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IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common condition which has a number of unpleasant symptoms:
- stomach cramps
- abdominal bloating
- diarrhoea
- constipation
- wind/gas
- feeling of incomplete emptying after going to the toilet
The cause of IBS is not known, but some people will develop it after gut infections and food poisoning. It is recognised that lack of dietary fibre and stress are the most significant factors that make IBS symptoms worse, whilst irregular meal times also cause problems
Your doctor will prescribe medicine that will help to relieve the pain, and stop diarrhoea, but the majority of the benefits are to be gained from making changes to your lifestyle:
- reduce stress to a minimum, and learn relaxation techniques to manage stress
- regular gentle exercise will help (walking, swimming)
- take your meals at regular times
- keeping a food diary may alert you to foods that cause problems, such as; caffeine, fatty foods, fizzy drinks, alcohol, cheese, oranges
- make sure your diet includes fibre; rice, pasta, bread, cereals, chapatis, beans, lentils, sweetcorn, peas, fresh fruit and vegetables
- drink plenty of fluids to help the fibre move through your system
Source: LSMP
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