IBS Awareness Month is here: Do You Have the Stomach for the Fight?

IBS Awareness Month occurs each April and this provides an ideal opportunity for attention to be focused on important health messages about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnosis, treatment options, and quality of life issues when managing the condition.

For those suffering with IBS, rest assure that there are millions of others in the same boat. IBS is a very common disorder, with worldwide a prevalence estimated at around 9% to 23%. Despite this, there are undoubtedly millions of people around the world who are suffering in silence, without a proper diagnosis, and maybe even unaware that their symptoms indicate a medically recognised disorder.

IBS is a long-term gut disorder in which abdominal pain or discomfort is experienced, usually sporadically, together with erratic bowel habits. This comes in the form of diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating bouts of both. The condition may also be referred to by one of many more outdated terms, such as irritable colon, mucous colitis, nervous stomach, spastic colitis or spastic colon.

Other symptoms may also be present, including: backache, belching, bladder problems, headache, heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, and quickly feeling full after eating.

Over 10% of the population suffer with IBS and this percentage could increase in the future if the nation’s stress levels rise – stress is a primary cause of IBS.

Other factors that can lead to IBS can include a combination of a number of issues such as: inflammation of your bowel (i.e. after an infection like gastroenteritis), dietary factors (foods high in carbohydrates, foods high in fat, spicy foods, alcohol, fizzy drinks and caffeinated drinks are culprits), genetics (family members may have also had IBS), or mental issues such as depression.

Unfortunately, there is no definitive treatment or cure for IBS and no ‘one size fits all’ remedy to rectify the problem, but there are certain IBS treatments that can ease symptoms for some sufferers, hopefully helping them to lead a more normal day-to-day life. These include prescription medications such as Constella, Mebeverine, Xifaxanta, and over-the-counter products such as Buscopan IBS Relief and Colpermin. The prescription medications may only be obtained by completing an online consultation with one of the Medical Specialists® Pharmacy GMC-registered doctors, or by sending a private prescription to Medical Specialists®.

There are also numerous other dietary and lifestyle choices that those with IBS may find beneficial in helping symptoms subside. These include:

. Drink around eight cups of fluid each day – preferably water. Limit caffeinated and alcoholic drinks.

. For those finding it impossible to give up tea and coffee, restrict the intake to three cups per day at the most.

. Have regular meals, evenly spaced out, and pacing yourself whilst eating. Also, do not go long periods without eating anything.

. Those with IBS that often flares-up during times of stress, depression, or anxiety, are advised to try relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises or meditation, in addition to more physically-involved activities such as pilates or yoga.

. Consume no more than three portions of fruit per day.

. Those suffering with diarrhoea should avoid artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol. This is contained in some sugar-free sweets, chewing gum, and certain diabetic and slimming products.

. Vigorous exercise, for a minimum of 30 minutes per day. This should be done at least three times each week. It is important for patients with IBS to discuss with their GP which exercise is most suited for them.

Gut problems are one of the most common types of disorders seen by doctors and are certainly nothing to be ashamed about. If anyone is experiencing any kind of stomach complaint, they should consult a GP immediately. The GP will ask detailed questions about lifestyle, diet, etc. before making a formal diagnosis and discussing how to go forward with the condition, or make a referral for further detailed scans if necessary, to see if there is an underlying problem.

IBS at Christmas: A Survival Guide

Let’s face it, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is difficult to live with at the best of times. Trying to tackle this chronic and debilitating disorder of the gut can prove a difficult task…It can be frustrating for IBS sufferers trying to pinpoint the food, drink and other triggers responsible for the symptoms which include: diarrhoea or constipation, alternating bowel habits, abdominal cramps and heartburn too.

However, IBS at Christmas time can be even more of a nuisance. There are numerous factors over the festive period that can all combine to create a perfect storm to heighten the severity of the IBS symptoms.

Before the big day itself, there is the stress and anxiousness involved with making sure everyone’s presents are bought, not to mention getting all the decorations, wrapping paper and food for Christmas Day. Stress is commonly recognised as one of the primary causes/triggers for IBS and its subsequent symptoms.

Then there is all the Christmas parties, fatty grub on offer and plenty of flowing booze. Simply put, this time of year can be catastrophic for the estimated 1 in 5 people around the UK that have IBS. Fear not, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy are at hand with some tips to try and avoid festive flare-ups:

Control portion sizes

As tempting as it is to pile up the plate with festive grub, party goers don’t have to stuff themselves like the Christmas turkey. Remember, the more food eaten, the harder the digestive system has to battle to process the volume of food…which will inevitably lead to excess gases.

Don’t ditch the exercise

It can be tempting to slack off over the festive period. The TV is usually good, the nights are cold and dark, and the last thing anyone probably wants to do is haul themselves to the gym for a strenuous workout. However, it is wise to try and keep up with the usual exercise routine. Digestive symptoms tend to become more sluggish when we aren’t as active, plus exercise helps to relieve stress too!

Minimise stress where possible

As mentioned previously, stress is a primary cause of IBS, and there is never a more stressful time of the year than Christmas time. The expense of shopping for presents and food can cause havoc for the gut. Where possible, try and plan ahead. This could involve buying the majority of presents and other essentials way in advance of the typical late-December rush. Yoga, relaxation tapes and massages may also keep stress at bay.

