IBS is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system. It can cause bouts of stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation.

The symptoms vary between individuals and affect some people more severely than others. They tend to come and go in periods lasting a few days to a few months at a time, often during times of stress or after eating certain foods.

You may find some of the symptoms of IBS ease after going to the toilet and opening your bowels.

IBS is thought to affect up to one in five people at some point in their life, and it usually first develops when a person is between 20 and 30 years of age. Around twice as many women are affected as men.

The condition is often lifelong, although it may improve over several years.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms

The main symptoms of IBS are:

• stomach pain or cramps – usually worse after eating and better after opening your bowels
• bloating – your tummy may feel uncomfortably full and swollen
• diarrhoea – you may have watery poo and sometimes need to poo suddenly
• constipation – you may strain to open your bowels and feel like you cannot empty your bowels fully

There may be days when your symptoms are better and days when they're worse (flare-ups). They may be triggered by food or drink.

IBS can also cause:

• farting (flatulence)
• passing mucus from your bottom
• tiredness and a lack of energy
• feeling sick (nausea)
• backache
• problems passing water – like needing to pass water often, sudden urges to pass water, and feeling like you cannot fully empty your bladder
• not always being able to control when you poo (incontinence)

Tests for IBS

There's no test for IBS, but you might need some tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.

General tips to relieve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms:-

Do

• cook homemade meals using fresh ingredients when you can
• keep a diary of what you eat and any symptoms you get – try to avoid things that trigger your IBS
• try to find ways to relax
• get plenty of exercise
• try probiotics for a month to see if they help

Don't

• do not delay or skip meals
• do not eat too quickly
• do not eat lots of fatty, spicy or processed foods
• do not eat more than 3 portions of fresh fruit a day (a portion is 80g)
• do not drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day
• do not drink lots of alcohol or fizzy drinks

How to ease bloating, cramps and wind

• eat oats (such as porridge) regularly
• eat up to 1 tablespoon of linseeds a day
• avoid foods that are hard to digest (like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, beans, onions and dried fruit)
• avoid products containing a sweetener called sorbitol
• ask a pharmacist about medicines that can help, like Buscopan or peppermint oil

How to reduce diarrhoea

• cut down on high-fibre foods like wholegrain foods (such as brown bread and brown rice), nuts and seeds
• avoid products containing a sweetener called sorbitol
• ask a pharmacist about medicines that can help, like Immodium (loperamide) 

How to relieve constipation

• drink plenty of water to help make your poo softer
• increase how much soluble fibre you eat – good foods include oats, pulses, carrots, peeled potatoes and linseeds
• ask a pharmacist about medicines that can help (laxatives), like Fyogel or Celevac