Irritable bowel syndrome, commonly known as IBS, is a disorder which, as its name suggests, affects the bowel. There are a number of different symptoms that accompany the disorder, including either constipation or diarrhoea, and it is also easy to misdiagnose other conditions with similar symptoms as being IBS.

IBS can often be aggravated by stress, and the pain, discomfort, and embarrassment it causes can add to this stress and make the condition worse. The exact cause of IBS is not yet fully understood. Some parts of the medical community believe IBS to be a psychosomatic illness, which occurs for psychological rather than physical reasons, but more and more doctors are beginning to think that there may be an organic cause for the disorder.

The main symptom of IBS is pain in the abdominal region. This can also be accompanied by diarrhoea or constipation, as well as a bloated feeling and trapped or excessive wind. Some IBS sufferers also experience indigestion and heartburn, and in some cases may have frequent head or back pain.

It goes without saying that these symptoms can cause a great deal of anxiety. The need to never be too far away from a toilet can affect a person's daily life. If one of the symptoms is excessive wind, this can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing. And it is all too easy for a person suffering from IBS to worry that the symptoms are caused by something far more serious. All of these worries and stresses serve to make the condition worse.

As IBS has a variety of possible causes, there are a number of different methods of treatment, and different treatments work better for different people. Sometimes a change in diet may be required, as substances such as milk, alcohol, or red meat have been found to trigger IBS in some people. Drugs to relieve constipation or diarrhoea may help. Drugs which affect Seratonin, a chemical in the body which stimulates the gut, have been found to help in some cases.

As stress can often be a factor in the disorder, relaxation techniques such as Yoga can be a great help. Medical research has also proved the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for IBS. Hypnotherapy not only helps a patient to relax, but can use the power of the patient's own self-belief to help them control and reduce the symptoms of IBS.

As the disorder is centred around the gut, probiotics have been found to relieve IBS symptoms. There is a growing theory that IBS may be caused by an as-yet undiscovered strain of bacterial infection, and a course of antibiotics has been effective in treating some cases.

If you have symptoms as described above and think you may have IBS, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. IBS is difficult to diagnose, and there are many other conditions that produce similar symptoms. Whatever is causing your pain and discomfort, your doctor can diagnose it and prescribe the correct treatment.

If you do have IBS, then you don't have to suffer forever. You may need to ‘experiment' with different treatments, but once you find the right course of action, the pain and discomfort of IBS will be a thing of the past.