Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common problems of the digestive system. IBS is what’s referred to as a functional disorder and is a long-term condition that causes recurring pain or discomfort in the abdomen and altered bowel habits.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common problems of the digestive system. IBS is what’s referred to as a functional disorder and is a long-term condition that causes recurring pain or discomfort in the abdomen and altered bowel habits.
Around one in five Australians will experience the unpleasant symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at some time. It can develop at any age, but for most people, the first symptoms tend to show up in early adulthood. Women are more likely than men to get IBS and to have more severe symptoms.
Irritable bowel syndrome can present in three basic forms. It can be predominantly:
- Constipation based – Bowel movements alternate between constipation and normal stools with symptoms of
- Abdominal cramping or aching commonly triggered by eating.
- Diarrhoea based – Diarrhoea is a major problem first thing in the morning or after eating with an urgent
- Need to go to the toilet. Sometimes incontinence may be an issue.
- Alternating constipation and diarrhoea.
You’re more likely to have IBS if you:
- Are a woman — around twice as many women have the condition than men
- Are young — IBS tends to affect people under age 45 with the first signs showing up in early adulthood
- Have a family history of IBS — people who have a family member with IBS may be at increased risk
- Additionally, women who have suffered domestic abuse may be at risk also.
Symptoms of IBS - Have mental health problems — anxiety, depression, personality disorders and a history of childhood sexual abuse are all risk factors.
Although symptoms vary from one person to the next, some of the more common indicators of IBS include:
abdominal pain or cramping (often relieved by passing wind or faeces)
diarrhoea, constipation or a combination of both
a sensation that the bowels are not fully emptied (especially just after having a bowel movement)
- abdominal bloating
- mucus in the stools
- excess wind
- nausea
- indigestion
- bladder problems
The walls of the intestines are lined with layers of muscle that rhythmically contract and relax as food moves from your stomach through your intestinal tract to your rectum. If you have irritable bowel syndrome, the contractions may be stronger and last longer than normal, causing gas, bloating and diarrhoea.
But sometimes the opposite is also true. Weak intestinal contractions slows the passage of food and leading to hard, dry stools.
Abnormalities in your gastrointestinal nervous system also may play a role causing you to experience greater than normal discomfort when your abdomen stretches from gas or stool.
And it could also be poor coordination between the brain and the intestines that makes your body overreact to the changes that normally occur inside the digestive process — which in turn causes pain, diarrhoea or constipation.
