---
title: "Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): symptoms, causes & treatment"
description: "IBS causes recurring tummy pain, bloating and bowel habit changes — often triggered by stress, diet or gut sensitivity."
url: "https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/conditions/ibs/"
source: "Sanara Health"
licence: "Quote with attribution and a link to the url above."
---
# Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): symptoms, causes & treatment

IBS causes recurring tummy pain, bloating and bowel habit changes — often triggered by stress, diet or gut sensitivity. Diagnosis requires excluding other causes first.

Editorial information by **Kaiser Khan**. Not clinically reviewed.

## Symptoms

- Abdominal pain relieved by opening bowels
- Bloating
- Diarrhoea, constipation or alternating
- Mucus in stool
- Symptoms for months

## Why it happens

Gut-brain axis dysfunction, food triggers, stress and post-infection changes. Not caused by a single food allergy in most cases.

## Treatment

Diet changes (low FODMAP with dietitian support), stress management, and prescription options for constipation or diarrhoea-predominant IBS after GP assessment.

## Self-care that helps

Food diary, regular meals, limit caffeine and alcohol, peppermint oil for bloating, stress reduction.

## When to get help

Blood in stool, weight loss, fever or symptoms starting after age 50 — need GP investigation, not self-labelled IBS.

[See our irritable bowel syndrome (ibs) support →](https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/medicines/acid-reflux/)

Go deeper

## Related guides

[IBS symptoms and treatment UK: what helps and when to see a GP — Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the UK — symptoms, diagnosis, diet changes, prescription options and red flags that need investigation.](https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/guides/ibs-symptoms-treatment-uk/)

Available without prescription

## Products that can help

[Everyday health — Vitamin D3: 1000 IU explained](https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/supplements/vitamin-d3-1000iu/)

[Everyday health — Omega-3 fish oil](https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/supplements/omega-3-fish-oil/)

[Everyday health — Daily multivitamins](https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/supplements/daily-multivitamin/)