Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a gut disorder which affects 1 in 6 people - although many sufferers may not realise they have IBS.
It often involves the presence and varying severity of one or more of the following symptoms:
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Abdominal pain or cramps
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Bloating and swelling of your stomach
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Constipation
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Urgent diarrhoea
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Excessive wind
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Passing mucus from your bottom
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Nausea
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Lack of energy
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Feeling as if you haven’t fully emptied your bowels after a toilet trip
IBS is thought to affect up to one in five people at some point in their life, and it usually first develops when a person is between 20 and 30 years of age. Around twice as many women are affected as men.
As IBS is often difficult to understand and diagnose, YorkTest have joined forces with Dr. Hilary Jones to put together a short video to raise awareness of the signs, symptoms and potential causes of the disorder.
Check it out:
If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of IBS, you should visit your GP to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
While there is no cure for IBS, but the symptoms can often be managed by making changes to your diet and lifestyle.
For example, it may help to:
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Identify and avoid foods or drinks that trigger your symptoms
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Alter the amount of fibre in your diet
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Exercise regularly
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Reduce your stress levels
Medication can sometimes be prescribed to help combat symptoms.
**Do you think you could be suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Let us know via the comments box below. **