One day, you feel fine. The next, the symptoms of IBS take over. You clutch your stomach, feeling waves of pain. Your gut twists, bloating makes every breath uncomfortable, and sudden diarrhoea or constipation throws your day into chaos.
IBS attacks don’t just stop there. They bring:
- Stomach pain
- Back pain
- Bloating
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Mucus in stool
- Anxiety and sweating
- Pelvic pain
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) isn’t just common—it’s growing. More people are suffering, and the symptoms are getting worse. For many, it’s not just an inconvenience. It’s a daily struggle.
What is IBS? What are the Statistics Saying?
IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is a long-lasting disorder that affects the digestive system of a person, particularly the large intestine. What exactly causes IBS is still not known. However, IBS is related to factors such as stress, diet, and hormonal changes. Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with IBS, and symptoms in women are usually stronger due to hormonal changes.
Though IBS does not cause any permanent damage to the intestine, it affects the quality of people due to unbearable, painful, and uncomfortable symptoms. This post involves a deep study of the symptoms of IBS with some effective tips to deal with it. You may get a sense of relief to know that home remedies can be a relief to your painful IBS symptoms.
Read More: Explore Stress and Gut Health Connection: How Stress Affects Gut Health and Digestion
7 Common Symptoms of IBS
IBS symptoms and their intensity can vary from person to person. Here is the list of the most common symptoms of IBS:
1. Abdominal pain and cramping: Lower abdominal pain is the most common symptom of IBS. Contractions in the intestine are the major cause of this pain, which can become regular in people with IBS. This pain becomes unbearable for women when it occurs around their menstruation, as hormonal changes at that time affect the digestive system.
Alert: In IBS, this pain can range from severe to mild, with a feeling of cramps that often eases after the bowel movement.
2. Bloating and Gas: Bloating and gas are the common signs that cause discomfort, and make the abdomen feel swollen. People with IBS often say that they feel gassy and puffy stomachs, especially after eating.
Alert: High-fibre foods, carbonated beverages, and specific carbohydrates (FODMAPs) can badly affect the problem of bloating and IBS in people with IBS. So, you must avoid consuming these items, especially carbonated beverages. However, getting rid of gluten-free foods doesn’t completely reduce the IBS problem.
Also read: Does Raw Milk Benefit Your Health? Think again! Myths Busted
3. Diarrhoea (IBS-D):
Some people with IBS experience diarrhoea as a major symptom known as IBS-D. A person with IBS-D will be feeling frequent loose stools and an urgent need to use the bathroom, which can disturb daily life and activities.
Alert: Other than these common signs, you may also feel that your stomach is not properly clean or empty after every bowel movement.
4. Constipation (IBS-C)
In contrast to diarrhoea, some women also feel constipation (IBS-C) as their major symptom of IBS. Constipation often leads to a hard bowel movement, which causes difficulty in passing the stools, resulting in discomfort and bloating.
Alert: Common signs of IBS-C also include straining during bowel movements, passing small or hard stools, and fewer than three bowel movements per week.
5. Mucus in stool
If you are also feeling mucus in stool, which is not generally possible with normal bowel movements, then it is most probable that you have IBS. The intestine, during the digestive process, produces mucus that is often clear or white.
Alert: The cause of this mucus can be the intestine’s irritation, which is common in IBS.
6. Fatigue and low energy all the time
Fatigue is another common symptom of IBS that people with IBS do not notice. An IBS person may feel tired, lethargic, or lack energy all the time, which could lead to poor sleep, less absorption of nutrition by the body, or mental stress.
Alert: This laziness or fatigue feeling can affect your concentration and overall quality of life.
7. Nausea
A person suffering from IBS generally notices repeated episodes of nausea, especially after eating or severe bloating. The reaction of your body to digestive discomfort generally causes nausea.
Alert: If you have IBS, then fatty foods, high-fibre foods, and overeating can sometimes cause you nausea. So, be careful of your diet.
Why are IBS Symptoms More Common in Women?
Women are more likely to suffer from IBS because of several factors, like:
- Hormonal fluctuations: Women often experience symptoms of IBS at the time of menstruation or menopause due to hormonal fluctuations that affect their digestive systems.
- More stress: Research suggests that stress levels in women are generally high, which can trigger to IBS symptoms.
- Gut microbiome differences: Some studies suggest that women’s gut microbiome varies from men’s, possibly affecting the frequency and severity of IBS symptoms in women.
We understand that some symptoms may correlate with other disease symptoms. So, don’t get scared if you think you have IBS, watch this video for better understanding:
By now, you must’ve been convinced that you, too, have IBS. But our tips? hold onto that thought if you haven’t been tested yet. Do you know what causes IBS? Check out that too and try to understand even if you are a potential patient for this disease.
What are the Most Probable Causes of IBS?
What exactly causes IBS is hard to tell, but there are some factors that can cause IBS; some of these are:
- Nervous system issues: Issues with the nerves of the digestive system often lead to discomfort or irritation in the belly area, like stretches from gas or stool. Poor signal coordination between the brain and the intestines causes the body to strongly react to the changes that occur in the digestion process.
- Early life stress: People experiencing stressful events, especially in critical age like childhood, have higher chances of developing IBS.
- Severe infection: There are high chances of developing IBS when you have more than 10 loose or watery stools in a day as a bout of diarrhoea or any other infection. A surplus of bacteria in the intestine can also cause IBS.
