Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Is this me?
What is it?
· Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a problem that affects the intestines.
· It causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits including constipation or diarrhea.
· It's a common disorder affecting one-in-five Australians at sometime during their lives.
· Women are more likely to get IBS and develop more serious symptoms than men.
· The condition can develop at any age but most people first show symptoms between the ages of 15 to 40.
IMPORTANT: Often people get labeled 'IBS' without having been appropriately investigated. There are lots of other problems that cause symptoms similar to IBS and these need to be ruled out before you can be diagnosed with IBS.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptom of IBS is abdominal pain or stomach cramps. Other symptoms may include:
• Change in bowel habits – alternate between constipation and diarrhoea.
• A sensation that the bowels are not fully emptied after passing a motion.
• Backache.
• Wind and abdominal bloating.
• Nausea.
• Indigestion.
• Feeling tired.
• Mucus in the stools.
IBS Categories: IBS tends to be divided into 3 main categories depending upon symptoms. These are:
• Constipation-predominant – the person tends to alternate constipation with normal stools. Symptoms of abdominal cramping or aching are commonly triggered by eating.
• Diarrhoea-predominant – the person tends to experience diarrhoea especially after eating. The need to go to the toilet is typically urgent and cannot be delayed. Incontinence may be a problem.
• Alternating constipation and diarrhea.
What Caused it?
The underlying cause of IBS is still not known.
There are recognised triggers such as:
· Food sensitivities.
· Infection.
· Diet.
· Emotional Stress.
· Medications.
· Hormonal changes.
What is the treatment?
Because other conditions can produce similar symptoms to IBS, such as inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis and cancer, it's important to seek proper diagnosis.
Although no cure has been found for IBS recognizing triggers is important and the aim is to control and prevent symptoms.
Often IBS needs a team approach to management and can include your colorectal surgeon, GP, dietitian, psychologist and others depending on your symptoms.
What is it?
· Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a problem that affects the intestines.
· It causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits including constipation or diarrhea.
· It's a common disorder affecting one-in-five Australians at sometime during their lives.
· Women are more likely to get IBS and develop more serious symptoms than men.
· The condition can develop at any age but most people first show symptoms between the ages of 15 to 40.
IMPORTANT: Often people get labeled 'IBS' without having been appropriately investigated. There are lots of other problems that cause symptoms similar to IBS and these need to be ruled out before you can be diagnosed with IBS.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptom of IBS is abdominal pain or stomach cramps. Other symptoms may include:
• Change in bowel habits – alternate between constipation and diarrhoea.
• A sensation that the bowels are not fully emptied after passing a motion.
• Backache.
• Wind and abdominal bloating.
• Nausea.
• Indigestion.
• Feeling tired.
• Mucus in the stools.
IBS Categories: IBS tends to be divided into 3 main categories depending upon symptoms. These are:
• Constipation-predominant – the person tends to alternate constipation with normal stools. Symptoms of abdominal cramping or aching are commonly triggered by eating.
• Diarrhoea-predominant – the person tends to experience diarrhoea especially after eating. The need to go to the toilet is typically urgent and cannot be delayed. Incontinence may be a problem.
• Alternating constipation and diarrhea.
What Caused it?
The underlying cause of IBS is still not known.
There are recognised triggers such as:
· Food sensitivities.
· Infection.
· Diet.
· Emotional Stress.
· Medications.
· Hormonal changes.
What is the treatment?
Because other conditions can produce similar symptoms to IBS, such as inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis and cancer, it's important to seek proper diagnosis.
Although no cure has been found for IBS recognizing triggers is important and the aim is to control and prevent symptoms.
Often IBS needs a team approach to management and can include your colorectal surgeon, GP, dietitian, psychologist and others depending on your symptoms.