Managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (2024)

FAQs

How to calm IBS flare up? ›

IBS pain is difficult to stop instantly, but things like OTC pain medication, a heating pad, gentle abdominal massage, deep breathing, yoga, and peppermint oil may help symptoms resolve more quickly.

The most common approaches are dietary changes — eliminating or reducing problem foods — and stress management techniques, such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Certain supplements and over-the-counter and prescription medications also can help.

Some people with IBS apply soothing heat to the belly using a heating pad or hot water bottle. They may try sipping herbal teas that help with stomach pain. Other people with IBS find that over-the-counter medications and creams can help.

Unripe bananas are low in FODMAPS and therefore a better choice for people with IBS — although they're not as sweet or soft as ripe bananas. However, as bananas ripen, they accumulate a type of FODMAP called oligofructans. Therefore, ripe bananas are considered a high FODMAP food (6, 7 ).

Probiotics have also proven beneficial in IBS patients by slowing down the transit time of the colon, reducing the average number of bowel movements per day, improving stool consistency, overall symptoms, and above all, the quality of life in these patients.

IBS with constipation (IBS-C): Most of your poop is hard and lumpy. IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D): Most of your poop is loose and watery. IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M): You have both hard and lumpy bowel movements and loose and watery movements.

First-Line Drugs for IBS

Loperamide may be effective for diarrhea. Peppermint oil and certain antispasmodics may be effective for global symptoms and abdominal pain. Polyethylene glycol may be effective for constipation.

A gastroenterologist can help you identify what other foods or habits could be leading to gas production. Like with other symptoms, a change in nutrition or a new medication could help with this. New diets are constantly being released for IBS patients.

There's no cure for IBS, but medications along with dietary and lifestyle changes can help you prevent flare-ups. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder without a cure. Treatment for this condition centers around the reduction of flare-ups.

An IBS flare-up can be frustrating and may cause a range of digestive symptoms. If you're experiencing a flare, there are several at-home remedies you can try, such as gut-directed hypnotherapy, removing high-FODMAP foods from your diet, heat therapy, avoiding caffeine, exercising, and reducing stress.

Can I treat IBS by myself? ›

IBS is a chronic condition without a cure. But lifestyle changes, like following a low FODMAP eating plan and reducing stress, can significantly reduce symptoms and the frequency of flare-ups. Identifying your triggers is an important step toward symptom relief.

Choose easier-to-digest proteins, such as eggs, chicken, turkey, fish, extra-firm tofu, and plain lactose-free greek yogurt. Lower-fat cooking methods, such as baking, roasting, steaming, boiling, and sautéing, can also help you avoid uncomfortable symptoms.

If you have a busy life, you may be relying on ready-meals, high fat snacks or takeaways. Whilst these are OK to have occasionally, you may not be getting all the nutrients you need and these foods could be making your IBS symptoms worse.