What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
What is IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder (FBD). This means it’s diagnosed based on symptoms rather than visible structural changes or lab tests. Before diagnosing IBS, doctors rule out other conditions like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
How Common is IBS?
IBS affects about 7 to 15% of people worldwide. Here in Canada, about 12% of the population lives with IBS. It’s more commonly diagnosed in women and tends to show up more often before age 50.
Symptoms of IBS
IBS symptoms vary widely from person to person and can be unpredictable. Common symptoms include:
Lower abdominal pain or discomfort
Changes in bowel habits — diarrhea, constipation, or both
Bloating — like having an inflated balloon in your belly
Excessive gas or passing wind
Visible belly swelling (distension)
These symptoms often come and go, and their severity can change over time.
What Causes IBS?
The exact cause is still unclear, but research shows multiple factors probably play a role, including:
Changes in gut motility (how food moves through your digestive tract)
Increased sensitivity in the gut
How the brain processes signals from the gut
Low-grade inflammation and immune system activity
Changes in gut permeability ("leaky gut")
Altered gut microbiota (the community of bacteria living in your digestive system)
Triggers like certain foods, stress, and hormonal changes can also bring on symptoms.
How is IBS Diagnosed?
There’s no simple test for IBS. Diagnosis relies on your doctor taking a detailed history and applying the Rome IV criteria, which classify IBS by symptoms into:
IBS-C (constipation predominant)
IBS-D (diarrhea predominant)
IBS-M (mixed diarrhea and constipation)
IBS-U (unclassified)
Important:
Please don’t self-diagnose. IBS symptoms overlap with many other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, ovarian or colon cancers, pelvic floor disorders, endometriosis, and others. Getting a formal diagnosis ensures you receive the right treatment and care.
Managing IBS
There is no cure for IBS, but many strategies can help manage symptoms:
Dietary changes: Adjust fiber intake, reduce alcohol, caffeine, and fat, and stay well hydrated. Some people find relief with elimination diets such as the low FODMAP diet.
Medications: Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend antidiarrheals, laxatives, antispasmodics, or even antidepressants to manage pain.
Lifestyle: Exercise, stress management techniques (like yoga, meditation, deep breathing), and therapy can support both physical and emotional well-being.
What Should I Do If I Think I Have IBS?
Step 1: See your family doctor for an evaluation.
(I know it’s tough if you don’t have a family doctor right now, but a formal diagnosis is important before starting any treatment.)
Try to avoid making major diet or lifestyle changes before testing, as this can affect results. Your doctor will order the necessary tests to rule out other conditions.
If IBS is diagnosed and your doctor thinks diet or lifestyle are part of the picture, you can book a consultation with me here for personalized support.
References:
2. Hungin, A.P., et al., The prevalence, patterns and impact of irritable bowel
syndrome: an international survey of 40,000 subjects. Aliment Pharmacol Ther,
3. Boeckxstaens, G.E., et al., Phenotyping of subjects for large scale studies on
patients with IBS. Neurogastroenterol Motil, 2016. 28(8): p. 1134-47.
4. Drossman, D.A. and W.L. Hasler, Rome IV-Functional GI Disorders: Disorders of
Gut-Brain Interaction. Gastroenterology, 2016. 150(6): p. 1257-61.