Inflammatory bowel disease
What is Inflammatory bowel disease ?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of your digestive tract. Types of IBD include Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease.
Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease usually are characterized by diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. IBD can be debilitating and sometimes leads to life-threatening complications.
Symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Belly pain and cramping
- Blood in the stool
- Loss of appetite
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling extremely tired
- Lower abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Mouth Sores
- Anemia
Cause
The exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease remains unknown. Previously, diet and stress were suspected, but now, healthcare professionals know that these factors may aggravate IBD but aren’t the cause of it. Several factors likely play a role in its development. Immune system, One possible cause is change in the function of the immune system. When the immune system tries to fight off an invading virus or bacterium, an immune response that is not typical causes the immune system to attack the cells in the digestive tract too. Genes, Several genetic markers have been associated with IBD. Traits passed down in families also seem to play a role in that IBD is more common in people who have family members with the disease. However, most people with IBD don’t have this family history. Environmental triggers, Researchers believe environmental factors may play a role in getting IBD, especially factors that affect the gut microbiome.Â
Risk Factors
Risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease include Age, Most people who get IBD are diagnosed before they’re 30 years old. But some people don’t get the disease until their 50s or 60s. Race or ethnicity, IBD is more common in white people, but it can occur in anyone. The number of people with IBD also is increasing in other races and ethnicities. Family history, You’re at higher risk if you have a blood relative — such as a parent, sibling or child — with the disease. Cigarette smoking, Cigarette smoking is the most important controllable risk factor for getting Crohn’s disease. Smoking may help prevent ulcerative colitis. However, its harm to overall health outweighs any benefit, and quitting smoking can improve the general health of your digestive tract as well as provide many other health benefits. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve), diclofenac sodium and others. These medicines may increase the risk of getting IBD or worsen the disease in people who have IBD.
When to see a Doctor
See a healthcare professional if you experience a lasting change in your bowel habits or if you have any of the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. Although inflammatory bowel disease usually isn’t fatal, it’s a serious disease that, in some people, may cause life-threatening complications.