Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome, or "IBS," is a condition that causes belly pain and problems with bowel movements. Some people with the condition have frequent watery bowel movements (diarrhoea). Others do not have enough bowel movements (constipation). Some patients switch back and forth between diarrhoea and constipation.

Symptoms may include:

There are no specific tests to diagnose IBS, but we firstly need to exclude other more serious causes of your symptoms. Lots of other medical conditions can have similar symptoms to IBS.

You can improve your health by keeping a food diary, avoid foods that trigger your symptoms, eat more fibre, fruit and vegetables, and exercise. Most people with IBS will have symptoms for the rest of their lives, but you can reduce these symptoms by following the above simple steps.