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What is IBS?

Our IBS eBook covers everything you need to know about IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the gut-brain axis thought to affect between 9-23% of the global population. The symptoms include the presence of abdominal pain or discomfort alongside altered bowel habits for 6 months or more. IBS can be characterized into subtypes, with the three most common subtypes being IBS-D (predominant stool is diarrhea), IBS-C (predominant stool is constipated), and IBS-M (a mixture of both diarrhea and constipation).

The gut-brain axis is the communication that occurs between the central nervous system (which includes the brain and the spinal cord) and the nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract. Conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression have been linked to IBS due to this connection between the gut and the brain.

The diagnosis pathway can be difficult, as the symptoms of the condition are non-specific and can be associated with a variety of other gastrointestinal conditions. Even though the condition is not life-threatening, the symptoms can range from moderate to severe and can significantly affect the quality of life of patients and impose a burden on physicians and healthcare systems.

There is a significant link between IBS and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO is a gastrointestinal condition caused by excessive bacteria in the small intestine, with common symptoms being abdominal pain and diarrhea. These symptoms overlap with those of IBS, highlighting the link between the two conditions. In fact, up to 78% of IBS patients have been found to also have SIBO.

The overlap of IBS with other conditions highlights the importance of a thorough diagnostic process for IBS, as many patients may experience better outcomes through more precise diagnoses and treatments tailored to their specific condition and symptoms.