Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• A functional bowel disorder in which abdominal pain is associated with defecation or a change in bowel habit, with the additional features of disordered defecation and abdominal distension
• Cause is unknown
• Affects about 20% of the population

Signs & Symptoms

• Colic-type pains in the gut, often relieved by passing wind or a bowel motion
• Diarrhea or constipation, or one followed by the other
• A strong urge to pass a bowel motion
• Feeling as though the bowel has not emptied properly after passing a bowel motion
• Feeling full or bloated
• Wind
• Mucus in bowel motions
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Indigestion

Causes

• Unknown
• Appears to be a disorder in the way the bowel works
• Muscle contractions in the intestines maybe faster than normal, resulting in diarrhea
• Muscle contractions in the intestines may be slower than normal, causing constipation
• Muscle contractions are strong and sudden (spasm), causing pain
• Other trigger factors include
• Stress aggravates the symptoms and may cause IBS in some people
• Certain food and drinks may make symptoms worse as by stimulating the bowels e.g. fatty foods, dairy products (lactose), alcohol, drinks containing caffeine
• Gut infections – can trigger IBS in certain people

Self care

• Try keeping a record for several weeks, noting:
• when you had symptoms and what you were doing before they started,
• what you were eating and drinking before the symptoms began,
• how you were feeling at the time e.g. stressed,
• medicines you were taking.
• Follow the recommendations for a healthy diet (low fat, low sugar, high fibre). Cut out caffeine, milk, dairy products and chocolate

• Managing IBS symptoms
• Constipation
• Drink more water
• Increase fibre intake in your diet
• Do regular exercise
• If you are constipated, laxatives may help although they generally have a limited role in IBS – ask a pharmacist


• Diarrhea
• Anti-diarrhea medicines decrease bowel activity; some are better and more suitable than others – ask a pharmacist


• Pain and spasm
• Reducing tea and coffee intake may help
• Specially coated peppermint oil capsules may reduce wind, bloating and spasms in the bowel
• Other specialized anti-spasm medicines may also help – ask a pharmacist or doctor
• Relaxation may also help

Medicines

• Anti-spasmodics have a direct effect on the smooth muscle of the gut, causing relaxation and thus reducing abdominal pain
• Bulking agents (e.g. ispaghula) add extra fibre into the diet and increase their fluid intake and hence improve bowel movement
• Anti-diarrhea (eg. loperamide) relieves diarrhea - only to be used on a short-term basis

Supplements

• Probiotic (eg. Biolife Probiotic, Total Health Concept Lacto-5, Enerflex Probiotic) – friendly intestinal bacteria that is used to improve the gut flora balance. It can help to improve symptoms of IBS and reduce the pain and flatulence that patients experience
• Fibre drinks (eg. Fybogel, Tocoma, Staywell Green Total) absorb water and increase the bulk of the food passing through the digestive system, hence improving bowel movement.