Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic (long-term) disorder that affects the digestive system. It causes abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation.

There are different types of Irritable bowel syndrome, depending on your main symptom. Irritable bowel syndrome is known by a variety of other names, including spastic colon, spastic colitis, mucous colitis, nervous diarrhoea, nervous colon and nervous or functional bowel. However, some of these names misrepresent the condition. Colitis, for example, is an inflammation of the colon and this symptom isn’t found in people with IBS.

The symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome can fluctuate. There may be times when your symptoms are particularly troublesome and times when you experience no symptoms at all.

Although Irritable bowel syndrome poses no serious threat to health, it can have an adverse effect on a person’s quality of life. The exact causes of Irritable bowel syndrome are unknown.

How common is Irritable bowel syndrome ?

 Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions. It is estimated that 10-20% of the UK’s population is affected by Irritable bowel syndrome at any one time, although this figure may be higher because many people with the condition do not report their symptoms to their doctor.

 Irritable bowel syndrome is twice as common in women as it is in men. The condition normally develops in people who are between 20 and 30 years of age, but it can affect people of any age.

While there is no cure for Irritable bowel syndrome , the symptoms can be controlled with lifestyle changes and medicine.

Symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome The most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are:

1. abdominal pain and cramping which is often relieved by emptying your bowel,
2. a change in your bowel habits, such as diarrhoea, constipation or, sometimes, both,
3. bloating and swelling of your abdomen,
4. excessive wind,
5. experiencing an urgent need to go to the toilet, which can result in incontinence if a toilet is not nearby,
6. a feeling that you have not fully emptied your bowel, and
7. the passing of mucus from your rectum (back passage).

The symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome are usually worse after eating. Most people will experience a ‘flare-up’ of symptoms, lasting between 2-4 days, after which the symptoms improve, or disappear altogether.

For reasons that are not completely understood, Irritable bowel syndrome can also cause symptoms in other parts of your body, as well as in your bowel. These symptoms include:

1. lower back pain,
2. muscle and joint pain,
3. constant tiredness,
4. nausea,
5. headache,
6. burping,
7. bad breath, and
8. a frequent and urgent need to urinate.

Due to the pain, discomfort and embarrassment that are sometimes associated with Irritable bowel syndrome , some people also experience feelings of anxiety and depression.

The causes of Irritable bowel syndrome

‘Up to 60% of people with IBS have psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression’

The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is unknown. However, most experts believe that it may be caused by a number of interrelated factors. Possible factors include:

1. an abnormality with how the muscles move food through the digestive tract,
2. having digestive organs that are particularly sensitive to pain,
3. a malfunctioning immune system,
4. a problem with how the central nervous system controls the digestive system,
5. an unusual response to infection, and
6. environmental, dietary, and genetic factors that are as yet unknown.

Psychological factors in Irritable bowel syndrome

There is a great deal of evidence that psychological factors play an important role in Irritable bowel syndrome . This is not to suggest that Irritable bowel syndrome is ‘all in the mind’ because the symptoms people experience are very real.

Changes in emotional states, such as stress, or depression, often cause a flare-up of symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome is also more common in people who have experienced a previous traumatic experience.

How you think and feel can have an important effect on your body. When you are feeling stressed, or depressed, your body undergoes chemical changes and it is possible that these changes can affect how your digestive system works, making the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome worse.

This is why psychological treatments, such as relaxation therapy, are often effective in helping to control the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome .

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