IBS is 'just a tummy ache' - FIVE myths about irritable bowel syndrome BUSTED

 IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME - also known as IBS - is a painful long-term condition that affects the digestive system and experts have said it is on the rise.

Nearly one in four GPs say they diagnose someone with IBS once a week and 81 per cent said they’ve seen an increase in cases over the past ten years.

It is thought that almost one in five people have IBS, yet many of us still don’t fully understand the condition.

Research by Buscopan IBS Relief found that despite 90 per cent of people claiming to have heard of IBS, only a quarter - 25 per cent - correctly identified that it’s caused by muscle spasms in the bowel.

The study also found that 15 per cent of Brits question whether IBS is a real medical condition.

GP Dr Roger Henderson, gastroenterologist Dr Jeremy Sanderson, Psychologist Emma Kenny and Consultant Dietician Helen Bond reveal the truth behind some of the most common misconceptions about IBS.
 

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Irritable bowel syndrome: Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can include constipation and diarrhoe