Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms

IBS is one of the most common digestive conditions, affecting one in ten of us worldwide.

It is an ongoing condition affecting the stomach and intestines, also known as the gastrointestinal tract.

The most common Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms are: 

• Tummy pains or cramps - usually worse after eating and better after doing a poo
• Diarrhoea – poo that is watery and/or the need to poo suddenly
• Constipation – difficulty when pooing and/or feeing like you cannot empty your bowels fully

 IBS may also affect your gut health in the following ways: 

• Bloating – your tummy feels uncomfortably full and swollen  
• Wind
• Distension - a widening of the girth of the tummy
• Mucus present in poo
• Feeling tired and sick
• Backache
• Bladder issues

Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms can come and go over time, which can make them a challenge to manage. 

Symptoms may occur daily, weekly or even monthly, with some instances where your symptoms are better and some when they are worse (known as flare-ups), often triggered by food or drink.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome treatments

There are not many effective treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, however are steps you can take to help improve your symptoms or avoid making them worse: 

1. Take probiotic supplements

Probiotic supplements may help any symptoms caused by gut bacteria changes and maintain good IBS gut health. 

2. Follow a low FODMAP diet

See a nutrition health professional to follow an exclusion diet called ‘low FODMAP diet which aims to reduce fermentation and associated symptoms.

3. Take IBS gut health supplements

Our range of expertly formulated gut health supplements use powerful botanical extracts, vitamins and live friendly bacteria, and have been developed to help support most gut health problems; from SIBO, IBS and IBD.

Browse our gut health collection.

4. Keep a food diary 

Recording what you eat and drink will help you identify things that might trigger IBS flare ups.

Read our guide to what foods can trigger IBS.

5. Look after your mental health 

Stress can have a negative impact on gut health and, so try stress-reducing activities like yoga and meditation.

6. Stay active

Regular exercise promotes healthy digestion and improves gut motility, whilst helping to alleviate issues like bloating and constipation.

7. Have a Gut Reset 

Our free guide will help alleviate and even prevent common digestive issues.  It is full of easy diet and lifestyle tips to restore your gut health and keep you feeling your best – sign up for your free Gut Reset.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome causes

It is unknown what causes all cases of IBS, however certain factors have been linked to diagnosis: 

The link between IBS and gut health     

IBS a disorder of the gut brain interaction, or a DGBI. Disordered gut-brain interactions mean your gut and your brain are not working together effectively, leading to:  

• Your gut being more sensitive, resulting in repeated stomach pains 
• Changes to how the muscles in your bowels contract, resulting in changes in your bowel movements, such as constipation, diarrhoea or both.

An unbalanced gut microbiome (dysbiosis)  

• IBS has been linked to gut health and changes in the microbes found in the gut caused by:       
  • • Gut infections
    • Use of antibiotics 
    • Certain foods and drinks, including alcohol, caffeine and spicy or fatty foods.

Gender and age

• Women are up to two times more likely to experience IBS symptoms than men 
• Under 50s are more likely to be diagnosed with IBS than over 50s - the most common age is between 20 and 40 years old.

Personal and medical history

• IBS tends to run in families, though no gene for IBS has been identified
• Stress and anxiety have been linked to IBS. 
• Endometriosis has been linked to IBS. 

Diagnosing Irritable Bowel Syndrome

There is no test for IBS, however your GP can diagnose it by ruling out other possible causes of your symptoms. 

This may include:

• A blood test to check for coeliac disease
• Testing a sample of your poo to check for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Types of IBS    

There are three types of IBS, based on different patterns of changes in bowel movements: 

• IBS with constipation (IBS-C)
• IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D)
• IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M)

About 1 in 3 people have IBS-C symptoms, with another third having IBS-D. Those whose bowel habits don’t fall into a specific pattern are diagnosed with IBS-M

Your doctor might diagnose IBS even if your bowel movement pattern does not fit IBS-C, D or M. 

Need support after being diagnosed with IBS? Our gut heath experts can help

If you looking for support with managing your Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms, our expert nutritionists can talk you through your options 

With this complimentary, commitment-free session, you will receive actionable, clear advice,  empowering you to make informed decisions for your health and wellbeing. 

Book your free support call.

Other digestive conditions that are often mistaken for IBS   

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) 

Though IBS and IBD may sound similar, as well as share some symptoms, they are very different conditions.

The most common forms of IBD are: 

• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Both conditions are characterised by inflammation in the gut that’s driven by the immune system.

It is possible to be diagnosed with both IBS and IBD, but one can’t turn into the other

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)  

SIBO is another digestive condition that is often mistaken for IBS as many symptoms are similar including bloating, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea.  

SIBO occurs when there's an excessive amount of bacteria in the small intestine, leading to unpleasant disruptive symptoms and nutrient absorption issues.

If you think your gut health symptoms could be SIBO, Altruvita can help you regain control of your digestive health and experience lasting relief.: 

• Sign up for our free SIBO Unlocked guide
• Try our 2-Step SIBO Protocol 

Frequently Asked Questions about Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Can Irritable Bowel Syndrome be permanently cured?

There is no cure for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, however symptoms can be managed  through lifestyle and diet changes and gut health supplements.

What diet is best for Irritable Bowel Syndrome relief?

While certain foods trigger IBS symptoms, other foods can help improve your symptoms - read our guide to diet and IBS.

Do probiotics help with IBS?

Probiotic supplements may help any symptoms caused by IBS – read our guide to IBS and probiotic supplements to find out more

Are there natural remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Our range of expertly formulated gut health supplements use powerful botanical extracts, vitamins and live friendly bacteria - browse our gut health collection.