have distressing symptoms such as abdominal pains, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and rectal pain. If during investigation an abnormality is found, then the diagnosis in no longer IBS.

If you have symptoms of IBS, see your doctor for a diagnosis. Your doctor is likely to do tests to exclude major ilness before a diagnosis of IBS is made. With the Rome Criteria, a diagnosis can be made with minimal diagnostic test. However, you should see your doctor very soon if you have bleeding from the rectum, loss of appetite, weight loss, anaemia or symptoms developing after fifty years of age because you will need addition investigation.

Some IBS sufferers think their illness is “All in the head.” This is far from the truth but the brain and symptom development are linked and experts think that Brain-Gut connection is very important. Serotonin is linked to IBS. High blood levels are present in Diarrhoea predominant IBS and low levels are found in Constipation predominant IBS.

We know that in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, there is no abnormality in the large gut, it is not a cancer and will not lead to cancer or other gastrointestinal disease and it is very common. It is estimated that 20% of the global population has or had IBS at some time in their lives.

It is very difficult for IBS patients to come to terms with this condition especially when they are told no one knows the true cause, no single medication works for everyone and that there is no cure. Depending on the type of IBS you have, dietary changes, stress management, behavioural therapy and an increasing range of alternative treatments options are available.

A few IBS patients are unfortunate to have severe abdominal pains soon after eating certain foods. This is often due to eating a large meal and in a sensitive gut triggers strong Gastro-colic reflex. This a powerful peristaltic contraction in response to stretching of the stomach. This can be very painful for a patient with IBS. It is better to have smaller meals and eat frequently. It is important that you do not avoid foods. You need important nutrients to remain healthy.

Stress is a trigger for IBS symptoms. Relieve stress and your IBS will improve.