Be careful what goes on the plate

Try to avoid gorging on stodgy, fatty foods as this will only increase the risk of diarrhoea. The biggest culprits and definite must-avoid foods include: chocolate, fried foods (i.e. crispy wontons, spring rolls and samosas), mince pies and pastry-based products (i.e. quiche, vol-au-vents, sausage rolls and pork pies). Healthier buffet options would be fresh prawns, salmon and lean meat, chicken satay sticks and egg sandwiches.

Limit the booze

Alcohol and IBS are never an ideal combination. Alcohol may lead more severe IBS symptoms due to the fact that alcohol acts as an irritant on the bowel. Beer is particularly one culprit that often exacerbates a sufferer’s symptoms. Those who want to avoid feeling gassy this Christmas are advised to severely limit all bubbly drinks, such as beer, champagne, Prosecco and soft fizzy mixers.

Anyone suffering with moderate or severe IBS where constipation is the main problem, there is now a treatment option available named Constella.

Constella is available from Medical Specialists® Pharmacy today and can help to subside IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation and bloating. To obtain this treatment, all patients must first undergo an online consultation with one of the GMC-registered doctors at Medical Specialists®, or send in a private prescription by post, obtained from the patient’s own doctor.

Have a gut feeling it’s more than IBS? Sufferers of SIBO flock to Medical Specialists® Pharmacy

Since Medical Specialists® Pharmacy added the antibiotic Xifaxanta (rifaximin) to their range of treatments for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the requests for this medication – which is also used to both prevent and relieve the symptoms of traveller’s diarrhoea – has simply skyrocketed.

Xifaxanta might be unfamiliar to the majority people suffering with IBS as the drug was launched in the UK back in 2011 primarily for the treatment traveller’s diarrhoea associated with non-invasive strains of Escherichia coli (i.e. episodes not associated with fever).

However, some doctors have suggested that patients suffering with IBS should consult their doctor about being prescribed a course of rifaximin for treating their condition, with New York times best-selling author Dr Mark Hyman recommending two 200 mg tablets three times a day for seven to 10 days as one of his ‘5 steps to curing IBS’, describing this as the ‘best way to deal with the chronic bacterial overgrowth that causes bloating and irritable bowel syndrome’.

Interestingly, Medical Specialists® have noticed a burgeoning trend; a growing number of patients that come to them requesting Xifaxanta are now stating in their online consultation that they have been diagnosed with a condition by the name of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), also known as small bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SBBOS).

SIBO occurs when an abnormally excessive amount of bacteria begin to grow within the small intestine. The colon (large intestine) is rich bacteria, but the small intestine is not supposed to be so plentiful with bacteria. In the small intestine there are around less than 10,000 bacteria per millilitre of fluid, in comparison to at least 1,000,000,000 bacteria per millilitre of fluid in the large bowel.

Why does SIBO occur?

The gastrointestinal tract is comprised of a long muscular tube responsible for transporting digesting food to the colon. The coordinated motion of the stomach’s muscles and small intestine propels food from our stomach, then passing through the small intestine and into the colon.

During this muscular function, there is also a clear-out of bacteria from the small intestine and a limit imposed to the amount of bacteria allowed to collate in the small intestine.  Unfortunately, conditions can arise that can interfere with the regular actions taking place in the small intestine, and it is this that results in SIBO, with bacteria now able to linger for longer and multiply. Without a normal muscular activity occurring, bacteria can spread backwards from the colon and into the small intestine.

SIBO is not the product of just one single type of bacteria though, but is caused by an excessive growth of numerous kinds of bacteria that are usually present in the colon.

The specific causes of SIBO are often debated, but a number of risk factors have generally been agreed upon, which are: crohn’s disease, celiac disease (long-standing), diabetes mellitus (type I and type II), IBS, low stomach acid, previous bowel surgery, taking multiple courses of antibiotics and organ system dysfunction, such as liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis, or renal failure.

What are the symptoms of SIBO?

The initial symptoms of SIBO are almost identical to those associated with IBS, and include: abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, excessive wind and indigestion.
If the bacterial overgrowth is severe and prolonged, it could be detrimental to the digestion and absorption of food, leading to a deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Weight loss can sometimes then follow as a result of this and symptoms unconnected to the gastrointestinal tract, such as fatigue and body aches. The symptoms are often chronic and a person suffering with SIBO can expect to have symptoms that can drastically vary in severity over the course of months, years or even decades before they are given a diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Diagnosing SIBO

As the initial symptoms of SIBO are non-specific and almost identical to irritable bowel syndrome, it may take a long period of time before SIBO is considered as the cause of the symptoms by the doctor or health care professional.

Instead, it is usually health problems linked to a malabsorption of proteins, fats and vitamins that will raise the alarm for any possibility of SIBO, and the patient will probably be made to have blood tests to determine any reasons for anaemia, electrolyte imbalance and vitamin deficiencies.

Next, the patient will usually have to undergo breath-tests which look for the by-products of digestion, in particularly those associated with intestinal bacteria. The common tests include a hydrogen breath test, bile acid and D-xylose. The results can help to determine if the patient’s symptoms are due to SIBO and thus the patient will not have to have a biopsy or endoscopy.

