Dr Zia Mazhar, a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Spire Hartswood Hospital in Brentwood said: “It usually first develops when a person is between 20 and 30 years age and tends to come and go in periods of a few days to a few months at a time - often during times of stress or after eating certain foods.
However, if you are suffering any IBS symptoms for over three weeks you should visit your GP, said Dr Mazhar. They will study your medical history and document your symptoms and may also refer you to a gastroenterologist so that further investigations can be made – usually involving blood tests and internal scopes.
“I hope that Awareness Month allows people to bring their problems into the open. Once they come to terms with IBS they can then start to make positive moves to controlling their symptoms and improving their quality of life,” said Dr Mazhar.