Irritable Bowel Syndrome Tyldesley

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic bowel disorder and a common condition for many people today. Is modern day stress the main cause?  What are the symptoms, and how can it be treated?  

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the digestive tract which affects as many as one in five of us at some point in our lives, most likely between the ages of 15 and 40. It's also a very individual condition and it affects people in different ways.Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation, frequent bowel motions, bloating, abdominal tenderness and swelling. IBS is believed to be linked to stress and because of the strong connection between the bowels and the brain, symptoms can also include headaches, nervousness, depression and anxiety.  In fact, the NHS report that up to 60 per cent of people with IBS have psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression.    People are generally affected by one symptom more than another, and IBS tends to be more common in women than men.  For some people, the symptoms are so mild they almost go unnoticed, but others may describe IBS as a debilitating disease.  If the main symptom is diarrhoea then food passes through the digestive system faster than usual, while constipated and bloated sufferers complain that the bowels don't feel fully emptied after going to the toilet. Some people experience sharp, gripping abdominal cramps and pain in the abdomen, which can get better - or worse - by opening the bowels, passing wind or eating...

Profile of the author: This article is written by Sarah Dawson , a freelance journalist who writes for national and international newspapers, magazines and websites.

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