Treating SIBO

To treat SIBO, doctors and health care professionals will usually discuss with the patient ways at managing and treating any possible underlying health problems, as it is not always sufficient merely to target the excess bacterial growth. In addition, effective methods of controlling the symptoms of SIBO will be discussed as it cannot always be ‘cured’.

Antibiotics are typically prescribed to the patient as one method of controlling the excess bacteria, with the most common antibiotic prescribed for this purpose being the previously mentioned Xifaxanta. Whichever antibiotic is prescribed to the patient will not remove all bacteria though, as some are still needed to aid a normal digestive function.

So whether you suffer from IBS, SIBO, or other stomach and bowel problems, click here to go to the stomach and bowel area of the Medical Specialists® website, which is full of helpful information, links and different treatment options.

Did Kurt Cobain suffer with irritable bowel syndrome before his death?

Last month saw the 20^th anniversary of Nirvana singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain’s death from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

However, fans who participated in tributes at his home city of Seattle, US, claim the grunge icon may still be alive today if doctors had properly diagnosed and treated the stomach problems that had blighted him in the years leading up to his untimely death, and a source of clear distress for Cobain – evident in his published journals.

One theory being suggested is that the blonde rocker was suffering with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – an umbrella term that spans several gastrointestinal disorders, but many of which involve similar symptoms such as stomach cramps, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.
Other IBS symptoms people may experience include: loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, backache, headache, belching, quickly feeling full after you have eaten food, heartburn, and bladder problems due to an associated irritable bladder.

Although IBS unfortunately does not have an absolute cure, there are a number of over-the-counter and prescription-only treatment options that can ease symptoms for some sufferers and these include: Mebeverine, Buscopan IBS Relief and Colpermin.

Overall, IBS diagnoses and treatments are much more advanced in the present day compared to back in 1994 when Cobain died. His suicide was estimated to have occurred on 5 April 1994 after an electrician had found him slumped in the greenhouse at his cabin by Lake Washington on 8 April.

Toxicological tests concluded he had a massive amount of heroin in his system when he died, and many people are speculating if Cobain had been given a proper diagnosis and received effective treatment for his debilitating stomach ailment, he may not have been driven to that tragic end at the age of just 27.


By choosing to end his life at that age, Cobain joined the “27 Club”; members of the music industry who had passed away at the tender age. In addition to Cobain, this group now includes: Jimi Hendrix, Janis ­Joplin, ­Rolling Stone Brian Jones, Jim ­Morrison of the Doors and Amy Winehouse.

A TV interview recorded only months before Cobain’s death is now attracting renewed interest. In the interview Cobain angrily hits out at the doctors he says have failed him “during six years of being in constant pain”.

Cobain adds: “They never figured out what it was. Most gastro-intestinal doctors don’t know anything about stomach diseases. They just have PhDs, get paid a lot of money for ­pretending and prescribing drugs. It’s a total scam.”

Los ­Angeles-based Dr Morris Mesler, who has treated countless famous faces, is one of the many who believes Cobain was suffering with IBS and even pointed to study that connected IBS-associated pain with an increased risk of suicide.

Dr Mesler said: “While IBS is a grab-bag term that covers a multitude of symptoms and conditions, there is a great deal we can do today that we couldn’t do then.

“Tests could have established if he had a genetic condition such as coeliac ­disease. Or it could have been something much more simple like lactose or gluten intolerance that we just weren’t really aware of 20 years ago.

“Endoscopies are also much more advanced, so we can actually see what’s going on in the stomach much more clearly now. I believe we could have established pretty quickly if he was ­suffering from something physical, organic or even psychiatric.

“It might merely have been a ­question of slightly altering his diet.”

The story of how one woman refused to be irritated by IBS…

You know the feeling…you are sat in a crowded room and your stomach groans with peculiar sounds, accompanied by excruciating cramps. You don’t know whether to sit it out or make a dash to the closest toilet and hope nobody is already occupying the adjacent cubicle.

This might sound like a humorous situation for a sitcom, but it is a fairly common experience for millions of people who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and it is certainly far from a laughing matter. In particularly, IBS at work can be a deeply distressing thing to try and fight, but can be managed with a proper understanding of the condition and what can be done to ease/avoid an occurrence of symptoms.

The gut disorder can result in a variety of symptoms, but common symptoms generally include: bloating, wind, stomach cramps, and most people with IBS have bouts of diarrhoea and/or constipation.

Evidence suggests that the majority of people with IBS first begin to develop their symptoms between the ages of 20 and 30. Symptoms often appear and disappear in bouts, commonly after eating certain foods and during times of stress.

For one sufferer however, the problems began at a much earlier age. Medical librarian Vicky Grant, 43, has been trying to cope with IBS symptoms since the age of 13.

Vicky, then in her 30s, was in a work meeting when she was struck down with the all too familiar feelings of the condition.

She recalls: “I didn’t know whether to make a dash to the bathroom or just sit it out and hope it would pass. I was coping with up to seven bouts of diarrhoea a day and it was really taking its toll on me. I decided to risk it and stay put, but I was concentrating so hard on staying in control that everything being said in the meeting passed over my head.”

