Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can come with a number of symptoms, whilst some can be embarrassing, an expert has warned people not to ignore these symptoms.
IBS is a long-term condition which affects the digestive system. The disorder is often life long with symptoms that can come and go.
Experts from Bay's Kitchen, a food brand which aims to produce IBS friendly foods (low FODMAP), have shared that 65% of Brits experience IBS symptoms regularly, but 82% have not sought out medical advice, reports Chronicle Live.
IBS and gut health dietitian Kirsten Jackson urged the public that: "Ignoring digestive symptoms is a scary concept because your symptoms could be caused by many different conditions, including cancer. You must get checked by the doctor."
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Speaking to The Mirror, Kirsten said: "The symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain, loose stools, constipation, bloating and excess gas."
However, experiencing these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean you have IBS. She explained: "For a person's symptoms to be IBS related they need to be chronic in nature so they need to have started six months or more prior to being able to be diagnosed and be occurring at least one day a week for the past three months.
"Someone with IBS will experience abdominal pain which is related to them opening their bowels, so their pain will get worse or better when they go for a poo. It can also be related to an increase or decrease in the them needing to open the bowels and also a change in how their poo looks i.e. more runny or like rabbit droppings."
To ease the symptoms, she also suggests both long and short term ways to prevent them. Kirsten recommends "gentle movement like yoga or walking", which can "help release trapped gas causing bloating, help bowels move for constipation issues and also help reduce stress which may be triggering symptoms".
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She also recommends fibre supplements for both constipation and loose stools, such as Psyllium husk, and says over-the-counter medications such as loperamide (for loose stools) and Buscopan (for stomach cramps) may also be useful, but they should always speak to their doctor or pharmacist before starting.
For long term prevention of IBS pain, Kirsten recommends a low FODMAP diet process, which means reducing the intake of "fermentable carbohydrates". Food which can cause symptoms in IBS sufferers are some dairy products and fructans in onion and garlic.
Adding to the explanation, Kirsten said: "The individual reduces their intake down for a period of four to six weeks to reduce symptoms before following a structured reintroduction to identify their personal intolerances. Longer-term the individual then only needs to avoid their known intolerances rather than being on an overly restrictive diet."
Taking probiotics for at least four weeks, as can mindfulness-based relaxation techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises, which can trigger the "fight or flight pathway", which is known to trigger IBS symptoms. CBT can also help target the "gut brain axis to reduce symptoms" but Kirsten warns "this must be carried out with a therapist who is trained in IBS specifically".
She finished: "Poor sleep quality (which means both quantity and quality) has been shown in the research to worse IBS symptoms.
"When you have a lack of sleep your body is more sensitive to stress which we know can trigger IBS symptoms. Simple changes like going to bed at the same time each night so that your body can set its internal clock system is useful.
"With my clients I like to have a one hour buffer zone before their sleep time where they have a screen time ban and are in bed 30 minutes before sleeping to read a book."
If you've experienced IBS symptoms over a longer period, you should seek medical advice."
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