- Contraction of the intestine’s muscles: The intestinal walls are covered with thin layers of muscles that contract as they move food through the digestive tract. Stronger and long-term contractions can lead to gas, bloating, and diarrhoea.
Foods to Avoid for Effective IBS Management
If you feel such symptoms and want to cure your IBS, why not start with yourself? You can effectively manage your IBS by avoiding these foods:
| Vegetables | Asparagus, Beans (e.g. black, broad, kidney, lima, soya), Cauliflower, Cabbage, Garlic, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas, Scallions/Spring onions (white part), |
| Fruits | Apples, Apricots, Avocado, Bananas, Ripe Blackberries, Grapefruit, Mango, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Raisins, Sultanas, Watermelon |
| Meats | Chorizo, Sausages, Processed meat (check ingredients) |
| Grains | Barley, Bran, Couscous, Gnocchi, Granola, Muesli, Muffins, Rye, Semolina, Spelt, Wheat foods (e.g. bread, cereal, pasta) |
| Nuts | Cashews, Pistachios |
| Deserts | Agave High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), Honey, Inulin, Isomalt, Maltitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol and Xylitol |
Read Also: Is Intermittent Fasting Scientifically Approved?
Is There Any Cure for Symptoms of IBS? Is There Any Remedy at Home for IBS?
Sadly, there is no cure for IBS, but you will get relief knowing that you can effectively manage your IBS symptoms. Here are some effective ways to calm your IBS attacks:
- Peppermint teas: Peppermint teas can help as a pain reliever for people who suffer from painful IBS attacks. Peppermint tea will help you get relief from your cramps. Peppermint teas or oil capsules can act as an anti-pain channel for your abdominal pain.
- Ginger teas: Another tea that can benefit you in managing your painful IBS syndrome is ginger tea. Ginger is very beneficial for gut health. Ginger not only improves digestion but also reduces inflammation. Ginger also helps in gut motility. A combination of both teas can be helpful in managing your cramps or digestive problems during your IBS.
- Deep breathing and meditation: Sometimes it becomes unbearable to bear the pain or discomfort that IBS symptoms cause. But you won’t believe that 5 minutes of meditation and deep breathing can do magic. If you think your busy schedule does not allow you to dedicate much time to meditation, you can start with 5 minutes a day. If you get an IBS attack, you can try to deep breathe and meditate beforehand. It will help you relieve stress.
- IBS-focused diet plan: Here comes the important aspect of your IBS journey. Here, you must focus on creating a diet plan that does not have any food items that can worsen your IBS. Try taking the help of a dietitian to make an IBS-focused diet plan for you. Following the diet can help you manage your IBS symptoms.
Download this IBS_Focused_Diet_Plan.
Look what’s everyone feeling in IBS and their opinions:
We May Now Know The Key Mechanism That Causes IBS
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How to Diagnose IBS?
The symptoms of IBS can mimic other digestive issues, making diagnosis tricky. Doctors don’t have a single test to confirm IBS, but they follow a step-by-step process:
- Symptom Review – Your doctor will assess your symptoms of IBS, including pain patterns, bloating, and bowel movement changes.
- Medical History – They’ll ask about family history, diet, stress levels, and past digestive issues.
- Physical Exam – A gentle press on your stomach can help check for tenderness or bloating.
- Blood Tests – These rule out infections, coeliac disease, or other conditions that mimic IBS.
- Stool Tests – To check for infections, inflammation, or blood in the stool.
- Colonoscopy or Endoscopy – In some cases, doctors use a camera to examine your intestines and rule out serious issues.
A diagnosis of IBS comes when no other condition explains your symptoms. If your digestive troubles are persistent, don’t ignore them—get checked early.
Immediately Consult a Doctor If You Feel Uneasy
You must visit a doctor before your symptoms worsen and start affecting your life badly. Here are some conditions in which you must consult a doctor immediately:
- Unreasonable weight loss
- Blood in stool
- Severe abdominal pain that has not improved for so long
- Anaemia or other signs of nutritional deficiencies
Read More: Probiotics vs Prebiotics Benefits: Know the Difference Before It’s Too Late
Wrapping up: Do What’s Best for You; Fight with IBS
Symptoms of IBS can sometimes be difficult to manage, especially for women who experience these symptoms frequently with high intensity. However, a timely understanding of the symptoms and getting treatment for your disease by consulting your doctor help you manage these painful symptoms.
But during your IBS, you must be rational enough to identify personal triggers and adopt an IBS-focused diet because you deserve a healthy life with no discomfort. Lastly, if you doubt that you may have IBS, then consult a doctor immediately, and if it is confirmed that you have IBS, be sure to stay focused and follow the instructions of your healthcare professional for a faster recovery.
FAQs:
Q-1: How do you confirm if you have IBS?
There is no way to confirm by yourself, but if you are experiencing any of the IBS symptoms, then you need to consult a doctor. The physician will diagnose your issue based on your family history, physical examination, and the symptoms that are bothering you.
Q-2: How do I know if I suffer from IBS?
If you experience severe stomach pain that usually worsens after eating, your tummy feels bloated or swollen, a bout of diarrhoea, or nausea so frequently, then you need to consult with your doctor and confirm if you are suffering from IBS.
Q-3: What is the biggest trigger of IBS?
Foods that are high in sugar and have additive fats ,like coffee, soda, and chocolates, are the biggest triggers of IBS.
Q-4: Can I self-diagnose IBS?
No, there is no way to self-diagnose IBS. Though you can manage your IBS by taking some precautions, you must take proper treatment as advised by your doctor to cure IBS
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