Vicky’s life was severely restricted by her IBS. She adds: “I felt bloated, tired and fatigued. My weight was below 7st (I’m 5ft 3in). I’d lost so much weight and looked terrible – I’m sure people thought I had anorexia. It was also making me depressed. I’d tried every drug, complementary therapy and diet under the sun, some things helped a little but nothing made my symptoms manageable. I was just so fed up with being ill all the time.”

Vicky is not alone though and a tenth of all doctors’ appointments are for symptoms related to IBS, which many doctors find difficult to treat. After all, the exact causes are still unknown and even though patients suffer with uncomfortable and sometimes distressing symptoms, unlike other bowel diseases IBS does not leave the gut with any noticeable damage.

Treatments are often a case of trial and error; changes in diet are often advised and IBS patients are usually instructed to keep a food diary. This can pinpoint the main triggers, i.e. are dairy or wheat products causing a flare-up of symptoms? Psychological therapy is another option for patients, and a lot of people find relief with antispasmodic medicines such as Buscopan IBS Relief and Colpermin 100 Capsules.

It took years for Vicky to find the courage to see her GP, finally going to see him in her early 20s. “He told me I did have IBS and that in my case it was due to stress and advised me to tackle the stress,” she says.

“I didn’t think I was any more stressed than any of my friends and thought the stress I was under was at least partly due to coping with my IBS. I tried meditation, but it made no difference. Over the years my IBS left me feeling totally drained.”

Nothing seem to have much effect for Vicky’s symptoms so three years ago she took to the internet to search around for stories of other people’s experiences and what worked for them.

One thing that kept being mentioned was vitamin D. Vicky recalls: “One thing that kept cropping up online was how high-dose vitamin D supplements could help. I read one blog then reports from patients on forums talking about this – it was generating a lot of interest.”

From things she had read on the internet, Vicky decided to try taking vitamin D2 – a dose of the nutrient (1,000 international units), but she had little success.

“Then a work colleague who has multiple sclerosis mentioned that vitamin D3 from fish oils is closer to the type the body makes naturally and was more effective and should be taken at a higher dose,” says Vicky.

“So I switched to 4,000 international units a day of D3, which is a safe dose. Within days, my symptoms eased and progressively improved over the months. After years of symptoms, my diarrhoea, cramps, pain and bloating disappeared. I started to feel well, put on weight and my depression lifted. It was amazing. My symptoms would flare up again though, if I forgot to take it.”

It is believed vitamin D might work by boosting the immune system as well as the gut’s barrier. Dr Nick Read, chairman of the IBS Network’s medical advisory group, says there is evidence some types of IBS involve a low level of inflammation in nerve endings in the gut.

He comments: “Inflammation around the gut’s nerve cells may make the intestine more sensitive to food and stress. We can’t say vitamin D works as a treatment for IBS yet. Only a properly designed trial will establish whether it works or not.”

Julian Walters, professor of gastroenterology at Imperial College, London, says it could be ‘plausible’ that vitamin D has a role to play in IBS treatments, although warns: “We shouldn’t assume it will work. It could just be the power of placebo.”

Gut Week begins as research shows potential IBS epidemic in the UK

National Gut Week began on Monday and will be running until the 25th August, and research carried out for the national digestive health awareness campaign shows that Britain’s hectic lifestyle habits are causing a significant increase in cases of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). So much so, that it is not just obesity that is seemingly set to be labelled as an ‘epidemic’.

It is estimated that IBS is suffered by 12 million Brits and is one of the most common causes for time off work – the average sufferer is off work for around 22 days each year due to a flare up of their symptoms, which include a variety of debilitating problems such as stomach cramps, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.

To control IBS symptoms, health experts will often advise eating at evenly spaced out and set times each day. However, almost a quarter (24%) do not eat 3 equal sized meals each day and 10% are snacking on high-calorie unhealthy treats at least 3 times a day, according to research undertaken by One Poll among 2,000 adults across the UK from 3rd – 5th June 2013.

So what other findings did the research uncover for Gut Week?

. 23% of women most regularly snack on fruit, 23% of men prefer biscuits.

. Almost 20% of women feel stressed most days, compared to 10% of men.

. 10% eat breakfast in front of the computer, whilst over a third (35%) eat breakfast in front of the TV.

. 44% eat dinner in front of the TV.

From the data extracted it is clear that the demise of sitting around the table to eat is obvious with over a third now preferring to sit in front of the TV. The danger here is that people are probably eating more than they would normally as they’re too busy focusing on the programme in front of them and not on what they’re eating.

This is on top of the fact an alarming number of people are feeling stressed ‘most days’, it is hardly surprising the nation is facing a potential IBS epidemic.

Dr Nick Read, a gastroenterologist, commented: “It’s certainly worrying that a third of the people the research surveyed feel stressed and anxious most days. These feelings can activate the ­sympathetic nervous system which ­increases intestinal sensitivity and causes IBS spasms, bloating and indigestion. Eating while standing up or rushing around also sensitises the gut, making people less tolerant of the foods they eat. In short, this kind of lifestyle is a recipe for problems.”

It has long been known that women account for the majority of IBS cases, and in fact account for more than 70% of hospital admissions. This is because their hormones seem to make IBS worse and makes them more susceptible to the symptoms. Moreover, trying to balance life at home with that at work seems to be taking its toll.

