The Minster Practice, Lichfield
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome20% of the population, 14 million, suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is a diagnosis invented by gastroenterologists in the 1970s to provide a label for people suffering from abdominal and bowel symptoms with no obvious pathological cause. If nothing else could be found, you suffered from IBS. In practice a means had to be found to make the diagnosis without time consuming, uncomfortable, expensive tests. It is not a disease but a disorder of function, i.e. the bowel does not work as it should. Current diagnostic criteria are wordy and unhelpful: At least 12 weeks in the previous 12 months of abdominal discomfort that is either relieved by defecation or associated with changes in the frequency or form of the stool in the absence of structural or metabolic abnormalities to explain the symptoms. IBS symptoms include cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhoea and constipation. Whilst it is painful it does not damage the bowel or cause other diseases. However, there is an overlap with other poorly explained medical conditions with 60% also having functional dyspepsia, 20% chronic fatigue syndrome and 20% have fibromyalgia. IBS can be triggered by an attack of gastroenteritis but fewer than 20% of the many who get gastroenteritis go on to develop IBS. Those that did have both had more anxiety and depression during the acute illness. Emotional stress probably does not cause IBS but, if you have IBS, stress can trigger symptoms. But the bowel can overreact to a wide range of stimuli including food, exercise and hormones. Some foods are regularly reported to aggravate symptoms including milk products, chocolate, caffeine, fizzy drinks, alcohol and fatty foods. Even just eating a large meal can trigger symptoms. Treatment includes dietary changes (some foods improve IBS, some make it worse), medication (antispasmodics, laxatives, antidepressants), and stress relief (exercise, meditation, hypnotherapy, counselling). Hypnotherapy is a private service offered by Dr Causer. Click here for more information
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