This document provides information about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), including who suffers from it, common symptoms, potential causes, and tips for management. Between 5-20% of the population suffers from IBS, which can cause abdominal pain, discomfort, and irregular bowel movements. While there is no known cure, lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and stress management can help relieve symptoms. Developing an effective relationship with your doctor is also important for evaluating treatment approaches and determining the best path forward.

2. 2
A common condition 3-4
Who suffers from IBS? 5
What are the symptoms? 6
What causes IBS? 9
IBS patients may have a more
sensitive colon than other people 10
What steps can you take to
relieve your symptoms? 10-11
IBS management tips 12
Developing an effective
partnership with your doctor 13-14
A GUIDE TO CONTROLLING
Irritable Bowel Syndrome

3. 3
Living with the abdominal pain/
discomfort, bloating, and constipation
and/ or diarrhea (IBS)
a common conditionIf you suffer from IBS, you are not alone.
Between 5 to 20% of the population suffer
from abdominal pain, discomfort, and
irregular bowel movements.
If you’re like many sufferers, you have
already developed your own ways of coping
with the pain and discomfort. Many sufferers
change their work schedule and their diets,
avoid specific foods, and choose not to visit
places where it’s inconvenient to go to the
bathroom. These efforts may help, but
unfortunately they don’t provide much relief.

4. 4
you’re not alone...
And while our understanding of this common—yet often disrup-
tive—condition grows every day, a cure for IBS has yet to be
found. The good news is that there are measures you can take
to ease the painful symptoms. By changing your diet, finding
ways to balance the stress in your life, and if necessary,
taking medication, many people can reduce the
impact that IBS has on their lives.
This brochure will answer some
common questions about IBS and
highlight some management tips.
By broadening your understand-
ing, you can work together with
your medical professional to
start controlling abdominal pain/
discomfort, bloating, and bowel irregu-
larity so you can get back to enjoying everyday
life.

5. 5
IBS affects people from all walks of
life
IBS can be painful and frustrating, but it doesn’t
increase your chances of getting cancer, and it doesn’t cause
any serious long-term harm to your digestive system.
IBS Q & A
If you suffer from the abdominal
pain/discomfort, bloating, and
irregularity of IBS, you are not alone.
Some experts estimate that as many as
20% of the US population suffer from the
chronic condition. IBS affects both
younger and older patients, but people
usually have symptoms before age 35.
who suffers

6. 6
what are the
symptoms
Most people with IBS have abdominal pain and discomfort. Some people have pain
mixed with constipation and bloating. Others have pain mixed with constipation,
diarrhea, or alternating patterns between the two.
People commonly experience a variety of symptoms, including abdominal pain,
discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation.
Sufferers with alternating or mixed IBS may not have a bowel movement
for several days and then may experience diarrhea for a day. Those
who suffer from constipation may feel as if they are straining
in order to pass stool or they pass hard/lumpy stool.
Other common signs of IBS can include attacks of
severe abdominal pain, feeling as if you haven’t com-
pletely emptied your bowels, and passage of mucus in
the stool. Many patients also experience anxiety and
stress as a result of the irregularity and unpredictability
of abdominal pain and/or altered bowel function.

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“I hate to go to the movies
and eat at restaurants. I never know
when I’m going to have an attack of
severe abdominal pain.”

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“Sometimes the pain is so bad I
can’t go to work. I often have
to cancel plans because
my symptoms start
acting up.”

9. 9
what causes IBSUnfortunately, the exact causes of IBS are still not
known, although research is being done to gain a
better understanding of the condition. IBS is
considered a functional disorder rather than
an anatomic disorder. This means that when
physicians examine the colon, there is no physical
sign of disease, such as a tumor or damaged
tissue. Because there is no clear physical sign of a
problem, IBS is more difficult to diagnose. Your
physician will make the diagnosis based on such
key symptoms as abdominal pain, discomfort,
diarrhea, and constipation. Your physician may
also choose to run tests to exclude other, potentially
more serious disorders.
IBS is considered a functional disorder.
Functional disorder:
1. A disorder with no known
physical or structural
problem to explain the
symptoms.
2. A disorder relating to
function.
Other examples of functional
disorders: GERD (gastroe-
sophageal reflux disorder)
and dyspepsia.

