Prepared by: Dr. Sreekanth M. P., Consultant – Medical Gastroenterology, Aster Medcity, Kochi.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a disorder of the digestive system that affects an estimated 10 to 15 percent of people across the world. IBS can quietly shape how a person eats, works and lives. Knowing the triggers and the warning signs is the first step to taking control.
Who Is More Likely to Get IBS?
IBS does not have a single cause. Doctors point instead to a combination of risk factors.
- Age. Symptoms usually begin in the teenage years or before 40. Someone who has had no symptoms until 40 is relatively unlikely to develop IBS later.
- Gender. Women are twice as likely as men to be affected. The exact reason is unclear, but researchers believe hormonal changes play a major role.
- Family history. IBS tends to run in families, whether because of genetics or shared eating habits.
- Stress and past trauma. Stress does not cause IBS directly, but it can make symptoms worse. People who have been through emotional hardship earlier in life are at higher risk.
- Food sensitivities. Difficulty digesting wheat or dairy can raise the risk. Excess alcohol, fizzy drinks, fructose in fruits and artificial sweeteners can aggravate symptoms.
- Hurried eating. Eating in a rush, eating while stressed, and having large meals in one go can all push the gut towards IBS.
- Medicines. Excessive or unscientific use of certain antibiotics and antidepressants can increase the risk.
- Past gut infections. Infections picked up through food or water, including travellers’ diarrhoea, make IBS more likely later on.
How Does IBS Show Up?
IBS is not a life-threatening illness, but it can seriously affect quality of life. Symptoms differ from person to person, and the common ones include:
• Pain in the lower abdomen, often relieved after a bowel movement
• Changing bowel habits: severe constipation, chronic diarrhoea, or the two alternating
• Bloating, with a feeling of the abdomen being full of gas
• A sense of incomplete evacuation, even after using the toilet
• Food-related urgency, a need to rush to the toilet soon after eating certain foods
• Red Flags: When Not to Wait
Some symptoms are not typical of IBS and need prompt medical attention. See a doctor as soon as possible if you have:
• Blood during bowel movements
• Unexplained weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of body weight within three months
• Abdominal pain severe enough to need an urgent hospital visit
• Pain that requires painkillers or injections
• A low blood count in blood tests
Small Habits, Big Relief: Managing IBS
IBS may not be fully preventable, but the right lifestyle can ease symptoms and lower the chances of flare-ups.
- Rethink your plate. If gas-forming foods such as pulses, cabbage and cauliflower trouble you, avoid them. Limit dairy if it causes discomfort. Fibre-rich food helps with constipation.
- Eat mindfully. Have small meals at regular intervals, and chew slowly and thoroughly. Large meals overload the digestive system.
- Calm the mind. Yoga, meditation and good sleep can go a long way in keeping symptoms in check.
- Keep hydrated. Enough water supports digestion and helps prevent constipation.
- Move every day. At least 30 minutes of exercise helps regulate bowel movement.
- Befriend good bacteria. Probiotic foods such as curd increase healthy gut bacteria and improve digestion.
If symptoms persist for a long time, consult a gastroenterologist instead of treating yourself. With a proper diagnosis and a disciplined lifestyle, people with IBS can live a normal life without fear.