Digestive Wellness Clinic

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome ? What causes IBS ? What treatments are available ? Can changing one's diet really help ?

IBS is the most common disorder of the bowel estimated to affect up to 12 million people in the UK and accounts for more than half the patients referred to a gastroenterologist. It describes a condition in which any of the following symptoms may be present:-

• Altered bowel function - diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating periods of both
• Abdominal pain and spasm, sometimes relieved by opening the bowels or passing wind
• Bloated stomach/abdomen and feeling of fullness
• Indigestion, excessive flatulence, nausea, loss of appetite
• Sensation of incomplete bowel movement
• Urgent need to open bowels and incontinence
• Loud tummy rumbles
• Passing of mucus with a stool
• Anxiety and depression
• Headaches and dizziness
• Backache
• Muscle and joint pain

IBS is not life threatening, but can severely affect quality of life. It is important that a diagnosis is carried out by a qualified medical practitioner who can carry out the necessary tests to eliminate other possible causes, as similar symptoms can be present in other more serious diseases.

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IBS is almost always caused by food intolerances, candida, or other yeast infection, dysbiosis (overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria), or parasites. Enzyme and stomach acid deficiencies, as well as stress, anxiety and lack of sleep can also trigger symptoms. The NHS does not necessarily look for any of these, which is probably why it does not often seem to be able to help people with IBS.

There are four different types of drug treatments commonly used. These are anti-spasmodics which relieve cramping of the muscles in the gut; anti-diarrhoeals which stop diarrhoea; fibre supplements and laxatives which treat constipation and anti-depressants which can help deal with stress. One or more of these drugs may be prescribed by a GP to help control the condition, depending on the presenting symptoms, but these only suppress the symptoms, rather than find a cure for them. Although symptoms may disappear for periods of time, they can recur throughout life. This is why is important to find the root cause to produce lasting relief.

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Dietary changes can bring a great deal of relief to most sufferers. It is estimated that two-thirds of IBS sufferers have underlying food intolerances.

• wheat and other gluten grains
• dairy produce
• tea and coffee
• citrus fruits
• carbonated drinks

IBS can also take hold when there is an imbalance of bacteria or yeast in the digestive tract. This imbalance, known as dysbiosis, is very common and seen in as many as 80% of IBS cases that are seen by nutritionists. Antibiotics, stress, and a high-sugar diet can all contribute to this.

Having studied a sufferer's diet in detail, the first step is generally to test for any of these conditions. This is often a very enlightening process. The Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis Test (CDSA), for example, can reveal such imbalances, and appropriate treatment to redress the balance can be commenced. Parasitic infections can also be revealed with this test. Once the causes have been established, an appropriate diet can be recommended by the nutritionist which often leads to a rapid and dramatic improvement in health.

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