Boost your good bacteria to help beat the symptoms of IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterised by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort and bloating. Although it does not lead to more serious conditions in most sufferers, it is a source of chronic pain, fatigue and contributes to work absenteeism. Researchers have reported that the high prevalence of IBS, in conjunction with increased costs, produces a disease with a high social cost.

The exact cause of IBS is unknown. The most common theory is that IBS is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, caused by abnormalities in the gut flora or the immune system. It is regarded as a chronic illness and can dramatically affect the quality of a sufferer's life.

• Nearly one in five people in the UK (upto 20% of the general adult population) are thought to suffer from IBS.
• This equates to 9 million UK sufferers of which around 2.5 million are diagnosed.
• In many sufferers, it is a chronic disorder and patients experience significant impairment in health-related quality of life.
• Contribution of IBS to annual health care cost is high and patients can also lose significant amounts of time off work.
• The diagnosis of IBS has importance, therefore, in both human and economic terms.

There is no doubt that finding an effective solution can be very difficult. Many sufferers of IBS will have tried numerous different treatments and measures without success.

In this short video, Dr Hilary Jones, GP discusses the role your gut bacteria play in IBS and the new measures you can take to help  manage its symptoms.

For more information and advice on digestive health visit www.bimuno.com