IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which is a long-lasting illness with unexplained symptoms relating to feeling regular discomfort in the colon or large intestine that cannot be explained by any other illness or disease.
IBS has no definite cause and no effective treatment to cure it; the symptoms can vary from person to person. It is an individual illness and each person reacts differently with their own symptoms. IBS can also happen at different times, and may represent the person’s life situation or style. For example, being stressed can cause the gut or bowels to be more sensitive and less tolerant of food.
IBS affects around a third of the population at some point in their lives. Around one in ten people who experiences severe symptoms report to their GP. These BSL health clips were produced by SignHealth with help and information from The IBS Network. If you need more information or advice, visit www.theibsnetwork.org