“These days most women have to juggle a professional and family life,” says Dr Read. “This means rushing from one thing to the next and grabbing food on the go.”

Dr Marilyn Glenville, author of Natural Solutions to IBS, adds: “Many people with IBS discover their bowels seem to function as a kind of emotional barometer, indicating how they feel about what is going on in their lives. Tension always makes IBS worse and we are living in much more stressful times.”

However, you do not need to suffer in silence or think there is nothing you can do to control your symptoms. You can obtain a free ‘Gut Week pack’ today by either ordering it  or downloading it. The Gut Week pack is full of digestive health and advice from a range of experts.
Medical Specialists Pharmacy have also previously provided information on how to combat IBS and offer a number of medications to help control symptoms such as Mebeverine, Colpermin and Buscopan IBS Relief.

Scientists claim red wine may help to prevent bowel cancer

Two glasses of red wine per day may help to prevent the growth of cancerous tumours in the bowel according to researchers at Leicester University, whose findings will be presented by Professor Karen Brown to over 100 experts from around the world at a conference taking place at the university today.

The key to this cancer-prevention is held in a compound contained within the skin of grapes called ‘resveratrol’; which is also found in various other sources such as peanuts and berries. Resveratrol has garnered much attention over the years for its apparent anti-aging and disease-combating benefits and but this study represents the first genuine scientific evidence that resveratrol helps to prevents cancer.

Past research has indicated that the compound can also reduce the risk of heart disease by stopping the oxidation of LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol, making it a lot harder for platelets to stick together and form the clots that may result in a heart attack. If that wasn’t enough, resveratrol is known prevent insulin resistance. This process occurs after insulin levels are sufficiently high over a sustained period of time to cause the body’s own sensitivity to the hormone to be reduced. Insulin resistance is a precursor to diabetes and can be caused by obesity, stress, pregnancy and because of the ‘metabolic syndrome’.

The researchers at Leicester University administered a daily dose of 5mg (the equivalent of two glasses of red wine) to mice, and to their amazement they discovered it halved the growth of bowel tumours.

Professor Brown, from the university’s cancer biomarkers and prevention group, commented on the study findings and said: “What has been amazing for us is to find that, in laboratory mice, a low dose of resveratrol, the equivalent of a big glass of red wine, was more effective than a larger dose in preventing tumours developing. However, we have also found it is most effective with a high-fat diet, and not a standard diet. We now need to do more work on how the chemical actually works in the body and how it works in human cells. It might be that it works differently in different people.”

John Mathers, Professor of Human Nutrition at Newcastle University, who was not part of the study, offered his views on the findings, saying: “There has been a lot of research carried out on resveratrol which has been tested using a variety of model organisms from yeast to mice. It has worked in some models but not in others. It is very difficult to translate model systems to humans which require a large amount of subjects to be convincing and it is very expensive. Resveratrol has a molecular and protective mechanism which helps cells to deal with damaged protein, such as ageing and cancer. It would be very nice to see this latest evidence, anything that can reduce cancer risk using a dietary molecule is potentially interesting.”

The next challenge for the researchers will be to conduct further laboratory tests in addition to a year-long clinical trial monitoring the effects of resveratrol being taken by patients most at risk of developing cancer.

Some clinical trials have shown that the compound is able to get to the prostate and bowel tissue, however further tests are required to determine what, if any, reaction occurs on patients and if it there are any interactions with other medications. In the trials, scientists will also decide appropriate doses of resveratrol when given in a tablet form.

Bowel cancer may also be known as rectal, colorectal or colon cancer, depending on where the cancer starts. In England it is the third most common type of cancer and in 2009 alone, it was reported there were 41,142 new cases of bowel cancer. Of these new cases, 18,431 cases were diagnosed in women and 22,711 cases were diagnosed in men. It is uncommon for those under the age of 40 to develop the cancer, with around 85% of new cases being diagnosed in people over the age of 65.

Factors that increase the risk of bowel cancer include: having an inactive lifestyle, smoking, heavy alcohol intake (over 4 units a day) and obesity. In addition, others at risk are those with a high intake of processed foods, red meat, low-fibre foods and high-fat foods.

Symptoms can be difficult to spot as they may be similar to less life-threatening conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. However, if you experience them for longer than a few weeks, it is recommended you seek medical attention as soon as possible. Symptoms include: Blood in your faeces, the appearance of mucus in the faeces, inexplicable weight loss, persistent abdominal pain lasting longer than two weeks, severe constipation or diarrhoea lasting longer than two weeks and tiredness as a result of becoming anaemic from microscopic bleeding from the bowel.

If you have any of these symptoms and they are causing you concern, Medical Specialists Pharmacy advise that you visit your GP immediately. Your GP may want to check for bowel cancer by conducting a rectal examination to check for any abnormal changes at the lower end of the bowel. Another test your GP may want to refer you to is one called ‘faecal occult bloods’ (FOBs). Here, many samples of your faeces are scanned for any possible microscopic amounts of blood lost from a tumour. If a diagnosis is made, a ‘Dukes’ staging’ is given to the cancer to determine how it is likely to progress or conclude which is the best course of treatment to go for the patient.

