What are the causes of IBS?
Although the exact cause of IBS is unknown, there are multiple factors that may be contributing to the changes in gut function:
- Abnormal gut motility: the way the muscles in the gut contract to move food along
- Gut hypersensitivity: the nerves in the intestines seem to experience higher sensitivity to pain
- Dysfunction in the brain-gut connection: the communication pathway linking your gut and your brain
What are the symptoms of IBS?
Although IBS is not life-threatening, the recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort that it causes can have a significant impact on quality of life. Common symptoms may include:
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Bloating
- Gas
- Mucus present in the stools
- Irregular bowel patterns: Constipation, diarrhea or alternating periods between both
How do I treat IBS?
Since there is no cure for IBS, the treatment relies on the management of your symptoms, which are aggravated by certain triggers: infection, inflammation, stress, diet, medications and hormones.
To help manage symptoms, you and your dietitian will begin by identifying potential trigger is behaviour and eating habits, i.e. how you eat). If no improvement is seen, we will tackle what you eat using Low-fodmap elimination diet, until symptoms resolve, with the help of a Motive Nutrition Dietitian.