10. 10
eliminate stress
IBS patients may have a more sensitive colon than other people
It has also been discovered that the colon of a person with IBS may
be very sensitive, causing them to have a stronger reaction to
movements in their digestive tract. This sensitivity could
cause pain, bloating, and constipation and/or diar-
rhea.
what steps can you take to relieve your
symptoms?
You may be able to reduce the burden
of your symptoms by making some
basic lifestyle changes, namely changing
your diet, starting and sticking to an exer-
cise program, and finding ways to
effectively deal with the stress in your life (eg, yoga
or exercise).

11. 11
enjoy a
healthy diet
Alcohol may make your IBS worse, so its use should be
limited. You should also try to avoid using laxatives and
antidiarrheals too frequently. Adding more fiber to your
diet can also be helpful. However, this should be done
gradually to avoid the bloating and discomfort that fiber
can often cause. You may also want to stay away from
carbonated beverages, large and/or heavy meals,
artificial sweeteners, chewing gum and candy containing
sorbitol, and foods high in fat.
Communicating with your physician on a regular basis is
also a good idea. Together you can determine whether
or not your treatment approach is working as well as it
can and what you can do to enhance the results. If
lifestyle changes do not help, your doctor can advise you
about treatments that may help ease your symptoms of
abdominal pain, discomfort, and constipation and/or
diarrhea.

12. 12
Do
Eat a balanced diet
Gradually add fiber to your diet
Exercise
Relax
Learn how to effectively manage the stress in
your life
Don't
Eat large and/or heavy meals
Eat fatty foods
Consume alcohol and caffeine to excess
Chew gum or eat candy containing sorbitol
Drink carbonated beverages
Use artificial sweeteners
IBS management
tips

13. 13
Developing an effective partnership with
your doctor
Effectively managing IBS requires a positive working
relationship between you and your doctor. When visiting your
doctor, it’s a good idea to have your questions and concerns
written down so that you don’t forget anything.
Some typical questions your doctor may ask are listed below. By completing
this card, bringing it to your next visit, and sharing this information with
your doctor, you’ll be able to make the most of your time together.
1. What specific symptoms are you suffering from?
2. How long have you been suffering from these symptoms?
3. Does having a bowel movement relieve your abdominal pain?
4. How many bowel movements have you had this week and what was their
consistency (ie, hard, lumpy, loose, watery)?
5. Do your symptoms get worse after eating certain foods? If so, which foods?
6. Are you currently taking fiber supplements?
7. How much dietary fiber do you eat per day?
(Some examples of foods high in dietary fiber are fruits, vegetables, fiber cereals, and bran muffins.)
8. Does fiber help relieve your symptoms?
9. How much water do you drink per day?
10. How often do you exercise?
11. How effectively do you manage stress?
12. What medications are you currently taking?

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DailySnapshot
DAYBREAKFASTLUNCHDINNERSNACKS
BOWEL
MOVEMENT
CONSISTENCY
SYMPTOMS
EXPERIENCED
STRESS
LEVEL
ManydoctorssuggestIBSpatientskeepajournalofwhattheyeat,howoftentheyhaveabowelmovement,andwhentheyexpe-
riencesymptoms.Thisinformationcanhelpbothyouandyourphysiciangainamorecompleteunderstandingofyourcondition.
Completethiscardandchancesareyou’llbeabletoseeapatterndeveloping.Itisalsoagoodideatocontinuerecordingthe
sameinformationinajournal,evenafteryou’vecompletedthecard.Hopefullythisinformationwillhelpyouinitiatesomebasic
lifestylechangesthatwillinturnhelpyoumanageyoursymptomsmoreeffectively.

15. 15
notes

16. This service has been provided by:
Novartis Pharma Services Inc.
Scientific Office - P.O.Box 11-3448
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel.: 01 371566
If these symptoms sound familiar,
seek the advice of your doctor
as soon as possible...
a new medication might
be suitable for you
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