How to Identify and Treat the Symptoms of an IBS Attack

People living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) know that an IBS attack can be both physically and emotionally draining. Beyond the pain and discomfort, people with IBS often find themselves panicking to find a bathroom or worrying that they may be caught out in public unprepared.

There are, however, things that you can do to help alleviate the symptoms of an IBS attack and avoid them in the future.

This article offers some techniques for managing IBS flare-ups, including medications used to treat IBS. It provides some steps you can take to prevent IBS symptoms from occurring.

IBS attack symptom relief

Illustration by Jessica Olah for Verywell Health

Most Common IBS Symptoms

An IBS attack often results in common symptoms, including:

How Long Do IBS Attacks Last?

IBS is a chronic condition with periodic flare-ups. The flare-ups depend on various factors, and each person's experience is unique, but you can expect them to last a few days to several months. An initial IBS diagnosis requires consistent symptoms for at least six months.

Use Heat to Treat Spasms

During an IBS attack, it helps to apply heat to the abdomen with either an electric heating pad or a hot water bottle. The gentle heat feels nice. It also helps stimulate blood flow and relax the smooth muscles of the colon, reducing spasms and cramps.

Place a towel or piece of clothing between you and the heat source to avoid getting burned.

Sip IBS-Friendly Teas

Sipping a cup of IBS-friendly tea can be soothing. It can also further help alleviate painful spasms and cramps.

IBS-friendly teas are not fermented and do not contain any of the ingredients that can trigger or inflame your IBS symptoms. IBS-friendly teas include:

  • Peppermint
  • Black tea
  • White tea
  • Green tea

Peppermint may even be a possible treatment for IBS. Some studies have shown a benefit in IBS symptom relief, although more research is needed.

By contrast, teas you may think are safe (like chamomile, chai, dandelion, and certain herbal teas) can become problematic if you let them steep for a long time. So if you choose to drink these teas, let them sit for just a minute or two for a weak steep.

Breathe Deeply and Relax

Your body's natural stress response can have a dramatic effect on your IBS. That's because stress can trigger the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can increase IBS symptoms.

Several breathing techniques can combat the effect of stress on IBS.

Deep Breathing

Breathing deeply not only helps calm the nerves, but it also sends powerful messages to the brain, indicating that everything is okay and there's no need for emergency response.

Yoga

Pranayama breathing is a yoga practice in which you control the flow and pace of your breathing. People often incorporate it into certain meditation practices.

A number of studies suggest that yoga and other mind-body practices are beneficial for people living with IBS, helping to reduce their symptoms and improve mental health, sleep, and quality of life.

Guided Imagery

Guided imagery is another relaxation technique in which you create mental images to stimulate calm feelings. By doing so, you gently shift your thoughts away from the areas of physical discomfort.

Keep a Symptom Diary

Keeping track of your symptoms can help you identify patterns in your IBS attacks. For example, when you use a diary, you may start to notice which things tend to cause your symptoms to flare, including:

  • Foods you eat
  • Activities you engage in
  • Routines that cause stress

Knowing, for example, that you are more likely to experience attacks in the morning can help you plan your day. By identifying and recording these patterns, you can remove many of the "what-ifs" from your life. In addition, this sense of preparedness can help you participate in activities more confidently.

What Foods Trigger IBS Attacks?

Try to avoid foods that lead to constipation, diarrhea, and other symptoms of IBS attack. These include red meat, processed meats like bacon, fried foods, chip snacks, and baked goods made with white flour. Dairy products, including cheese and ice cream, also may lead to IBS flare-ups.

Know Your FODMAPS

Fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) are a group of carbohydrates found in foods that contribute to IBS symptoms. These carbohydrates are poorly absorbed in the intestine. This poor absorption can result in bacterial overgrowth, leading to increased gas, bloating, pain, and watery stools.

By focusing on foods low in FODMAPs, you can decrease your gastrointestinal sensitivity and provide relief after an IBS attack.

Because so many nutritious foods are on the high FODMAP list, be aware that restricting your diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies. For example, avoiding many fruits in addition to dairy products (including milk and cheese) can be part of a FODMAP diet to limit IBS symptoms. But your body also needs the nutrients these foods provide, so you should instead focus on moderation.

What Can I Eat to Help With IBS?

Following a specific diet can help reduce symptoms. But recommended foods differ depending on the type of IBS you have. For example, if you suffer from constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C), your doctor might advise eating fiber-rich foods like sweet potatoes, whole-grain cereal, pears, or prune juice. A healthcare provider or dietitian can help you learn which foods work best for your lifestyle.

Consider Medication

There is an ever-widening range of medications to treat both diarrhea-predominant IBS and constipation-predominant IBS. These include:

Newer-generation drugs like Viberzi (eluxadoline) and Xifaxan (rifaximin) are specially designed to treat IBS. These offer greater symptom control than ever before.

Preventing IBS Attacks

Once you understand your IBS diagnosis, and treatment is keeping it under control, it can help to know how to prevent future flare-ups. Diet is important, but also consider how you prepare food (like avoiding fried foods) and choosing smaller meals to avoid overtaxing your digestive system.

Other steps to help you take charge of your IBS symptoms include:

  • Engaging in exercise and activity (can relieve IBS symptoms like bloating, and improve mood)
  • Maintaining a healthy weight (often, people with IBS also are diagnosed with obesity)
  • Staying hydrated (but watch caffeine and alcohol intake) which can help to form stool that easily passes through the colon

Don't hesitate to ask your healthcare provider about strategies to prevent IBS attacks, such as proper sleep hygiene, to ensure you're getting enough rest.

Work with a Healthcare Provider

There is no need to suffer in silence. Working with a healthcare provider can help you pinpoint what triggers your IBS.

From there, you'll be more likely to find strategies that may offer better and more sustainable control of your IBS symptoms.

Good IBS management strategies often combine lifestyle changes, stress relief, and medications.

Summary

There are many things you can do to manage IBS symptoms. Heat, tea, relaxation, keeping track of symptoms, and eating a low-FODMAP diet can all help.

Importantly, working with a healthcare provider is the best way to develop a treatment plan that incorporates lifestyle changes, stress reduction, and medication.

13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Barbara Bolen, PhD

By Barbara Bolen, PhD
Barbara Bolen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and health coach. She has written multiple books focused on living with irritable bowel syndrome.