Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects how the digestive system functions. It’s described as a functional gastrointestinal disorder, which means the bowel looks normal but doesn’t work as it should. People with IBS typically experience a combination of ongoing abdominal pain or discomfort, alongside changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhoea, constipation, or a mix of both.

IBS is usually a long-term condition with symptoms that can come and go over time. Many people find that their symptoms flare up during certain periods and then settle, rather than being constant. While IBS does not cause lasting damage to the digestive system, it can be unpredictable and have a meaningful impact on day-to-day life, particularly if symptoms are not well managed.

The most common symptom is abdominal pain or discomfort, often described as cramping, which may improve after passing stool. This is usually associated with altered bowel habits, including diarrhoea (IBS-D), constipation (IBS-C), or a mix of both (IBS-M). Many people also experience bloating and abdominal distension, which can worsen throughout the day or after eating.Symptoms of IBS may include:

• Bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Excessive wind
• Urgency to open bowels
• Passing mucus
• Feeling of incomplete evacuation

The symptoms of IBS can vary in severity over time, and may even stop for a period of time. There are several ‘red-flag’ gastroenterology symptoms that you should seek urgent medical care for and should not be ignored – unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding, anaemia and persistent changes in bowel habits need to be investigated to rule out serious health issues.

IBS is recognised as a multifactorial condition rather than having a single identifiable cause, which can be very frustrating if you are a sufferer as there is no one ‘simple’ treatment. We know that IBS causes include increased sensitivity of the bowel, changes in gut motility (how quickly food moves through the digestive system), and disruption in the gut–brain axis. Triggers such as stress (people with anxiety are three times more likely to have IBS), certain foods, hormonal changes, and previous gastrointestinal infections can all play a role. Women are more likely to have IBS as are those with a higher BMI. It is also thought that the gut microbiome plays a significant role in IBS but there is still much to learn about the causes of IBS.

Detailed symptom assessment and blood / stool tests are the two key components of diagnosing IBS; IBS is identified based on symptom patterns rather than a single test, with investigations used to exclude other conditions such as coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and infections. An endoscopy (a fibre optic camera inserted through the mouth or nose) may be recommended to aid diagnosis. Seeking a diagnosis for IBS with a gastroenterologist ensures that serious conditions, such as cancers, can be excluded.

There is no single cure for IBS, but significant relief can be achieved via a tailored and informed approached. Once a diagnosis of IBS is given, a consultant Gastroenterologist will work with you to find the most effective way of managing your symptoms. Recommendations may include:

1. Diet Changes: a low FODMAP diet or reducing triggers such as caffeine and artificial sweeteners can be a useful first step.
2. Altering your fibre content:more of less fibre depending on your IBS symptoms
3. Medications: laxatives, antidiarrhoeal drugs, bile acid binders, antispasmodics and low doses of antidepressants can all be helpful for managing symptoms
4. CBT or therapy: as IBS is more common in people with anxiety and / or depression, having psychological support can help manage IBS symptoms.

Yes. We offer a comprehensive range of allergy tests, from the ALEX3 (over 300 allergens) to specific food panels. Knowing if you are allergic to something can be hugely helpful to those who experience gastrointestinal distress or those who are on a restricted diet to help them manage their symptoms.