What Causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Can It Be Cured?

If you are one of the millions of people in the United States who suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease, you know that it can be a chronic and ongoing battle. You may also know that there is no cure for IBD. However, that doesn't mean that there isn't hope! A gastroenterologist can help you manage your symptoms and keep your disease under control. In this blog post, we will discuss what causes IBD and some of the treatment options available to you. 


Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
The exact cause of IBD is unknown, but it is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. IBD occurs when the body's immune system reacts abnormally to the bacteria in the digestive tract. This can cause inflammation and ulceration in the lining of the intestine. IBD is not contagious, so you cannot catch it from someone else. 

There are two main types of IBD: Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative Colitis, on the other hand, only affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum. IBD can also be classified as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the severity of symptoms. The major aim of IBD therapy is to help reduce inflammation, which reduces pain and flare-ups. 

The symptoms of IBD can vary from mild to severe and may appear and disappear at any time. These problems can include:

    Women is facing issue with IBD symptoms
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Diarrhea (sometimes alternating with constipation) or a strong urge to defecate (bowel urgency).
  • Gas and bloating
  • Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
  • Mucus or blood in the stool
  • Upset stomach 

Other symptoms, but not as common include:

  • Extreme tiredness and fatigue
  • Fever
  • Itchy, red, painful eyes
  • Joint pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Skin rashes and sores (ulcers)
  • Vision problems 

If you have persistent changes in your bowel habits or if you have any of the indications or symptoms of colitis, see your doctor. 

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have many of the same symptoms. A single test cannot tell whether you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. 

Typically a gastroenterologist helps with managing IBD treatment. A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in disorders of the digestive system. In the first phase of your IBD evaluation, the gastroenterologist may order a comprehensive blood count (CBC) and a stool test to look for indications of intestinal inflammation, which would indicate an infection. Other diagnostic tests may include : 

  • Abdominal X-ray: This test can help gastroenterologists assess the severity of IBD and rule out other conditions.
  • CT scan or MRI: These tests can provide more detailed images of the digestive tract and help gastroenterologists see any areas of inflammation.
  • Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy: These tests allow gastroenterologists to directly visualize the lining of the colon and rectum for any ulcers, inflammation, or abnormal growths. A biopsy (tissue sample) can also be taken during these procedures.
  • Liver function tests: IBD can sometimes cause liver problems, so these tests are ordered to check for any liver damage. 

After the gastroenterologist has made a diagnosis of IBD, they will work with you to develop a treatment plan. The goal of IBD treatment is to reduce inflammation, which can help relieve symptoms and prevent further damage to the intestine. Treatment plans vary depending on the severity of IBD and may include medication, surgery, or lifestyle changes. Medications used to treat IBD include anti-inflammatory drugs, immune suppressants and antibiotics. Surgery may be an option for people with severe IBD who do not respond to other treatments. 

IBD is a chronic disease, which means that it lasts for a long time and usually requires ongoing treatment. There is no cure for IBD, but there are many treatments available that can help control the symptoms and keep the disease in remission. Although inflammatory bowel disease is not fatal most of the time, it can still cause severe complications that may be life-threatening. 

If you are living with IBD, it is important to talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing IBD, but with the help of a gastroenterologist, you can develop a plan that works for you.

Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA

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