April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome or (IBS) Awareness Month, so let's talk about IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder that's a common chronic condition affecting the large intestine. IBS can negatively affect your  overall quality of life and interferes with daily living activities.

IBS may be caused by problems of your digestive tract or the muscles of your intestines.The walls of your intestines are lined with layers of muscle that contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm.This action moves food from your stomach through your intestinal tract to your rectum.

How the muscles respond is very important. In (IBS), the contractions may be stronger or last longer than normal.On the other hand, contractions may be weak slowing the passage of food and leading to many discomforting symptoms.

If you suffer from this condition it is judicious to learn about IBS so that you can find out what may be triggering your symptoms. IBS symptoms are often unpredictable, there may be times when the symptoms are worse or times when they improve or even disappear totally. An irritable bowel syndrome displays many symptoms such as

• abdominal cramping,
• abdominal pain,
• bloated feelings,
• excess gas and
• mucus in the stool.

Common changes in bowel habits may also be diarrhoea or constipation or hard dry stools.

To best deal with IBS symptoms you'll need to have a grasp on and know what triggers affect you. Sometimes simple changes can provide much relief from an irritable bowel. For example if it is just a single food item identified as the triggering agent  of  the condition then it is wise to avoid certain foods that make your symptoms appear or worsen.

You can control many symptoms by managing your dietary consumption, stress and lifestyle. Adjusting  food and lifestyle choices appropriately, medication and counselling are therapies of choice

But, the problem can typically be more than certain foods.There can be other unknown or underlying factors causing the symptoms. . Even though IBS does not cause changes in bowel tissue it's important to see your doctor if you have a persistent change in bowel habits as these may indicate a more serious condition.

IBS symptoms often resemble those of other diseases, it's wise to get your doctor to rule out other colon conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer