Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month 2022
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April is Irritable Bowel Awareness Month
Do you experience frequent bloating, excess flatulence/gas or an urgent need to run to the bathroom after eating? If yes, you may be a sufferer of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the function of the digestive system. It is thought that IBS affects 1 in 7 people in the world with women experiencing the condition almost twice as much as men.
Though IBS is a relatively common condition, it can often go undiagnosed. This can be problematic as it can negatively influence the quality of life. Those experiencing symptoms of IBS without any formal diagnosis may feel anxious and frustrated, and use unsubstantiated therapies to find some form of relief.
What causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
The exact causes of IBS are hard to pinpoint and often multifactorial however a few common causes have been identified:
Altered gastrointestinal motility or simply put, the movement of food from the mouth through the body. Accelerated or delayed bowel movements can contribute to the onset of diarrhoea or constipation
Impaired perception and processing of information in the brain. Relatively new research that links the gut and brain in a complex reflex circuit called the Gut-Brain Axis has suggested that psychological factors such as stress and anxiety can influence gastrointestinal motility.
Intestinal permeability commonly known as leaky gut may also be linked to psychological stress and anxiety as this can affect the barrier functions of the gastrointestinal tract
Alterations in gut microbiota may be affected due to short or long-term dietary changes. For example eliminating food groups to follow a specific diet may cause disruption of the gut microbiota
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Common symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The symptoms of IBS are similar to those associated with other diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, pelvic floor disorders, endometriosis and some cancers therefore it is important to monitor them and seek medical advice if they are persistent or change.
Is there a test to identify Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Currently there are no blood or stool tests to identify food intolerances for irritable bowel syndrome. There are tests available on the market however they are not medically validated. They are expensive and can create more confusion and disruption of the gut microbiota by restricting foods
Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Dietary management - identifying foods that trigger your IBS symptoms can help reduce discomfort. The Low FODMAP Diet is a therapeutic diet for IBS that should be trialled under the guidance of a qualified professional. FODMAP’s are a group of sort-chain carbohydrates that are rapidly fermented and poorly absorbed by the small intestine. A qualified dietician/nutritionist can help you identify which FODMAP’s trigger your IBS symptoms whilst eating a nutritionally adequate diet.
Psychological therapy - there is strong evidence to suggest that stress and anxiety can alter gastrointestinal motility because the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract work bi-directionally to play an important role in the regulation of digestion. Psychological therapy such as breathing techniques, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and gut directed hypnotherapy may help IBS suffers improve sleep and reduce stress and anxiety, to find some relief.
Pharmacological therapy - in some severe IBS cases prescribed medications such as antispasmodics, antidepressants, antibiotics etc have shown to be effective. It is important that this is a doctor prescribed approach and not a self-diagnosis approach.
If you experience one or more of the IBS symptoms highlighted in this article, first seek advice from a medical professional to rule out other possible diagnosis before trying IBS management therapies.
If you have been medically diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and would like nutritional assistance, our in-house nutritionist Lisa Tarquini, is a UK Registered Nutritionist and Low FODMAP certified nutritionist, who can help you find symptom relief.
Contact Lisa at [email protected]