FacebookResearchers and medical professionals don’t completely understand the cause of IBS. Numerous factors appear to be involved and there may be a genetic component that predisposes an individual to IBS. Here’s what you need to know about the causes of IBS as well as how to manage it.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a common gastrointestinal disorder that affects roughly 15% of the global population, or about 1 in 7 people. This condition used to be known as ‘spastic colon’ and typically involves abdominal pain and abnormal bowel habits.
Here are some of the hallmark symptoms of IBS:
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation, diarrhea, or both
- Bloating
- Distention
- Excessive gas
- Urgency to defecate
Most people who have IBS experience mild to moderate symptoms, most of which can be managed with dietary changes and stress management. Severe cases of IBS may require medical treatment and dietary counseling. While IBS can be managed for the long-term, there is no cure.
What Are the Causes for IBS?
The precise cause for IBS is unknown but researchers and medical professionals have identified several factors that seem to play a role. Regardless the underlying cause of IBS, symptoms are typically triggered by two things: food and stress. Food allergies are rarely implicated in cases of IBS, but certain foods may worsen symptoms. Neither is stress a direct cause but it can aggravate IBS symptoms.
Here are some of the potential causes for IBS:
- Gut sensitivity – People with IBS often demonstrate increased gut sensitivity – a highly sensitive gut wall. This condition affects roughly 60% of people with IBS and may cause them to be more sensitive to the normal movements of the gut such as distension or stretching.
- Severe infection – Some people develop IBS after a severe bacterial or viral infection. Gastroenteritis is commonly connected to cases of IBS.
- Abnormal gut motility – When food moves more quickly or more slowly through the intestines it is known as ‘altered gut motility.’ About 1 in 3 people with IBS experience this issue. Slow gut motility often results in constipation while rapid gut motility causes diarrhea.
- Reduced barrier integrity – Also known as increased intestinal permeability syndrome, this is a condition in which food particles, toxins, and pathogens that would normally be contained by the intestines enter the body, which can lead to inflammation.
- Changes in gut flora – The bacteria in the digestive system are responsible for breaking down food and helping the body absorb nutrients. When the balance of good to bad bacteria changes, it is called dysbiosis and it is believed to play a role in IBS.
Irritable bowel syndrome is considered a chronic condition which means that it is typically present over the long-term. While there is no cure, symptoms can improve, disappear, or change for a time with proper management of the condition.
What Can You Do About It?
If you’re experiencing IBS symptoms, the first thing you should do is talk to your doctor. A licensed healthcare professional can evaluate your symptoms and perform a physical exam to confirm your diagnosis. Because there is no single test for IBS, your doctor may need to take steps to rule out other potential causes for your symptoms – do not attempt to self-diagnose.
Your doctor may recommend a low FODMAP diet to help manage your IBS symptoms, particularly if food triggers symptoms. Monash University recommends a three-step process for eliminating FODMAPs from your diet, slowly reintroducing them to identify your specific triggers, then avoiding those triggers for long-term IBS management. You should work with an experienced Registered Dietitian to walk you through the process. Many people report symptom improvement within 2 to 6 weeks of initiating a low FODMAP diet.
While IBS has no cure, the condition is fairly easy to manage with dietary and lifestyle changes. Identifying your food triggers is essential – this enables you to enjoy some moderate-to-high FODMAP foods while avoiding those that trigger your symptoms.
