What is IBS?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is the name doctors have given to a collection of otherwise unexplained symptoms relating to a disturbance of the large bowel. It affects around a third of the population at some point in their lives and about one in ten people suffer symptoms severe enough to seek help from their GP. It can be a painful and distressing condition and should only be diagnosed by a qualified medical professional.

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.

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.

Symptoms frequently occur in other parts of the body. These may include; headaches, dizziness, backache, passing urine frequently, tiredness, muscle and joint pains, ringing in the ears, indigestion, belching, nausea, shortness of breath, anxiety and depression. A similar range of symptoms are reported by patients with other medically unexplained illnesses, such as Chronic Functional Dyspepsia, raising questions as to whether they are different expressions of the same type of illness.

IBS is often associated with an increased intestinal sensitivity and irritability, making people intolerant of foods and bowel contents. Stress is often a significant instigator. Despite more research and public awareness of IBS, no cure has been found. Medical treatment may vary from advice on diet and relaxation to the use of anti-spasmodic drugs and low dose antidepressants. Some find help from counsellers, psychotherapists and practitioners of complementary medicine - such as acupuncturists or homeopaths. Others prefer to manage their own condition with information and assistance from organizations such as The Gut Trust. As many people with IBS feel isolated and on their own, one of the most effective ways of coping with IBS on a day-to-day basis is being able to talk about it with others or read about their experiences and what has helped them.

Who gets IBS?

The quick answer is 'we all do', though some people get it more severely than others. Our bowels are not always as regular as clockwork and bloating and abdominal pain are very common complaints. At any one time between 10% and 20% of people living in western countries fulfil the diagnostic criteria for IBS. In common with other medically unexplained illnesses, IBS is more frequently diagnosed in women compared with men, 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.