Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease is the name of a group of disorders that cause the intestines to become inflamed (red and swollen). Crohn’s and a related disease, ulcerative colitis, are the two main disease categories of IBD. Although it can involve any area of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, it most commonly affects the small intestine and/or colon.
Some studies show a higher incidence of Crohn’s disease and colitis in people who have had an appendectomy. Though the exact cause or causes of inflammatory bowel diseases are not known, it is possible that altered gut flora and genetics are critical to the development of these diseases.
Investigators do not yet know what causes this disease and are looking at everything from genetics to the immune system to the environment. According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, foreign substances (antigens) in the environment may be the direct cause of the inflammation, or they may stimulate the body’s defenses to produce an inflammation that continues without control. IBD runs in families, so there is some genetic connection.
IBD symptoms can be grouped into two categories. The first set of symptoms are those related to the digestive system:
Intestinal Symptoms of IBD
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Abdominal pain and cramping
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Bloating/distension
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Blood in the stool
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Loss of appetite
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Mucus in the stool
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Persistent diarrhea
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Ulceration in the digestive tract
Non-Intestinal Symptoms
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Delayed growth and sexual maturation in children
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Eye irritations
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Fever
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Fissures
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Weight loss
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Worsening of symptoms during menses
There is no single test that can establish the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease with certainty. To determine the diagnosis, physicians evaluate a combination of information from the patient’s history and physical exam. They examine the results of laboratory tests, X-rays, and findings on endoscopy and pathology tests, and exclude other known causes of intestinal inflammation. X-ray tests may include barium studies of the upper and lower GI tract.
Because there is no cure, the goal of medical treatment is to suppress the inflammatory response. This accomplishes two important goals: It allows the intestinal tissue to heal, and it relieves the symptoms of fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Once the symptoms are brought under control (this is known as inducing remission), medical therapy is used to decrease the frequency of flare-ups (this is known as
Pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease have an increased risk of a premature birth or having a low-birth-weight baby if they have a flare up of the disease. Women with IBD recurrence delivered their babies at thirty-five weeks, on average, compared with almost thirty-nine weeks for women who did not experience a relapse. Talk to your health care provider if you have IBD and are pregnant.
Living with a chronic illness like IBD can be very difficult and requires a great deal of support. As much as possible, lifestyle changes can be made to minimize the risk of inflammation. A healthy diet that restores needed nutrients, exercise as tolerated, and complementary care for psychological support are all necessary.
Researchers in the Netherlands report 22 percent of IBD patients in their study developed colon cancer before the starting point of screening recommendations. The researchers said screening should be based on patient risk factors, such as disease severity, age of IBD onset, and family history of colorectal cancer.
