“IBS is extraordinarily common — in fact, it is one of the most common complaints seen by doctors," said David Bernstein, MD, chairman of the department of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at the North Shore-LIJ Health System in Great Neck, N.Y. “It includes a wide range of symptoms like bloating, pain, constipation, and diarrhea. People with IBS have different triggers and different symptoms. The good news is that lifestyle changes, diet modifications, and medications can usually control the symptoms, and IBS does not lead to serious problems.”
IBS in Childhood and in Aging
“Although IBS is most common in young women, it’s being increasingly recognized in children,” Dr. Bernstein said. “It is also a common senior health issue for people in their seventies and eighties. Symptoms can come and go unpredictably, and many people have IBS for a lifetime.” IBS may affect up to 20 percent of the population. It usually starts before age 45 and affects twice as many women as men. A 2013 study that evaluated 345 children between ages 4 and 18 found that just under 23 percent of children had symptoms of IBS. The most common symptoms were constipation, back pain, headache, and fatigue. The study was published in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility. Although it has been assumed that IBS decreases with aging, experts estimated that about 10 percent of elderly people are affected. A 2008 review of IBS in older patients, published in the journal Clinical Geriatrics, found that the incidence in the elderly was about the same as in other age groups.
Diagnosing and Managing IBS
“Diagnosis of IBS at any age is made by a review of the symptoms and by ruling out more serious causes," Bernstein said. “We don’t know the exact cause of IBS, but it probably has something to do with motility and digestion. It is not all in your head.” As for treatment, he described it as “a bit of trial and error — it’s not one-size-fits-all.” Adults and children with IBS probably have overly sensitive nerves on the inner walls of their digestive system. You get symptoms of cramps, diarrhea, or constipation when food moves along, thanks to waves of muscular contractions called peristalsis. Some foods may be a trigger or stress can be, but the triggers are not the same for everyone. Doctors will typically make an IBS diagnosis if you’ve had symptoms for six months and on at least three days a month for the last three months. Symptoms should not include fever, bleeding, anemia, or weight loss, which could indicate another condition rather than IBS. To manage IBS, consider: Diet changes. Some foods that trigger IBS symptoms include milk products, high-fat foods, and high-gas-producing foods. One good way to find your food triggers is to keep a food diary. In general, it’s best to eat smaller, more frequent meals. “Adding fiber to the diet often helps prevent symptoms,” said Bernstein. Medications. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may have you try a laxative, a fiber supplement, a medication to stop diarrhea, a medication to reduce anxiety or relieve depression, or a medication to relieve cramps. Probiotics. Probiotics are a type of dietary supplement that increases the number of healthy bacteria in your digestive system. A 2012 review of studies on probiotics for digestive problems included 16 IBS studies and concluded that probiotics improved symptoms in all age groups. . The findings were published in the online journal PLoS ONE. Stress reduction. Stress is a trigger for IBS in many people. “Stress reduction in children may be helpful for IBS, just as it is in adults,” said Bernstein. Techniques like meditation, counseling, talk therapy, and mind-body exercises like yoga have all been helpful for some people with IBS. IBS is relatively common in seniors, as it is in younger adults. Although the course of IBS is not predictable or typical for any one person, most people find ways to live well with IBS over a lifetime. “IBS is a common problem, but not a catastrophic problem,” Bernstein said. “Most people are eventually able to identify their triggers and make the adjustments necessary to control their symptoms.”
