Glossary

This glossary is drawn from the general glossary on pages 10-26 of the irritable bowel syndrome full guidance and the explanation of medical terms on page 11 of the patient and carer booklet Understanding NICE guidance.
(These documents are in PDF - see how to access PDF files.)  

Abdomen: the lower part of the trunk of the body that contains the stomach, bowel and other abdominal organs.
 
Algorithm (in guidelines): a flow chart of the clinical decision pathway described in the guideline, where decision points are represented with boxes, linked with arrows.
 
Bloating: fullness or swelling in the abdomen that often occurs after meals.
 
Bowel: the lower part of the digestive system, below the stomach.  The bowel (or intestines) is split into the small bowel and the large bowel.
 
Carer: someone other than a health professional who is involved in caring for a person with a medical condition.
 
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, also called Cognitive therapy: a relatively short-term form of psychotherapy based on the concept that the way we think about things affects how we feel emotionally. Cognitive therapy focuses on present thinking, behaviour, and communication rather than on past experiences and is oriented toward problem solving.  It aims to help people in the ways they think (cognition) and in the ways they act (behaviour).
 
Coeliac disease: a life-long condition of the small bowel caused be a reaction to gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.
 
Constipation: a condition in which bowel movements are infrequent, hard and dry, and elimination of faeces is difficult and infrequent.
 
Faeces: also known as stools: the solid, semi-solid or liquid waste material from digestion that is passed out of the body.
 
Hypnotherapy: a deep state of relaxation is acheived through focused attention. While in this trance-like state, the unconscious mind is highly receptive to new perspectives and ideas.  The use of imagery and positive suggestions at this time can help a client imagine and actually experience themself in the future as they wish to be.  This may make the desired changes happen much faster and with less resistance, as a result of the hypnosis experience.
 
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): a disease in which parts of the bowel become inflamed (red and swollen). It is not related to irritable bowel syndrome.
 
Large bowel: the lower section of the bowel (also known as the colon) where water is absorbed from digested food as it moves towards the rectum.
 
Laxative: a medicine used to treat constipation by helping the bowel to move.
 
Pelvic examination: a procedure in which a doctor does an internal check up of a woman's vagina, cervix (the entrance to the uterus) and uterus (womb).
 
Psychotherapy: a set of techniques intended to cure or improve psychological and behavioural problems in humans.  The commonest form of psychotherapy is direct personal contact between therapist and patient, mainly in the form of talking.
 
Rectum: the lower part of the bowel through which faeces passes to leave the body.
 
'Red Flag' symptoms: a warning term used to indicate further investigation of specific symptoms is warranted to identify potential different diagnosis.
 
Stools: see faeces.