What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a broad term used to describe a variety of diseases that share a common trait: chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. There are two main types of IBD:
- Ulcerative colitis - In ulcerative colitis, chronic inflammation is limited to the large intestine and extends continuously upward from the anus a variable distance. This disease is characterized by redness and ulcers along the lining of the colon and rectum.
- Crohn's Disease - Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere along the digestive tract, from your mouth to your anus. It most commonly occurs in the last part of the small intestine and the colon, where there’s a mix of healthy and inflamed spots.
You can also have an inflammatory bowel disease that doesn’t quite fit either of those two conditions. No matter where the IBD diagnosis falls on the spectrum, symptoms can overlap. The main symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease include rectal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anemia and unexplained weight loss — which can also occur in other bowel conditions.
Causes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The specific cause of IBD is unknown, however research continues to help doctors better understand and treat the condition. There are certain factors that appear to play a role, including:
- Muscle contractions in the intestine.
- Issues with the nerves in your digestive system.
- Severe diarrhea caused by bacteria or a virus.
- High stress, especially in childhood.
- Changes in gut microbes.
Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
One of the bowel conditions that has similar symptoms to IBD is IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome. Despite the overlapping symptoms and similar names and initials, they are two very different conditions. And you can actually have both of them at the same time.
The difference lies in the underlying cause: inflammation. IBD is a chronic inflammatory disorder, the diagnosis of which is confirmed with testing. Chronic bowel inflammation involves injury to the bowel. IBS, on the other hand, is a disorder with irritation rather than inflammation. It includes things like bowel spasms and sensitivity, which don’t damage the bowel.
Inflammatory bowel disease symptoms vary, depending on the severity and where it occurs. Symptoms are similar to both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which can include:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Blood in your stool
- Reduced appetite
- Weight loss
Diagnosing Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Diagnosing IBD is generally done through multiple methods. Your healthcare provider will take a detailed health history and ask you about symptoms you experience. Lab testing may be performed to check for infection or anemia, CT of the abdomen to obtain a view of your bowel and/or endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopy or small bowel capsule to view and take biopsies of your bowel.
Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Living with IBD isn’t easy. Symptoms can be severe and debilitating. Even when the symptoms have gone away, the inflammation may still be there, causing damage and putting your health at risk. Once a diagnosis is made, the disease is objectively monitored and tightly controlled.
Your treatment may include anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, antibiotics or a combination of the three. Since inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune disorder, medications that suppress the immune system may be necessary.
“Eat a healthy diet” is not new advice or even nutrition guidance specific to inflammatory bowel disease. But the effects of chronic inflammation in your digestive tract can leave you deficient in essential nutrients, low in iron and struggling to maintain your weight. So, eating a well-balanced diet with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables is important.
If your provider suspects inflammatory bowel disease — or other serious bowel problems — they’ll refer you to a gastroenterologist for further testing. With modern diagnostic tools and treatment approaches, there are more arrows in the quiver to address your symptoms, treat your bowel inflammation and improve your quality of life.