Oak Valley Health’s patient education pages share the skills, knowledge, and habits patients and families need to know to cope with a daily health issue. We hope this information can influence patient behaviour to improve health outcomes and provide you with a sense of control and autonomy.
Learn more about the risks, causes, and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a collection of symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract).
The body sends signals back and forth between the intestines and the brain to regulate how the GI tract works. If you have IBS, these signals may be disrupted. As a result, the GI tract does not function normally. The intestines may become more sensitive and react inappropriately to certain stimuli.
The four types of IBS are listed below:
IBS with diarrhea
IBS with constipation
Mixed IBS
Unsubtyped IBS
The cause of IBS is unknown.
You are female
You are younger than 40 years of age
You have a family history of IBS
You have a mental health condition
You have had a bacterial infection within your GI tract
Diarrhea, constipation or both
Swelling or bloating of the abdomen
Feeling full after a small/regular sized meal
Constant passing of gas
Mucus in stool
Incomplete emptying after a bowel movement
Symptoms typically appear suddenly and go.
Making changes to your diet:
Avoid food that cause symptoms
Increase water consumption
Follow a low-FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diet.
