IBS Awareness Month

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month falls in April each year. IBS is the most common disorder of the digestive system, with up to one third of the UK population experiencing symptoms. At Guts UK Charity, we raise vital awareness for IBS and much more, to make much-needed noise for our underfunded and understaffed guts.  

What is IBS?

Guts UK's brand character illustration of the brain. The brain has been characterised with two small black eyes and a smile, and has two pale, pink legs, wearing black boots. IBS is thought to be caused by the gut and brain over-communicating. In other words, talking to one another too much.    

What are the symptoms of IBS?

Guts UK branded character illustration of an elderly man sat down next to a toilet. He has his left arm bent, using the toilet for support, extending his hand to his forehead. His right hand is touching his stomach, on top of a blue jumper he is wearing. He has grey hair at the sides and back of his head and a grey moustache, and also wears dark navy trousers and pink and purple striped socks. He looks pained, as if he is about to vomit. Symptoms can include:
  • Constipation, diarrhoea or a mixture of the two
  • Abdominal pain
  • Abnormal bowel habits
  • Wind, bloating and distension (a widening of the firth of the abdomen)
  • Pooing mucus
  • 1/3 of IBS patients have bouts of constipation. Another 1/3 have bouts of diarrhoea. The final 1/3 don’t fall into a single pattern.
  • Feeling tired
  • Nausea (feeling sick)
  • Backache
  • Bladder symptoms
   

At what age does IBS begin?

 

IBS can happen at any age but the usual age for patients to seek advice is between 20 and 40 years.

 

Does IBS affect women or men more?

 

Women are slightly more affected than men by IBS.

 

What treatment is available for IBS?

Guts UK's gut brand character of the gut (oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon) is sat down, facing left and looks sad. Treatments are very individual, as they can vary depending on the symptoms. They can include medications, diet and lifestyle factors. It’s important to work alongside your doctor on what treatments you’d like to try. It’s important to remember that what works for one person may not work for the next. Learn as much as you can about what there is out there to try when it comes to IBS treatment.  

Why is it important to raise awareness of IBS?

There are often many presumptions and misunderstandings when it comes to IBS. Not every illness is visible and you don’t have to look a certain way to have IBS. It’s time to encourage conversations about our toilet habits, because going to the toilet is really one of the most natural processes out there, which is common to us all.]   IBS Awareness Month - Guts UK - For more information.