Living with IBS – irritable bowel syndrome – can be challenging.
IBS interferes with work, school, social outings, meals, sleep… virtually every aspect of your life.
It can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and unpredictable.
Flare-ups strike without warning… even if you watch what you eat, manage your stress, and do everything else right. Symptoms can last a few days or even for months before they settle down.
That can lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness…
But it doesn't mean you’re stuck letting IBS control your life forever. In fact, there may be a simple way to help get your symptoms under control:
IBS – Tough to Diagnose and Treat
Despite being the most common functional gastrointestinal (GI) condition worldwide, IBS remains difficult to diagnose correctly and to treat long-term. Up to 15% of people across the globe have IBS, with most having moderate to severe symptoms.
IBS is a functional disorder, meaning that there’s nothing broken in the GI structure and no biochemical imbalance. Instead, the GI tract doesn’t function properly for “unknown” reasons. That makes IBS harder to diagnose.
In fact, IBS prompts among the most doctor visits – about 3.5 million every year in the U.S. – and costs more than $21 billion annually in healthcare expenses and lost work time.
Unfortunately, no specific test exists for IBS, making it a “what’s left” type of diagnosis. And that’s for only about 25% of the people with the condition who actually go to the doctor about their GI symptoms.
Once IBS gets properly diagnosed, doctors commonly recommend lifestyle changes as the first line of action. That advice usually includes some big changes to diet – like going gluten free or avoiding a group of foods called FODMAPs – along with stress management techniques. That’s because there’s no recognized cure for IBS right now, though there are some treatments doctors can prescribe such as:
- Rifaximin, an antibiotic
- Loperamide, an anti-diarrhea medication
- Laxatives, for constipation
- Antidepressants, for abdominal pain
All of those medications come with potential side effects, and none would work as long-term solutions. That’s why some doctors recommend probiotics…but which probiotic matters.
IBS by the Numbers
IBS affects 10-15% of the world population
60% of IBS sufferers have moderate to severe symptoms
IBS causes up to 3.5 million doctor visits in the U.S. annually
65% of IBS patients are women
IBS costs society more than $21 billion annually
See full list of IBS stats HERE
The Gut Bacteria – IBS Connection
Your gut microbiome contains trillions of bacteria, beneficial (probiotic) and bad (pathogenic). Those bacteria influence virtually everything in your body, from digestion to immune function to mental health.
When your gut microbiome is in healthy balance, beneficial bacteria vastly outnumber pathogens. Then, they’re able to keep you and your GI tract in great shape by producing life-sustaining compounds, including:
- B vitamins
- Vitamin K
- Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)
- Antioxidants
A healthy gut microbiome also keeps your immune system on the right path, so it doesn't over or under react to threats. It helps