Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Causes

Discusses what causes the irritable bowel syndrome and also how the condition is diagnosed and is for patients and the public.

This video will attempt to answer the following QUESTIONS;
• Why do some people get IBS ?
• What are the type of investigations the doctor might order in IBS ?

WORD INDEX:
• IBS , in this presentation, means the Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Bowel means the large intestine
• Food intolerance is difficulty in digesting food and is not due to allergy
• Food allergy is an allergic reaction where the food triggers the immune system.
• Gut is part of the digestive system and includes the stomach and intestines.
• Gut-Brain axis is a bidirectional communication system between the brain and the gastrointestinal system
• Gut microflora are the microorganisms, usually bacteria, that live within the intestines
• Celiac disease is a condition where there is an immune mediated allergic reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye
• Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition where there is chronic inflammation of the intestines
• Transit time is how long it takes food to move from the mouth to the end of the intestine ( anus)

SUMMARY;
There are many theories as to what causes IBS. Most of them relate to what causes a hypersensitive intestine and abnormality in muscle contraction of the colon. In IBS all investigations are expected to be normal.

It is the second in the series of four videos. The videos are easy to understand and tries to use everyday language as far as possible. The videos are full of images and follow a standard format of topic objective, word index, content and summary. Each topic covers diagnosis, investigation, management and prevention. Videos are an average of between 5 to 10 minutes. I created the videos, using my over 30 years of experience in managing patients with gut and liver problems . I am a gastroenterologist and hepatologist and was trained in Edinburgh , United Kingdom, and Tokyo and have worked in academia and the private sector.

As the adage goes “A picture is worth a thousand words”. I believe combining images and explanations using blackboards, helps one better understand a medical condition. With knowledge, a person gets a better sense of control, and hence is empowered to make informed decisions.