What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a disorder that causes digestive tract inflammation. Common forms of inflammatory bowel disease include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which can lead to bothersome or severe side effects when not addressed by a medical specialist. At the first sign of a digestive system disorder, see the Platinum Digestive Health specialists for an evaluation.

What are the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease?

The hallmark symptoms of IBD include:

• Diarrhea
• Rectal bleeding
• Blood in your stool
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal cramping
• Reduced appetite

You might experience a mild illness or a debilitating disease that causes life-threatening health problems. You may experience active illness combined with periods of remission.

Untreated IBD may increase your risk of colon cancer, joint inflammation, arthritis, skin or eye problems, dehydration, blood clots, bile duct scarring, malnutrition, bowel obstruction, and even liver damage.

What are the risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease?

While the cause of IBD isn’t always known, its risk factors include:

• Immune system malfunctions
• Family history of IBD
• Being a young adult
• Smoking
• Taking certain medicines

Adopting healthy habits may reduce your chance of developing IBD, but you can’t necessarily avoid the condition if you have specific risk factors.

How is inflammatory bowel disease diagnosed?

Your Platinum Digestive Health provider can diagnose inflammatory bowel disease after reviewing your medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms. They may recommend blood testing, stool tests, a colonoscopy, an endoscopy, a capsule endoscopy, or a flexible sigmoidoscopy to obtain detailed images of the inside of your digestive tract.

You might be a candidate for X-rays, an MRI, a CT scan, or additional imaging procedures.

How is inflammatory bowel disease treated?

Your personalized IBD treatment plan depends on your specific condition and its severity. A Platinum Digestive Health provider may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Making diet changes
• Limiting dairy foods
• Drinking more fluids
• Eating smaller meals
• Taking multivitamin supplements
• Not smoking
• Taking medications
• Reducing stress
• Getting regular exercise
• Trying biofeedback
• Undergoing surgery

You may be a candidate for more than one IBD treatment. Your specialist tailors each to your personalized needs and desired results. They follow up with you routinely to ensure effective health outcomes.

Schedule an evaluation at Platinum Digestive Health by phone or request one online today if you experience symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.