If you are suffering with other stomach and bowel problems such as the previously mentioned irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or heartburn and indigestion, or acid reflux, why not visit the ‘stomach and bowel’ area of the Medical Specialists website. We have a huge range of products for these conditions, including the revolutionary new Symprove drink, as featured in the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, as well as HELLO! magazine. Symprove is helping millions in the fight against IBS and the delicious 500ml mango and passion fruit flavoured version is available from the Medical Specialists chemist shop for the low price of £19.93.

Disregarding digestive problems may lead to anaemia and osteoporosis

Are you one of the 12 million Brits who are suffering with the common traits of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Bloating, trapped wind and diarrhoea are a few of the digestive complaints associated with IBS. However, if you do not believe you have IBS or have not been formally diagnosed with the gut condition, you should still not ignore these digestive problems that could be occurring on a regular basis as they may be a warning sign that something more serious is wrong.

The concern has emanated as a result of a study carried out by a2 Milk UK, a company who have released a specialised kind of milk across supermarkets such as Morrison’s and major Tesco stores in the UK. Normal cow’s milk contains various types of proteins and one of these is called ‘caseins’. The main types of the beta-casein fraction are a2 and a1, and the a1 protein has been linked to various symptoms similar to what a person would suffer with IBS. The a2 Milk however is extracted from certain British dairy cows, unique in the fact that they simply produce milk comprising of just the a2 protein.

The a2 Milk UK survey found that an incredible 84% of women will experience some degree of digestive pain or discomfort after they consume a particular food. Of this total, 46% claimed they simply self-medicated for short term relief from symptoms and 35% said they do nothing at all about their problems.

Amongst the reasons for deciding to take no action about gut complaints, women said they felt embarrassment about going to visit their doctor to discuss the issues they were experiencing, and others said that they felt the symptoms were not severe enough to seek help and treatment from a GP.
Unfortunately, choosing to neglect these symptoms over a period of time could prove damaging for someone’s health in the long term and result in the digestive system becoming inflamed.  The inflammation means that there could be difficulty for the digestive system to successfully take in nutrients from other foods, not just the problematic ones.

GMTV’s ‘Health Editor’ Dr Hilary Jones, reflected on the findings of the survey and he said: “When people’s bodies are not digesting crucial nutrients found in many foods – as is the case with symptoms such as diarrhoea and bloating – the risk of certain illnesses dramatically increases. While it may be tempting to self-medicate or hope the problem will go away, sufferers are not getting to the root of the problem.”

Dr Jones was interested in the fact that 28% of the women who were polled said that discomfort occurred after eating dairy. He added: “This issue is particularly key with dairy and milk intolerance as there are a range of reactions that people can have to milk. It’s not as simple as lactose intolerant or not. All too often people soldier on or cut milk out entirely when there are alternative options available. If in any doubt, talk to your GP – we aren’t scary I promise!”

Melanie Bibby, a2 Milk UK’s Nutrition Manager, added her opinions on the tricky subject of digestive discomfort. She said: “You really shouldn’t be getting any digestive discomfort after eating. But people think that it’s just the norm, especially if it’s been not quite right for a long time – they forget that it’s not how it should be. She advises that sufferers should monitor their problems from the use of a food diary, and also use a process of ‘trial and error’ with suspect foods. She continues: “But it’s very difficult to work out what you’re intolerant to. Many people have a problem with dairy but it’s hard to tell if you’re reacting to the lactose or to the milk proteins. Most people are intolerant to a particular protein found in milk called a1. Or you can react to the lactose. If it’s the lactose, switching to soya milk can help but if it’s the a1 protein, it won’t make any difference as soya contains similar proteins. A2 milk is normal milk, but it comes from dairy cows that naturally don’t produce the a1 protein; instead their milk contains a2, which is much better tolerated. I want people to know that there might be an alternative to cutting out dairy for them, because of course that can mean you miss out on very important nutrients too.”

Stomach troubles are a common complaint amongst Brits, including former Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon who recently spoke out on her own struggles.

If you do have IBS, why not browse around the ‘stomach and bowel’ area of the Medical Specialists website.  We offer an ever-growing range of effective medications such as Mebeverine and Buscopan IBS relief. In addition, the medication Lansoprazole can help with acid reflux problems that cause heartburn and complications with swallowing. All of these medicines are available right now at low prices, in addition to the new wonder treatment for IBS – Symprove. If you have not heard about the miracle that is Symprove then you need to get clued up about it immediately! We have even ran two separate features on this highly effective probiotic drink and now offer the 500ml mango and passion fruit flavour of Symprove, which can be purchased today from the Medical Specialists chemist shop, priced just £19.93.

Ex-Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon speaks on her 13-year fight with IBS

If you are suffering from the pain and discomfort caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you are not alone. All across the the UK, there are 12 million more people who are being caused misery by the inconvenient and sometimes distressing stomach condition. The most commonly experienced symptoms for sufferers include stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhoea or constipation, or sometimes even alternating bouts of both to varying severity. Every case of IBS can be different, but all cases are certainly bothersome for the person who has it and Medical Specialists Pharmacy is doing everything possible to help the millions who are suffering.

