Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Why It Occurs, The Symptoms, And What We Can Do To Prevent This Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) describes a group of disorders affecting the digestive tract. IBD works as an umbrella term for conditions, in which the intestines become deeply inflamed. There are two main types of inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease may affect any part of the digestive system, while ulcerative colitis involves only the colon or large intestine. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis may cause the same symptoms.
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Why does it happen? Unfortunately, doctors don’t know what exactly causes IBD, but they say that problems with immune system and heredity play a role. As it turns out, if you have a family member with IBD, your chances of developing the disease are higher. An immune system dysfunction may also result in IBD, because when your immune system tries to fight off the virus or bacteria, an improper immune response may start to damage tissues in the digestive system too.
Other risk factors include:
- age: Most people with IBD were diagnosed when they were under the age of 30;
— smoking;
— nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications;
— gender: IBD can happen to women and men, but Crohn’s disease is more common among women, and ulcerative colitis develops more frequently in men;
— region: If you live in an industrialized country and urban area, your risk of developing IBD is higher.
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The symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease may vary due to location and severity of inflammation, but typically they include:
— abdominal cramping and pain;
— diarrhea;
— weight loss;
— fever and fatigue;
— loss of appetite;
— blood in the stool.
If you suspect that something is wrong with your bowel movement or you notice any of the signs of IBD, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Typically, inflammatory bowel disease isn’t fatal, but in some cases, it can result in life-threatening complications. Prompt and proper treatment may help to avoid worsening of the condition and improve the symptoms.
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In fact, we can’t prevent IBD for sure, but we can at least reduce the risk by maintaining a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and being physically active.