Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common digestive disorder diagnosed in patients.  Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and/ or diarrhoea (often alternating), flatulence, intolerances to certain foods, mucus in the stools, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes headaches.

During episodes of constipation, stools may be hard, small, pebble- like, dry and difficult to eliminate.  Passage of stool usually leads to alleviation of pain.  IBS is often associated with a sense of incomplete movement of the bowels.

During episodes of diarrhoea, stools are frequent but of small volume and loose.  It is often accompanied with an urgent need to move the bowels.  Diarrhoea can often lead to nutritional deficiencies. 

CAUSES OF IBS

Although dietary, psychological, hormonal or genetic factors play a role in the etiology of IBS, the exact cause of IBS is not known.  Episodes commonly occur during periods of stress and it has been found that people who suffer from IBS have a colon that is more sensitive to certain stimuli than normal.

People with IBS have abnormal contractions of the smooth muscle of the digestive tract.  In IBS the normally rhythmic muscular contractions (peristalsis) of the digestive tract become more irregular and uncoordinated.  This interferes with the normal movement of food and leads to the accumulation of waste material in the colon which in turn leads to constipation.
Fermentation of the waste products causes further bloating and distention and often causes constipation episodes to be followed by offensive, loose stools.

Other probable causes for IBS include food allergies; inadequate dietary fiber and water intake; excessive use of antibiotics, antacids and laxatives, which disturb the bacterial micro flora of the bowel; and the consumption of tobacco, caffeine and alcohol.  It has also been found that lesions in the digestive tract, caused by scarring from surgery, could cause IBS.  Ingestion of particulate fiber can also lead to an acute attack of IBS.

IBS is painful, but not serious, and most people who suffer from it can lead active, productive lives if they change their diets, get regular exercise and manage their stress.

Next week I will discuss the treatment of IBS through diet so that readers can find relief from IBS through small changes in their diet.