What Is The Best Way To Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition that affects the digestive system. It can cause pain and bloating of the stomach, and altered bowel movements such as constipation or diarrhoea. It is often a long-term condition and there is no cure, but the symptoms can be treated and managed. 

IBS can be an uncomfortable and inconvenient problem, and in some cases the symptoms can severely impact on day to day life. Patients may find that the problem varies in intensity, and sometimes it may clear up for weeks or months before returning. The symptoms can also vary, with some people alternating between constipation and diarrhoea. 

Doctors are not exactly sure what the causes of IBS are, but there is some evidence that it might be to do with the so-called ‘gut-brain axis’. This is because the nervous system can directly transmit messages from the brain to the gut, and it is thought that people with IBS have different patterns to those who are symptom-free.

Many people with IBS notice that it is triggered by stressful episodes in their life, and the symptoms become worse when they are anxious, depressed, or upset. Other people find that IBS flares up after they have eaten certain foods. In some cases, doctors have noticed that the condition seems to have developed following a vomiting virus.

IBS is thought to affect one in five people at some point in their lives, and it is more common in women than men. Anyone who is experiencing regular symptoms is advised to keep a journal to record their eating habits, activity levels, and stress levels over a period of a few weeks. 

This can help you identify what your triggers are and lead you to the best course of treatment. In many cases, people who take regular exercise notice an improvement in their symptoms. This may be because movement helps to ease constipation, and it can also relieve stress and ease anxiety and depression. 

Making some straightforward changes to diet can also help. Patients are advised to stick to three regular meals a day and avoid snacking in between. Caffeine intake should be reduced to two mugs of tea or coffee per day, and alcohol should be limited to two units per day with at least two alcohol free days per week. 

Fizzy drinks should be cut back as much as possible, and patients are advised to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Some people are triggered by fructose which is found in fruit juice and fresh fruit, so it is advisable to limit intake to three portions per day.

For people who do not respond to these changes, there are more complicated diets such as the FODMAP diet which avoids certain carbohydrates, and the gluten-free diet, although this is really designed for people with coeliac disease.

Anyone with persistent IBS symptoms is advised to speak to a doctor, because occasionally it may be a sign of a more serious underlying health condition. They may also be able to recommend medications that can help to relieve symptoms. 

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