CONDITION
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. It can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the anus. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two types of IBD. Each has its own set of symptoms and treatments.
People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
This can result in abdominal pain, cramping and diarrhea, as well as other symptoms associated with inflammation such as fatigue and loss of appetite.
IBD is not the same as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Causes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
IBD is a chronic condition that affects over 1.5 million Americans. It can last for years or even decades. In the United States, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are considered part of an umbrella group called inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The term IBD refers to any disease in which the intestines experience an immune response against them, causing inflammation and irritation; this includes ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, microscopic colitis (also known as collagenous colitis), lymphocytic colonic polyposis syndrome and indeterminate colitis.
The most common forms of IBD are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Each type affects the colon differently; however, both diseases involve inflammation and other abnormalities of the digestive system.
Ulcerative colitis is confined to the colon, or large intestine. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract—from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis is more common than Crohn’s disease.
- Get a test to check as soon as possible.
- Do not self medicate .
Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Watch for these Symptoms
IBD can cause anemia and malnutrition.
Anemia is a lack of red blood cells. It can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, lightheadedness and dizziness.
There are two types of IBD: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
People with Crohn’s disease may experience a wide range of symptoms.
The symptoms of Crohn’s disease can vary from person to person, and the condition may come and go. Some people have mild symptoms that occur only occasionally, while others have severe symptoms that affect their daily lives.
- Diarrhea (often bloody)
- Rectal bleeding or frequent bowel movements
- Weight loss
- Fever or fatigue (feeling tired)
Ulcerative colitis is confined to the colon, or large intestine.
Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the large intestine, or colon. It can cause diarrhea, cramping, and rectal bleeding.
People with ulcerative colitis often have periods when they have symptoms and times when they don’t have symptoms. Symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain and cramping that usually come on after meals but may also occur at night
- Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
- bleeding from the rectum (the end part of the large intestine), which may occur without warning or be preceded by a feeling like you need to have a bowel movement
The severity and location of inflammation helps determine whether you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
In Crohn’s disease, the inflammation usually affects the entire intestinal wall. In addition to affecting the innermost lining (called the mucosa) of your large intestine and small intestine, it may also affect other parts of your digestive tract such as your stomach, colon and anus. The severity of this type of inflammation can vary from person to person; some people may experience only mild symptoms while others experience severe pain accompanied by diarrhea and bloody stool. Crohn’s disease can also cause ulcers that penetrate through different layers in your digestive tract causing scarring inside your organs—a condition called fibrostenosis—or turn into fistulas that connect one part of your body with another (for example: between your colon and bladder).
Complications & Tests of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
IBD can also lead to malnutrition because the disease weakens the gut wall and interferes with food absorption. The result is malnourishment that may lead to weight loss if it isn’t addressed quickly enough.
Your doctor will likely use a variety of tests to help diagnose IBD. Some of these tests may include:
- Blood tests: Doctors usually order blood tests to check for signs of inflammation and damage in the intestines. These may include a complete blood count, or CBC, which measures red and white blood cells as well as platelets in the blood; C-reactive protein (CRP), which can be used to measure levels of inflammation; stool studies that look for intestinal bleeding; and electrolyte levels like sodium and potassium.
- Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy uses an instrument called a colonoscope—a long tube with a light at one end—to examine all areas of your colon (large intestine) for signs of disease.
- Sigmoidoscopy: Like a regular colonoscopy but only examines part of this organ.
- Barium enema : This test involves injecting into someone’s rectum barium sulfate dye mixed with plain water so it coats their lower bowel area before x-rays are taken.
- CT scan : CT stands for computed tomography , which means “computed” + “tomography.” In other words , computers produce cross-sectional pictures through 3D scans
- Endoscopy: Your doctor might get a closer look at your digestive tract using an endoscope, also known as an ERCP. This flexible tube is inserted through your mouth so doctors can see parts of your digestive tract such as the esophagus and stomach without making large incisions in your abdomen or chest wall (as would be necessary with surgery). An endoscope is also sometimes used to treat conditions such as bleeding from ulcers or tumors within the digestive tract by cauterizing them with laser light energy directed from within its tip.
- Ultrasound : Sound waves bounce off organs inside people’s bodies during ultrasound exams , creating images on monitors that doctors use to guide treatment decisions . It often takes place while patients lie still on their backs or sides holding onto handles attached to special machines called transducers.
Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
There’s no cure for IBD, but you can manage your signs and symptoms through medications or surgery.
IBD differs from other intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in that it is not due to psychological reasons and can be diagnosed with a variety of tests. It can be treated with medication or surgery.
Medications can help to manage pain or reduce inflammation, while surgery is used to treat complications of the disease. You should also consider lifestyle changes that will help you feel better and keep your disease in check.
The goal of treatment for IBD is to reduce your signs and symptoms and keep the disease in remission.
- Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for you.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle and diet. Following a healthy diet and lifestyle can help reduce symptoms, but they won’t cure IBD.
- Take medications as prescribed by your doctor to control your signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (the two forms of IBD). If you don’t take medication regularly, it may not be effective when you do need it.
- Surgery is the last resort to remove part of the intestines that contains areas that are inflamed, ulcerated (sore), obstructed by scar tissue or if cancer is developing in the intestine. Your healthcare team will help determine which type(s) of surgical procedures would work best for you based on factors such as your age, physical activity level before surgery begins, nutritional status prior to surgery.
Medications: Your doctor may recommend taking a medication called mesalamine (Asacol), which reduces inflammation in your gut by suppressing the immune system. Other types of drugs include corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, antibiotics for infections caused by overgrowth of bacteria in the intestines, anti-diarrheal agents (such as loperamide), topical steroids (for skin conditions), biologics such as infliximab or adalimumab that are given via injection into muscle tissue rather than taken orally; probiotics taken orally (such as VSL#3).
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Prevention
You can have a fulfilling life while living with inflammatory bowel disease.
IBD doesn’t have to get in the way of your work or social life. You don’t need to miss out on friends or family events, or even lose a job because of IBD. It’s important that you take care of yourself and live your life as fully as possible. You may want to talk with your doctor about taking time off from work and school when needed, if this is something that helps make it easier for you. Or maybe you’re able to be more flexible about what activities are scheduled around times when symptoms flare up—for example, maybe instead of going out every weeknight after work some nights are better spent at home resting so that symptoms don’t interfere with your ability to function during the day (or vice versa).
You can also find ways that help manage stress and anxiety related to IBD symptoms by talking with someone who knows how hard this can be—such as a counselor or support group leader—and making time each day for exercise or relaxation activities like meditation.
Conclusion
IBD is a serious disease that can be difficult to manage, but you can lead a fulfilling life with it. IBD can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to anus, and there are two types: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The signs and symptoms vary from person to person depending on where in their gut the disease is located.
Treatment for IBD involves medications or surgery depending on severity of symptoms. Speak to our inflammatory bowel disease gastroenterologist to understand more about your disease, treatment options, cancer surveillance to improve long term outcome.
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