This is why we recently introduced the revolutionary non-dairy, gluten-free probiotic ‘Symprove’; a scientific revelation of a drink that contains billions of live bacteria than get to work immediately upon entering the body and are not destroyed during the digestion process like other probiotics.
Perhaps somebody could come forth and recommend Symprove to the former Blue Peter presenter and Dancing on Ice contestant Zoe Salmon. The 32-year old TV star has this week spoke of her agonising 13-year battle against IBS, documenting her struggles over the years and what foods she now has to avoid in order to prevent a possible outbreak of symptoms.

She says: “I was 19 and working as a shop assistant when I had my first attack and started to feel really unwell. My vision started to go blurry and I felt as if I was going to faint. My heart started to beat quickly and my whole body began to shake. Then I broke out in a sweat and I was hit by this awful wave of nausea. The pain was so severe it literally took my breath away. Since then I’ve had increasingly severe symptoms, including stomach cramps, headaches, nausea and sickness every six months or so. One area that is always uncomfortable is my stomach, which feels bloated nearly every day. I actually look pregnant because my belly hangs over my jeans. It made me feel self-conscious in front of boyfriends. I went to see my GP and was told it sounded like I could be allergic to monosodium glutamate. I was referred to a consultant gastroenterologist and they said it sounded like I had a wheat and sugar intolerance. To hear that was terrible because I have such a sweet tooth. But it made sense as my first attack at work had come after I’d had a sugary drink and chocolate. So the consultant told me to cut sugar out of my diet and to stop eating wheat. Now that I’ve cut them out, I feel better. I avoid the culprit foods, such as bread, pasta, white rice, crackers, biscuits and alcohol, so eat lots of fish, chicken and vegetables. I am not saying I am the healthiest person. I still like my takeaways, and my sweet tooth will never really go.”

Dr Ray Shidrawi, a gastroenterologist at The Wellington Hospital in North London, heard about Zoe’s comments and gave his thoughts on her struggles. He says over a fifth of us have experienced IBS at one time or another. He commented: “Zoe is not alone in suffering from IBS. In fact it is a very common condition. Classic symptoms include bloating, ­constipation or diarrhoea or alternating instances of both. Invariably, we find IBS is stress-related and stress therapy is an important part of the treatment. But first we need to exclude other conditions including infections, so we often ask for a blood test and a sigmoidoscopy, which is a minimally invasive examination using a thin tube attached to a small camera and light that is ­inserted into the rectum to examine the bowel. Essentially, a person with IBS has a bowel but it is more sensitive than usual. The priority is to regulate the bowel and not get bunged up. So initially that means a balance of dietary changes to introduce more fibre and it will often mean using laxatives, too. We often find that IBS sufferers have an ­undertone of depression, so often a psychologist can help a patient enormously. We can also use some drugs to help modulate the gut but this is a last resort.”

Zoe Salmon is not the only celebrity though who is suffering from IBS, or has suffered with it at some point. There are many other people in the spotlight who have also had the common symptoms of IBS, and shows celebrities are just like the rest of us and not ‘superhuman’. They include:

. Tyra Banks (U.S. model and talk show host)

Tyra Banks surprised her audience back in 2006 when she revealed to her guest Janet Jackson that she has IBS, admitting she is ‘very gassy’.

. Jenny McCarthy (U.S. model and actress)

Jim Carrey’s former girlfriend Jenny McCarthy brazenly admitted to suffering with ‘chronic diarrhoea’ and various other IBS symptoms within her autobiography Jen-X: Jenny McCarthy’s Open Book.

. John F. Kennedy (Former U.S. president)

A 2002 review of the former President’s medical records, found an interesting revelation; it appeared he had suffered with bowel complaints and suspected IBS. Kennedy was prescribed antidiarrheal drugs to provide relief, as well as being administered testosterone to help his weight and strength.

. Camille Grammer (Former wife of actor Kelsey Grammer)

The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills star is often vocal about her battle with IBS, first developing the stomach condition in 1997. Whilst still married to Kelsey, she explained about her problems, saying: “I am always fearful that my IBS symptoms will return at any moment, so I always have to know where the nearest restroom is. I’m afraid that eating will result in stomach pain. Travelling is difficult. And IBS often makes even a simple evening out with my husband, to enjoy a concert or movie, seem impossible.”

The fact there are famous faces who have spoken out on their gut problems shows that these kinds of issues are indeed very common and certainly nothing to be ashamed about. If you are experiencing any kind of stomach complaint, it is vital you consult your GP immediately, who will then ask you detailed questions and refer you for further scans if necessary.

If it is IBS you have, then this can be treated with a wide range of effective medications such as Mebeverine and Buscopan IBS relief. In addition, the medication Lansoprazole can help with acid reflux problems that cause heartburn and complications with swallowing. All of these medicines are available at low prices from the ‘Stomach and Bowel’ section of the Medical Specialists Pharmacy website in addition to the new wonder treatment for IBS – Symprove. The 500ml mango and passion fruit flavour of Symprove can be purchased today without a prescription from Medical Specialists, priced just £19.93.

Radical new Symprove drink could help millions win the fight against IBS

Today we at Medical Specialists Pharmacy are thoroughly delighted to offer a brand new, revolutionary treatment option for the estimated 12 million people in the UK who are caused misery by the painful and inconvenient stomach condition, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some of the most common symptoms for sufferers include highly discomforting stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhoea or constipation, or sometimes even bouts of both.

