By Dr Paul Blaker
04.04.23
Gastroenterologist
A comprehensive overview of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition which affects the gastrointestinal tract and leads to symptoms of abdominal cramps, bloating and changes in bowel habits with either constipation or diarrhoea. These symptoms tend to come and go over time but sometimes they can last days, weeks or even months at a time. It is a condition which affects patient’s quality of life, with symptoms which are absolutely genuine but in the abscence of a detectional disease process. It is regarded as a functional problem of the gastrointestinal tract which doctors poorly understand