Living in such a hustle and bustle city, most Hong Kong people suffer from gastrointestinal problems such as stomachache, diarrhea and constipation. Up to now, there is still no radical curative treatment for the disease, but we may know more about IBS in order to prevent it from getting worse. Dr Wong Wing Hang, Specialist in Gastroenterology & Hepatology, will tell us more about irritable bowel syndrome.
What is irritable bowel syndrome?

IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disease. It is caused by the disorder of intestinal peristalsis. Common symptoms are abdominal pain, change of bowel movement, alternate occurrence of constipation and diarrhea, a sense of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement, and also increased amounts of mucus coating the stool.

What are the causes of IBS?

From the viewpoint of medical science, the cause of IBS is not yet been understood. Yet, since functional gastrointestinal disease is caused by the change of intestinal peristalsis, the change of intestinal peristalsis may induced by emotional stress, and it may indirectly affected by the secretion of serotonin in brain. Therefore, it is believed that the cause of IBS is related to patients' living habit such as sleeping quality and stress, etc.

Who are at high risk?

Any person may suffer from IBS, but the majority of patients are young ladies.

What should IBS patients take care of their diet and living habits?

Some patients may be more sensitive to certain foods and may induce IBS easier after eating it. Patients are suggested to choose light and thoroughly cooked foods and avoid eating unclean and irritating food.

If patients always feel anxious, worry about things or under great working pressure, their symptoms will be worsened. So, apart from changing eating habits and medications, doctors will usually advise patients to relax, reduce working pressure, and keep a regular daily work and rest schedule. It is often found that after such improvement in living habits, the symptoms can be slackened.

How is IBS treated?

As clinical symptoms of IBS is not specific (similar to other functional gastrointestinal disease), diagnosis of IBS is quite difficult. Doctors have to eliminate the structural problem of gastrointestine, i.e. intestine infection, irritation, polyps, or even tumor . If a patient has discomfort when by taking bowel movement or has a prolonged change in habits of bowel movement, a more detailed examination such as endoscopic investigation is needed before diagnosing IBS.

There are some criteria of clinical diagnosis for IBS which are internationally recognized. They include Manning criteria, ROM II criteria and ROM III criteria which help doctors diagnose IBS.

According to the medical statistics, IBS is related to anxiety disorder. A patient suffers from IBS may suffers anxiety disorder simultaneously. Therefore, besides medications, counselling may also be offered to the patients. In some cases, doctors will provide anxiety disorder prescription to regulate the serotonin secretion and flow in order to relieve IBS symptoms. This is the so-called integrated treatment.

How can IBS be prevented from getting worse ?

Special thanks:
Dr Wong Wing Hang, Specialist in Gastroenterology & Hepatology