The IBS treatment in question is a non-dairy, gluten-free probiotic food supplement produced by Symprove Ltd, named simply ‘Symprove’. Those with sharp memories will recall that we first mentioned about this fantastic IBS treatment way back in May. In fact, its effectiveness at combating the common stomach and bowel complaint is so exceptional that even national media has picked up on Symprove, subsequently being featured in newspapers such as the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, as well as HELLO! magazine.

Therefore the opportunity to offer our patients this brilliant solution to help with IBS was one we could not refuse, and proudly working together with Symprove Ltd, we now have the delicious 500ml mango and passion fruit flavoured version in stock and available from the Medical Specialists chemist shop for the low price of £19.93.

So, what exactly is Symprove you may wonder, and how does it work? Well, it is a water-based barley drink that is taken once daily – ideally prior to breakfast. With every batch produced being independently tested to ensure the highest standard of quality, each 50ml serving contains approximately 10 billion live bacteria.

However, here is where it gets interesting; Symprove’s 4 species of live bacterial cultures (L. rhamnosus, planatarum, acidophilus and E. faeciumbacteria), are fully alive and activated from the moment Symprove is swallowed. What sets Symprove apart is the fact that unlike other everyday probiotic products, the probiotics within Symprove manage to reach the gut and get to work in a mere 20 minutes without triggering the digestion process.  This may sound strange and something you would expect and want to happen. However with other probiotics, digestion results in stomach acid and bile salts being released in order to break down food. The stomach acid means that probiotic bacteria struggle to survive in this environment and any that do, will be ineffective inside the gut.

Symprove is successful at travelling straight through the stomach without triggering digestion, meaning its probiotics are able to reach the gut and then establish a more healthy balance of  ‘normal bacteria’. It is the existence of ‘bad’ pathogenic bacteria that initially causes digestive and other problems. Symprove’s revolutionary method of fighting the symptoms of IBS means that the bacteria are not freeze-dried like many other products out there. Basically with its ‘Unique Delivery System’, the bacteria are ready to start working from the moment they pass your lips!

At Medical Specialists we fully understand that IBS can be a deeply distressing condition to live with, especially when trying to manage it whilst at your job. Many underestimate the psychological impact that IBS can have from trying to cope with the pain and discomfort. It is even thought that three out of every four people who suffer from it, will have at least one bout of depression, with half experiencing some varying degree of anxiety. You should not let it control your quality of life though, and with appropriate treatment you can live a normal and happy life. In addition to Symprove, there are other available options to help with the symptoms of IBS such as Buscopan IBS relief, Imodium and Mebeverine. All are available from the stomach and bowel area of the Medical Specialists website.

Poor food labels blamed for stomach cancer caused by high salt intake

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has spoken out about the issue of salt content in foods, calling for all companies to label their products more clearly. This is in response to the increasing number of stomach cancer cases that have been linked to a high consumption of salt. High levels of salt are particularly prominent in popular foods such as bread, bacon, cheese, breakfast cereals, crisps and soup.

The recommended daily salt intake for adults is 6g, which is approximately around one full teaspoon. This figure is obviously less for children and babies, and the following are the general guidelines for salt intake depending on age:

. 1 to 3 years: 2g salt a day (0.8g sodium).
. 4 to 6 years: 3g salt a day (1.2g sodium).
. 7 to 10 years: 5g salt a day (2g sodium).
. 11 years and over: 6g salt a day (2.4g sodium).

The WCRF say that if adults strictly kept to this 6g limit, then this could help to reduce the 6,000 new cases of stomach cancer each year in the UK by 14% (around 800). Kate Mendoza, health of health information at the charity, says, “Stomach cancer is difficult to treat successfully because most cases are not caught until the disease is well-established. This places even greater emphasis on making lifestyle choices to prevent the disease occurring in the first place – such as cutting down on salt intake and eating more fruit and vegetables.”

She further continued, “Because around three-quarters of the salt we consume is already in processed food when we buy it, WCRF would like to see traffic light labelling on the front of food and drink packaging to give clear guidance on the levels of salt as well as sugar, fat and saturated fat. Standardised labelling among retailers and manufacturers – rather than the different voluntary systems currently in place – would help consumers make better informed and healthy choices.”

As Kate Mendoza explained, the difficult aspect of dealing with stomach cancer is that it is not usually diagnosed until the disease is at an advanced stage. Medical Specialists Pharmacy advises that you visit your doctor immediately for a check-up if you suffer from any of the following early symptoms of stomach cancer:

. Heartburn.
. Persistent indigestion.
. A bloated feeling after eating.
. Trapped wind and incessant burping.
. Feeling full very soon after beginning to eat.
. Difficulty in swallowing.

As you can see, many of the early-stage symptoms of stomach cancer are quite similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is why it is vital to see your GP who will ask you detailed questions, and refer you for further scans if necessary. If it is IBS you have, then this can be treated with a wide range of effective medications such as Mebeverine and Buscopan IBS relief. In addition, there is also the medication Lansoprazole which can help with acid reflux problems that cause heartburn and complications with swallowing. All aforementioned medicines are available at low prices from the Stomach and Bowel section of the Medical Specialists Pharmacy website.