What is it?

Dr. Wendy Denning, GP and one of Tatler’s top 150 private doctors for the last three years, explains: “Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a sporadic and unpredictable disruption of the digestive system. Everyone suffers the odd upset, but if you regularly experience painful abdominal spasms, bloating, or attacks of constipation or diarrhoea, then you could be suffering from IBS.”

Causes

Dr. Denning, says: “Doctors are not exactly sure what causes IBS, and symptoms can vary in type, frequency and severity from person to person. However the condition can be painful, embarrassing and inconvenient to deal with. IBS occurs when the nerves and muscles of the bowel are not working properly. The bowel can become extra sensitive to pain and easily or frequently upset, and, unfortunately, IBS is a chronic condition – often recurring after long periods of calm.”

Symptoms

• Abdominal pain and cramping – often relieved by emptying your bowels
• A change in your bowel habits – such a diarrhoea, constipation, or both
• Bloating and swelling of your abdomen
• Excessive wind
• An urgent need to go to the toilet
• A feeling that you need to open your bowels even if you have just been to the toilet
• A feeling you have not fully emptied your bowels
• Passing mucus from your bottom

Stats

• IBS affects 15-20% of the population, particularly women aged 20-4
• 25-50% of all hospital gastroenterology appointments are for IBS
• Studies have shown that approximately 2/3 of IBS patients have at least one food intolerance and some have multiple intolerances
• Over 50% of those surveyed* had missed work with almost one quarter of 24-34 year olds taking over a month off
• 43% reported their IBS impacted their confidence, with 24-34 year olds most severely affected (46%), and well over 1/3 (38%) reported low mood
• 1 in 10 said that their condition had significantly impacted their love life

Treatments

• The YorkTest IBS Diet Programme includes analysis reaction to more than 158 different food and drink ingredients. The new programme is specifically designed for IBS sufferers because it provides a personalised list of suitable low FODMAP foods which take into account your food and drink intolerances, the low FODMAP diet has been shown to be effective in reducing IBS symptoms.
• Eliminate foods that patients are intolerant to
• Probiotics
• Eight glasses of water per day
• Advice on eating + / – digestive enzymes
• Stress reduction
• Exercise
• Glutamine
• Fish oils
• Cut down on FODMAP foods

*OnePoll survey of 1,000 IBS sufferers