IBS flare-ups are triggered by various factors, primarily diet (like caffeine, alcohol, spicy/fatty foods, dairy, wheat, high-FODMAPs), stress and anxiety, hormonal changes (menstrual cycle), certain medications, and sometimes even a past gut infection, with triggers varying per person and leading to worsening symptoms like bloating, pain, and altered bowel habits.
Certain things have been associated with triggering irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These include a stomach infection, inflammation due to another condition and taking certain medicines. If you have IBS, certain foods or feeling stressed or anxious may trigger a flare-up.
Stopping a flare in its tracks
IBS can develop after a severe bout of diarrhea caused by bacteria or a virus. This is called gastroenteritis. IBS also might be associated with a surplus of bacteria in the intestines, known as bacterial overgrowth. Early-life stress.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder that causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas or a combination of the above. IBS occurs in people of all ages, including children. Some children may have diarrhea as a dominant symptom, while others may have constipation as a dominant symptom.
IBS poop varies greatly, often fluctuating between hard, lumpy, and difficult-to-pass stools (IBS-C) and loose, watery, and urgent stools (IBS-D), or alternating between both (IBS-M), sometimes with mucus present, but not blood. Shapes can range from small pellets to thin, pencil-like forms, and color might shift due to speed of passage (e.g., green/yellow for fast, darker for slow).
The worst foods for IBS are often high in FODMAPs (fermentable carbs) like onions, garlic, wheat, and apples; dairy; fatty/fried foods; caffeine; alcohol; and artificial sweeteners, as they trigger gas, bloating, pain, and diarrhea, but triggers vary, making a low-FODMAP diet or food diary crucial for identifying personal culprits.
Conditions whose symptoms may be mistaken for IBS include: Celiac disease: While celiac disease may cause constipation, diarrhea, pain and bloating, it often also has symptoms unrelated to digestion, such as fatigue, joint pain or a rash.
Do
stomach pain or cramps – usually worse after eating and better after doing a poo. bloating – your tummy may feel uncomfortably full and swollen. diarrhoea – you may have watery poo and sometimes need to poo suddenly. constipation – you may strain when pooing and feel like you cannot empty your bowels fully.
Sometimes medications can be used to help treat IBS, including: antispasmodics – which help reduce abdominal (stomach) pain and cramping. laxatives – which can help relieve constipation. antimotility medicines – which can help relieve diarrhoea.
Such drugs include:
How Long Can an IBS Flare-Up Last? The truth is that the length of a flare-up varies. They can last anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on factors like what triggered it and how you manage your symptoms. On average, most flare-ups last about 2 to 4 days.
Main symptoms
a change in your bowel habits – such as diarrhoea, constipation or sometimes both. bloating and swelling of your stomach. excessive wind (flatulence) occasionally experiencing an urgent need to move your bowels.
Home management for IBS
You can use a heating pad, gently massage your stomach, or try over-the-counter medications for relief during a flare. However, making permanent lifestyle changes is the key to preventing another flare. These changes may include: Reducing stress.
No, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) generally does not go away because it's a chronic (long-term) condition, but its symptoms often come and go and can be effectively managed with lifestyle changes, diet adjustments, stress management, and sometimes medication, allowing for long periods of relief and a good quality of life. While there's no cure, learning your triggers and adjusting your routine helps control flare-ups and keep symptoms stable.
It has since been found that 82% of IBS sufferers are also low in vitamin D (less than 20 ng/mL)2 so naturally we come to question if there is a link between vitamin D and IBS symptoms. The University of Sheffield has been spearheading this important area of research.
Water and other non-caffeinated drinks, for example herbal teas, are recommended as a beverage for patients with IBS[13,59,60]. In contrast, carbonated water and other carbonated beverages should be avoided by IBS patients, because they may cause symptoms[59,60].
Both IBS and colon cancer can result in diarrhea, constipation or an alternating pattern of both. Persistent pain or cramping in the abdomen is common to both conditions. Gas and bloating are shared symptoms that may cause a feeling of fullness.
Most people with IBS develop their first symptoms before the age of 40, with many patients recalling the onset of symptoms during childhood or young adulthood. There appears to be a familial component, as many IBS patients report having a family member with similar symptoms.
The American College of Gastroenterology conducted a meta-analysis of more than 30 studies, which found that probiotics may improve overall symptoms, as well as bloating and flatulence, in people with IBS.
10 gentle breakfast ideas to manage IBS
Lifestyle and home remedies
Signs and symptoms of IBS include: