What is IBS?

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Taken from: https://www.theibsnetwork.org/what-is-ibs/

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is the name doctors have given to a collection of otherwise unexplained symptoms relating to a disturbance of the colon or large intestine. It affects around a third of the population at some point in their lives and about one in ten people suffer symptoms severe enough to seek help from their GP. The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome may include:

  • Abdominal pain and spasms, often relieved by going to the toilet.
  • Diarrhoea, Constipation or an erratic bowel habit
  • Bloating or swelling of the abdomen.
  • Rumbling noises and excessive passage of wind.
  • Urgency (An urgent need to visit the toilet).Incontinence (If a toilet is not nearby).
  • Sharp pain felt low down inside the rectum.
  • Sensation of incomplete bowel movement.

When X-rays, blood tests, endoscopies and other diagnostic tests are carried out, the results do not reveal any obvious abnormality. For that reason IBS is often called ‘a functional disorder’ of the bowel; in other words, an disturbance in bowel function without any change in structure or obvious cause.

Symptoms frequently occur in other parts of the body. These may include; headaches, dizziness, backache, passing urine frequently, tiredness, muscle and joint pains, ringing in the ears, indigestion, belching, nausea, shortness of breath, anxiety and depression. A similar range of symptoms are reported by patients with other medically unexplained illnesses, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Functional Dyspepsia, suggesting they all might all be expressions of an alteration in sensitivity or irritability affecting the mind and the body.

For further information visit:

https://www.theibsnetwork.org/

 

Understanding bowel cancer

Taken from:

http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/understanding-bowel-cancer/

What is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer is also referred to as colorectal or colon cancer. Nearly all bowel cancers develop in the large bowel – two-thirds of these are in the colon and one-third in the rectum.

If you are worried about any symptoms that you think might be caused by bowel cancer, make an appointment with your doctor.

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For further information visit:

http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/