IBS & Bowel Health
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, long-term condition affecting the digestive system, causing recurring stomach pain along with changes in bowel habit
About ibs & bowel health
The exact cause of IBS isn't fully understood, but it's thought to involve how the gut and brain communicate, gut sensitivity, and how quickly food moves through the digestive system. Symptoms often flare with certain foods, stress, hormonal changes or infections, and can vary between diarrhoea-predominant, constipation-predominant, or a mix of both
Treatments
Symptoms
• Stomach pain or cramping, often relieved by passing stool
• Bloating
• Diarrhoea, constipation, or an alternating pattern
• Excess wind
• Mucus in stool
• Symptoms that flare and settle over time
Diagnosis
IBS is usually diagnosed based on typical symptoms lasting several months, once other causes have been excluded, sometimes with blood tests to rule out conditions like coeliac disease or inflammation. New symptoms after age 50, unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding or persistent symptoms need further investigation
Treatment
Treatment is tailored to the dominant symptom pattern: antispasmodics for pain and cramping, laxatives for constipation, or anti-diarrhoeal medicines for loose stools. Dietary changes, such as a structured low-FODMAP approach under guidance, can help identify individual triggers
Prevention and self-care
• Eat regular meals and chew food slowly
• Identify and limit personal trigger foods
• Stay hydrated and limit caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks
• Manage stress, as it commonly worsens symptoms
• Exercise regularly
• Consider a food and symptom diary to spot patterns
Reviewed by Hamza Iqbal Naheed, Superintendent Pharmacist, GPhC 2209194 (check the register) · Last updated 21 September 2026