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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are two distinct gut disorders. While very different in nature, they are often confused due to their similar-sounding names and several overlapping symptoms.

April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month, and April 19 is World IBS Day, so there's no better time for us to bust some unhelpful myths about IBS.

With Easter just around the corner, many people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) start to question if a few seasonal treats are worth the potential tummy troubles. Whether you’re celebrating Easter as a religious holiday, or as a non-secular way to bring in a new season, it’s a hard time of year to avoid chocolates altogether. So, is chocolate safe for people with IBS and how much chocolate can a person with IBS eat before experiencing a flare-up?

While you might not think of menopause and IBS as being linked, the fluctuation of sex hormones can often wreak havoc on the inner workings of your gut. Having to manage just one of these conditions can be challenging, let alone dealing with both at the same time. Read on to learn why your gut health may change around the time of menopause, as well as pocketing some useful tips to make menopause gut-symptoms less stressful.

Has your dating life been put on the back burner because of anxiety? If so, you aren’t alone. Anxiety isn’t fun. It thrives off intrusive thoughts that convince us that opening up to people is terrifying. Off-limits. No-go. Stay away! But with a little bit of help, you can learn to be confident and comfortable dating.

While most people make a full recovery after suffering from an intestinal illness, like acute gastroenteritis, some people go on to develop continued gut discomfort or even IBS. So, what do you need to know about this kind of IBS, what symptoms do people with post-infectious IBS (PI-IBS) experience, and who is more likely to develop this condition after an infection? Read on to learn more about post-infectious IBS and learn about common treatments.

Some people swear by their morning coffee to maintain healthy digestion. However, the caffeine in coffee can stimulate the intestines and worsen symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). So, should you give up your daily cup or find a healthy way to enjoy your favorite brew? Read on to learn more about the effects of coffee on the digestive system and see if you can avoid caffeine-powered flare-ups.

Neurotransmitters, also known as ‘chemical messengers’, help the brain communicate with tissues, muscles, and organs to control bodily functions. They facilitate nerve impulses traveling from one neuron to another neuron or cell. From your gut to your head and even your emotions, these messengers are behind almost everything that goes on inside of you.

Yep, it's just like the book says: everybody poops. So, why then is it so hard to talk about it? These days, people talk openly about all sorts of medical issues and relationship problems. Yet, discussions of bowel movements and toilet visits are usually avoided. Poop might be totally natural, but it's still a taboo topic connected to feelings of shame and embarrassment. Sounds unfair? It is. Especially if you're one of the millions of people worldwide suffering from a gastrointestinal condition like IBS.

Drinking with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): How much is too much, and is it worth the potential flare-up? While you may enjoy an occasional drink, it’s important not to overlook your drinking habits when considering your triggers. If you have IBS, try monitoring the effect alcohol has on your body to better understand how much alcohol you can drink without irritating your gut. Some people with IBS decide to eliminate alcohol altogether, while others choose to enjoy alcohol in moderation.

Whether it's a day trip or the trip of a lifetime, traveling with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be an anxiety-provoking experience. Unfamiliar situations, strange foods, and new environments that disrupt your daily routine can all potentially worsen gut symptoms. If you've ever found yourself desperately searching for a public bathroom in an unfamiliar place, then you know the kind of travel stresses we're talking about.

The tree is up, the candles are glowing, and the only thing left to do is enjoy a happy holiday, right? If IBS is making your season more stressful than silly, there are several things you can do to get back on track.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a common treatment for difficult menopause symptoms. If you’re suffering from some of the more uncomfortable side effects of menopause, like hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia, you may wish to select from a range of natural treatment options to keep symptoms at bay. However, if your symptoms are severely impacting your daily life, you may want to speak to your doctor about the benefits and risks of HRT or look into another alternative treatment, like menopause hypnotherapy. Estrogen and progesterone deficiency during menopause causes various changes in the body. Let’s discuss what you can expect when entering menopause and whether it might be time to bring up HRT with your doctor.

Want to talk to your doctor about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? It's not always easy to discuss sensitive subjects. Even if they've heard it all before, it might be the first time you've spoken to a healthcare professional about your symptoms—or the first time you’ve thought about what kinds of treatments you want to try.

Have you ever found yourself deeply absorbed in a movie or book? If so, you may have experienced hypnosis, a naturally occurring state of consciousness. Hypnosis can be induced with help from a therapist or alone. In self-hypnosis, you listen to your own suggestions to achieve your goals. For people with anxiety, self-hypnosis can help them calm anxious nerves and soothe excessive worrying. Read on to learn how to perform self-hypnosis and reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Many mums-to-be experience a range of digestive issues during pregnancy, including diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, vomiting, nausea, and bloating. While not every pregnancy will include all these symptoms, few expectant mothers are lucky enough to avoid all digestive upset.

Scared of having an IBS attack at work? You're not alone. Working with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be difficult for many people. Whether it's the fear of an IBS flare-up, embarrassment about sharing a bathroom, or experiencing concentration difficulties—it can feel like there are countless ways IBS can stop you from feeling comfortable and confident at work.

Sleep hygiene is as important as physical hygiene: it's essential to our health, our wellbeing, and our longevity. Yet, despite its importance, many people struggle to get enough good quality sleep.

When every bite of food can take one step closer to spending the night on the toilet, you may start to become overly wary of what—and where—you eat.

We all know IBS can be a pain in the gut—but did you know it can be a pain in the back, head, and jaw too? After bloating, pain is the most common IBS symptom, with more than 75% of all people with IBS experiencing frequent or constant abdominal pain. IBS pain is often reported in the lower abdomen, though people may experience pain directly or indirectly related to IBS in multiple places around the body.

"I don’t feel attractive or desirable when I am gassy or having frequent bowel movements".

Want to try hypnosis to quit smoking? Science shows that it may be an effective tool to help you kick the habit for good. Many people find it extremely difficult to stop smoking—so difficult, in fact, that recent research suggests it can take around 30 attempts to successfully quit.

How does it feel to have anxiety? When people talk about anxiety, you might immediately imagine someone who worries excessively. While this is part of the anxiety experience, the effects of anxiety can be seen and felt in the body, too.

What is menopause and when will it start? While some people call the time leading up to their last period ‘menopause’, menopause is actually when your period stops permanently. The process of menopause usually starts when a woman is around 45 years old and is a natural part of aging whereby the ovaries slowly stop producing hormones, such as estrogen.

Feeling cursed with an irritable bowel but still want a happy (candy-filled) Halloween? While IBS flare-ups can be frightful at any time of year, many people find that Halloween treats can trigger a variety of uncomfortable gut symptoms, such as pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.