Over 10% of Your Clients Experience IBS—Here’s How to Support Them
IBS Patients Would Exchange Years of Life for a Remedy
A survey of nearly 2,000 people living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) showed that a significant number would readily forfeit 10 to 15 years of their life expectancy for an instant cure for their ailment.1
In a separate study, IBS sufferers expressed their willingness to take a medication with a one percent chance of sudden death if it could ease their symptoms2, which may involve urgent diarrhea, gas, or chronic constipation.
Some individuals with IBS report abdominal discomfort that they insist is more severe than childbirth. These incidents can impair concentration, disturb sleep, and reduce workplace productivity.3
As a result, numerous individuals with IBS plan their lives around the availability of clean, private restrooms. The anxiety of unanticipated flare-ups often drives them to steer clear of dining out, social events, or exercising in public.
This pervasive worry is known as gastrointestinal-specific anxiety, affecting aspects from social interactions to overall well-being. It is also a major reason why those with IBS report a diminished quality of life compared to people with other chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and late-stage kidney disease.4
Managing IBS: Options for You or Your Clients
PN Super Coach Sarah Maughan, certified by Monash University—a pioneer in understanding food sensitivities and IBS—has witnessed how lifestyle changes can help prevent flare-ups, decrease GI anxiety, and allow IBS patients to live satisfying lives.
“I hope everyone suffering from IBS understands they have choices, whether that means consulting a doctor for medication or collaborating with a health coach to discover lifestyle adjustments and how to apply them,” Maughan remarks.
This article will offer more insights from Maughan, covering:
- Understanding IBS: its nature, causes, and various presentations
- What your stool indicates about your digestive wellness
- Five evidence-based lifestyle modifications that can ease IBS symptoms
- The optimal techniques to identify food triggers for IBS symptoms (along with foods that are typically safe)
Furthermore, health coaches will learn how to support clients dealing with IBS while staying within their professional limits.
Understanding IBS
Commonly referred to as “spastic colon,” IBS is the most commonly diagnosed digestive disorder worldwide, impacting around 14 percent of adults.5
Unlike Crohn’s disease and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), IBS does not alter the gut’s structure. Diagnostic imaging usually reveals no infections, inflammation, or damage to the bowel lining.
This lack of visible illness led many healthcare providers to historically perceive IBS as a psychological concern. However, recent viewpoints have shifted.
Experts now categorize IBS as a functional neuro-gastrointestinal disorder.
This classification signifies that the interaction between the GI tract and the brain is not functioning properly, resulting in unnecessary pain signals and disrupted bowel activity.
Symptoms of IBS
Symptoms of IBS can vary, with some individuals enjoying extended periods of relief before experiencing severe flare-ups that can last from hours to weeks.
Not all IBS sufferers display identical symptoms, complicating the diagnosis.
The illustration below shows the range of IBS symptoms.
Causes of IBS
Researchers are actively investigating the reasons behind the variation in gut function among individuals with IBS, proposing multiple theories.
One theory posits that nerve endings in the GI tract may be excessively sensitive in those with IBS. This heightened sensitivity can give rise to two distinct patterns of symptoms.
Hypersensitive nerves send pain signals to the brain, causing those with IBS to sense digestive actions that others may overlook. For instance, minor gas bubbles can lead to substantial discomfort for someone with IBS, while a person without the disorder might not feel any effect.
Overactive nerves can trigger GI muscles to contract too vigorously, leading to gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Conversely, if they underperform, the muscles may not contract adequately, slowing food transit and resulting in constipation.
Another theory links disturbances to the gut microbiome, which may clarify why some individuals manifest IBS symptoms after a severe GI illness, such as Norovirus.