It can flare up, meaning symptoms become significantly worse than usual.IBS flare-ups are sometimes called IBS attacks.
With work, IBS and its flare-ups can be treated and managed.
It often takes a combination of approaches, including dietary changes, medication, and stress reduction.
Grace Cary / Getty Images
Either way, flare-ups are possible.
What Does an IBS Flare-Up Feel Like?
An IBS flare-up is a period during whichsymptomsare more pronounced than usual.
What Causes IBS Flare-Ups?
Many things can trigger IBS flare-ups, from something you ate to stress to catching a stomach bug.
Learning what triggers your increased symptoms can help you avoid them.
Eating Trigger Foods
You may find that certain foods aggravate your digestive symptoms and trigger your flare-ups.
Commontrigger foodsinclude:
Healthcare providers sometimes recommend an elimination approach to discover your food triggers.
This is due to something called the brain-gut connection.
These emotional states can increase the activity of certainneurotransmitters(chemical messengers) in your intestinal tract.
Lowering your stress levels and managing anxiety and depression can improve IBS symptoms and flare-ups, according to research.
How Long Does an IBS Flare-Up Last?
The length of a flare-up depends on multiple factors.
In general, a flare-up can last anywhere from a few days to a few months.
Many strategies can help with this, starting with what you eat.
What foods you should avoid can be different depending on what throw in of IBS you have.
You have many other options to explore for flare-ups or everyday treatment and management.
Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy
Gut-directed hypnotherapy has emerged as an important IBS treatment.
It involves getting into a state of deepened relaxation along with highly focused attention.
They may use techniques including:
Youll also learn about your digestive system and how to normalize its function.
You remain aware and in control of yourself during these sessions and are an active participant.
While this is a newer treatment, evidence of its effectiveness has been growing for more than a decade.
A serious shortcoming of this treatment is that relatively few practitioners know how to perform gut-directed hypnotherapy.
Whats more, the improvements appear to last for a year or longer.
If youre interested in gut-directed hypnotherapy, talk to your healthcare provider about it.
They may be able to refer you to a local practitioner or an app.
Researchers credit this to the increased ability to stay focused on the present.
(IBS used to be called spastic colon.)
Peppermint Oil Warning
Be sure to use enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules and not straight peppermint oil.
For this reason, many experts recommend avoiding caffeine to help curb IBS symptoms.
It can relax cramping muscles and ease abdominal pain.
You may also find that a hot bath or shower helps.
Another option is sipping a warm cup of non-caffeinated, mild herbal tea, such as chamomile.
Exercise
Exercise has more to offer than just stress reduction.
Research suggests it can help alleviate overall IBS symptoms, as well.
Exercise may help with constipation more than with other IBS symptoms.
However, these findings should be considered preliminary.
You and your healthcare provider should talk about what medications may be right for you.
These include:
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Antidiarrheals
Antidiarrheal medications firm up loose stools.
Do Probiotics Help Flare-Ups?
Probiotics are popular supplements for gut health.
However, research suggests theyre not helpful for acute bouts of diarrhea from IBS.
Their role in long-term management is so far unclear.
They may want to refer you to a specialist for diagnosis and treatment.
You should also contact your provider if your IBS symptoms have gotten noticeably worse or have changed significantly.
Summary
IBS can have flare-ups, which are times when symptoms are markedly worse than usual.
Flare-ups can last for a few days or a few months.
Dietary changes may help ease flare-ups.
Common medications for IBS include antispasmodics, antidiarrheals, and antidepressants.
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