Irritable bowel syndrome (also known as IBS) is a chronic condition affecting the functioning of the gut. It causes abdominal pain and altered bowel movements. Around 20% of all people in the UK develop irritable bowel syndrome at some time in their lives; often when they are young adults.

This article will examine the common causes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common problem, but many people are embarrassed to talk about it which means that they do not seek help when they should.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) causes continuous abdominal pain and cramping, constipation and/or diarrhea and bloating. It can also be an underlying cause of headaches, non-cardiac related chest pain and lower back pain.

The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not clear, although scientists believe that it has something to do with over activity in parts of the gut and a change in the way the brain communicates with the GI tract. The reason that the exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown is that no physical abnormalities have been found in sufferers to explain the symptoms.

Certain foods and stress seem to trigger the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) . However, this has never been proven conclusively.

Intolerance to certain food such as dairy products, tea and coffee can trigger irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. However food sensitivity is thought to only cause irritable bowel syndrome in a small number of cases.

Stress can play a role in causing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by leading to over activity of the nerves and/or gut. Around 50% of irritable bowel syndrome sufferers link stress with the onset of symptoms and their worsening during periods of anxiety.

Some people believe that irritable bowel syndrome is caused by a continuing gut infection. However, this is not true although in some cases the onset of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome comes after someone has been ill with gastroenteritis or has taken antibiotics. This implies that certain germs can bring on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.