Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Overview

Irritable bowel syndrome is a long-term condition that affects the colon (large intestine). Irritable bowel syndrome is common, especially in younger people and women. The causes of irritable bowel syndrome are not completely understood, but stress and sensitivity to certain foods are thought to contribute. The main symptoms are belly pain, bloating, and diarrhoea or constipation. A doctor must exclude other possible causes for the symptoms before they can give a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. Although there is no specific cure for irritable bowel syndrome, changes in lifestyle and diet often help to improve symptoms.

Risks

Irritable bowel syndrome tends to affect women more often than men. This condition tends to be diagnosed more often in younger people, although it can affect people of all ages. The causes of irritable bowel syndrome are not fully understood, but stress and sensitivity to certain foods are both thought to contribute.

Symptoms

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can vary widely from person to person. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhoea or constipation and mucus in the stool. Symptoms may improve after opening the bowels. Symptoms may be triggered by stress or certain foods. Triggering foods may vary from person to person.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is made by a doctor based on the symptoms and a physical examination. It is important that a doctor excludes other possible causes for the symptoms before they give a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, and this may involve some testing. People may be asked to keep a food diary to see if any foods regularly make the symptoms worse. A gastrointestinal endoscopy (where a flexible camera is passed through the mouth or anus to look at the stomach and intestines) may be performed to exclude other causes for the symptoms. Other tests may include blood tests, breath tests for lactose intolerance, X-rays or a computerized tomography (CT) scan.

Treatment

There is no treatment that specifically targets the causes of irritable bowel syndrome, but there are many things that may help improve symptoms. Avoiding foods that trigger symptoms is helpful for many people with irritable bowel syndrome. These include (among many others) foods that cause gas (broccoli, cabbage, beans), fatty foods and caffeine-containing foods. Many people find that doing regular exercise helps. Stress can be an important trigger of symptoms, and learning how to manage stress may help some people. Medications may help with managing constipation or diarrhoea.

Prognosis

Although irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that can not be cured, many people learn to manage their symptoms and find that these improve over time. Most people do not develop any long-term complications as a result of this condition.