Bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort and changes in bowel habits are common. They're also your gut telling you something. Understanding what might be behind them is a good place to start.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of gut-brain interaction. It affects how your digestive system moves, how it senses normal activity, and how it communicates with your nervous system.1
It can cause recurring abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in how often you go or what your stool looks like. IBS is common, and it looks different from one person to the next.
IBS is grouped by your main bowel pattern. 1
Constipation-predominant
Constipation is the main pattern. Hard stools, straining, abdominal pain and bloating are common.
Diarrhea-predominant
Loose stools are the main pattern, often with abdominal pain and urgency.
Mixed
Both constipation and diarrhea occur.
Unclassified
Symptoms meet the criteria for IBS but don't fit clearly into the other patterns.
IBS-C is IBS where constipation is the main bowel pattern, often along with abdominal pain, bloating and a feeling of fullness.
But IBS-C isn't simply a problem with bowel movements. It can involve the way your gut moves, senses pressure and communicates with your nervous system.
There isn't one single cause. Researchers have identified several processes that may contribute. 1 , 3
Your intestines move food and waste along with coordinated muscle contractions. When that movement slows, stool travels more slowly, which can contribute to constipation.
People with IBS can be more sensitive to normal stretching in the intestines. Ordinary amounts of gas or stool may feel uncomfortable.
Your gut and nervous system are constantly exchanging signals. Changes in that communication can affect how your gut moves and how sensations feel.
Gut microbes break down food and produce compounds that interact with your digestive system. Research has found changes in microbial communities in some people with IBS, though no single pattern explains every case.
When gut microbes ferment food, some produce hydrogen. Others, called methanogens, use that hydrogen to make methane. ⁶
Research has found an association between higher intestinal methane levels and constipation or slower transit in some people. ⁵˒⁶ This has led researchers to study intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) as one possible contributor to constipation. ⁷
Gut microbes ferment food that reaches them.
Some microbes produce hydrogen (H₂).
Made by methanogens, which use that hydrogen.
Linked with slower transit in some people.
When stool moves slowly, you may feel full and bloated. Fermentation adds gas. And a more sensitive gut can make normal amounts of stretching feel uncomfortable.
These processes overlap, which is why IBS-C rarely comes down to one symptom. It also explains why you can feel bloated even when you aren't producing more gas than anyone else.
IBS isn't the only explanation for bloating and digestive discomfort. Several other conditions share similar symptoms.
Too many bacteria in the small intestine, where numbers are normally low. It can cause gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort and changes in bowel habits. It's usually investigated with a breath test.⁷ Some people have both SIBO and IBS. Methane-producing microbes are now described separately, as intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO).⁷
Some people have trouble digesting certain carbohydrates, such as lactose in dairy or fructose in fruit and sweeteners. When these reach the large intestine undigested, fermentation can lead to gas and bloating.
Slow transit can cause fullness, discomfort and bloating without IBS. Recurring abdominal pain linked to bowel movements is what usually separates IBS-C from chronic constipation.¹
These conditions can share symptoms with IBS but need medical testing to diagnose. Don't cut gluten before testing for celiac disease, as it can affect the results.²
IBS is diagnosed by a healthcare professional, based on a pattern of recurring abdominal pain linked to bowel movements or to changes in how often you go or what your stool looks like.1,2
There's no single test that confirms IBS. Your healthcare provider may recommend tests to rule out other causes.2,3
There's no one approach that works for everyone. Management depends on your symptoms and is best worked out with your healthcare provider. 2 , 3
Developed by gastroenterologist Dr. Ken Brown, Atrantil combines three plant-derived ingredients: polyphenol-rich Quebracho Colorado, Horse Chestnut and Peppermint Leaf.
Licensed by Health Canada to help relieve symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) such as bloating and constipation.
No. IBS-C includes recurring abdominal pain linked to bowel movements, often with bloating. Constipation without that pain pattern is usually considered chronic constipation rather than IBS-C.¹
Yes. Some people have both, and the symptoms overlap. Having one doesn't mean you have the other, which is why testing and a conversation with your provider matter.⁷
Bloating isn't always about how much you ate or how much gas you make. Slow transit and a more sensitive gut can make normal amounts of gas or stretching feel uncomfortable.
There's no single test. IBS is diagnosed from your symptom pattern, and your provider may order tests to rule out other conditions such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.²
Atrantil is licensed by Health Canada (NPN 80083205) to help relieve symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), such as bloating and constipation.
No. Atrantil doesn't contain live bacteria or digestive enzymes. It combines three plant-derived ingredients, including polyphenol-rich Quebracho Colorado.
Soluble fibre, such as psyllium, is often recommended. Insoluble fibre, such as bran, can make bloating worse for some people.²
No. Atrantil is licensed in Canada to help relieve symptoms of IBS-C, such as bloating and constipation. Talk to your provider about SIBO testing and treatment.
This page is for education and isn't a substitute for advice from your healthcare provider.
