The gastrointestinal tract or gut (including the small and large intestine) plays an important role in maintaining health.
Our gut is a large and complex organ that contributes to the proper functioning of a healthy immune system, as well as supporting a large and diverse community of bacteria. However, the primary function of the gut is to digest and absorb nutrients from the food we eat.
A number of disorders affect the proper functioning of the gut, including coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), bowel cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and related functional gut disorders.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is a common disorder of gut brain interaction(DGBI) that affects between 4 and 9% of adults. It is characterised by gastrointestinal symptoms that are not explained by other disorders. The most common symptoms of IBS include:
- lower abdominal pain
- bloating
- excessive passage of wind
- distension
- altered bowel habit (diarrhoea, constipation, or a combination of both)
These symptoms overlap with several other serious gastrointestinal and gynaecological conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), coeliac disease, bowel cancer and endometriosis. To ensure that these conditions are ruled out and IBS is properly diagnosed, IBS-like symptoms should be discussed with a medical practitioner before dietary changes are made. It is very important that IBS is not self-diagnosed.