IBS Month

Categories:: Health
Tags:: Awareness Safety
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every April
Holiday emoji:: 💜

IBS Month unfolds throughout April, dedicated to raising awareness for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a common and often misunderstood digestive disorder. Join advocacy groups, share educational resources, and support research initiatives to improve diagnosis and treatment.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Brands
Hero
History
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Observe
Related

Expected IBS Month Deals

Throughout IBS Month in April, the focus shifts from commercial deals to crucial awareness and fundraising efforts. Organizations like the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation lead campaigns, often partnering with corporate sponsors for donation matching programs or special product lines that contribute to research. Look for pharmaceutical companies such as Takeda Pharmaceuticals and health and wellness brands like Nestlé Health Science to highlight their commitment to digestive health through educational content and community support. Many brands offer discounts on low-FODMAP foods or digestive supplements, with a portion of sales benefiting patient advocacy. We will update this page with confirmed live campaigns and events as April approaches.

Platform Guide for IBS Month

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #IBSMonth. Share infographics about IBS facts, patient stories, or tips for managing symptoms with visually appealing content.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #IBSMonth. Join or create community groups to share experiences, offer support, and discuss new research findings.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #IBSMonth. Participate in live chats, share breaking news on IBS research, and retweet advocacy messages from leading health organizations.

IBS Month Hero

Dr. W. Grant Thompson

Dr. W. Grant Thompson was a Canadian gastroenterologist who made significant contributions to the understanding and definition of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. He was instrumental in developing the Rome Criteria, a set of diagnostic criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders that standardized the diagnosis of IBS globally. His work helped legitimize IBS as a real medical condition and advanced research into its causes and treatments, improving patient care worldwide.

History of IBS Month

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a lifelong, gastrointestinal disorder, which affects the large intestine in our body. IBS is a chronic disease related to the large intestine, it is found to be more common in women than men. It mostly affects people who are 45 years of age or younger. The cause of this syndrome is still unknown.

People who suffer from IBS are likely to have abdominal pains, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, gas, and constipation. However, this disease does not increase the chances of colorectal cancer. Irritable bowel syndrome has confused doctors for a century. This syndrome was first known as “Mucous colitis” by Osler. Later on, this condition was diagnosed by Hurst. Another term was used to describe it called “irritable colon” which has the same meaning as that to IBS.

IFFGD (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders) declared April as the awareness month for IBS in 1997. In this month more attention is given to the importance of health and awareness of IBS diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life issues. It is known that 15% of people have IBS, out of which 20% people seek medical treatment. Symptoms of IBS can occur early in life and some patients have symptoms as soon as they reach 30 years.

IBS Month timeline

1892

A Disease Similar to IBS

Osler declares that colonic epithelium is a normal condition and most patients suffer from depression and abdominal pain.

1929

“Irritable Colon” Appears For the First Time.

“Irritable colon” is published in a research paper by Jordan and Kiefer.

1920s

Hurst Recognizes Another Disease

Hurst recognizes another disease but there is no record found for it.

1997

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Month

IFFGD declares April as the month of spreading awareness for IBS.

How Businesses Can Celebrate IBS Month

Local businesses can support IBS Month by hosting educational workshops or webinars focused on digestive health, featuring dietitians or gastroenterologists. Restaurants could offer special low-FODMAP menu items throughout April, clearly labeled for customers with IBS. Pharmacies and health food stores can create displays highlighting digestive health products and share informational pamphlets from advocacy organizations. Consider a ’round up at the register’ campaign with proceeds benefiting IBS research or a local patient support group.

IBS Month FAQs

When is IBS Month?

In 2027, IBS Month will again take place for the entire month of April, from April 1 to April 30. It’s a crucial time to educate the public about this common digestive condition.

How many people are affected by Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

The impact of IBS is widespread, with current estimates suggesting that approximately 10% to 15% of the global population experiences symptoms. However, only about one-third of these individuals seek medical care for their condition.

What are the common symptoms of IBS?

Individuals with IBS typically experience chronic abdominal discomfort or pain, often relieved by a bowel movement. Other frequent signs are changes in the frequency or consistency of stool, and a feeling of incomplete evacuation.

What is the difference between IBS and IBD?

While both IBS and IBD share similar symptoms like abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, their underlying causes are vastly different. IBD involves actual inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract, detectable through tests, whereas IBS is characterized by a disturbance in gut-brain interaction without physical damage.

How to Observe IBS month

Eat home-cooked food
It is highly recommended to include organic and homemade food in your diet, fresh food is a great way to save yourself from this disorder, so make sure to eat a majority of fresh food this month.
Exercise daily and encourage others
In this month go for walks and jogs. Try to choose any favorite activity and encourage others to join you too. An increased heart rate decreases intestinal issues.
Spread awareness about IBS on social media
Use the power of social media and spread awareness of IBS through it. Use hashtags with your posts like #IBSmonth or #IrritableBowelSyndromeMonth.

5 Informative Facts About Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Many are affected in the U.S.
25 to 45 million people in the U.S are affected by IBS.
It’s universal
It is estimated that 10%-15% of the population of the world has IBS.
It targets the young too
The age of most of the people suffering from IBS is under 50 years old.
It’s a mystery
The exact reason for IBS is not known.
Being calm won’t cure it
IBS is not caused by stress.

Why We Observe IBS Month

To create awareness
On this day we find many ways to make people aware of IBS so that more research is done on it, and more advanced treatments are discovered to deal with it.
Encourage people to eat healthily
We want people to consume healthy and fresh food, to avoid having intestinal issues.
People suffering from IBS get treated
Most of the people suffering from IBS do not seek medical advice, hence if people are more aware of it then they would go to the doctors and get medically treated for it.