Basics on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Brian Dooreck MD
- Nov 19, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2023
What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder that causes constant digestive tract inflammation.
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Private Healthcare Navigation and Patient Advocacy when YOU need it mostInflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has two (2) forms; Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease
The disease is characterized as being very painful, either constantly or through flare-ups, and is known to have two (2) forms. Those are Ulcerative Colitis, limited to colon or large intestine inflammation, and Crohn's Disease, which can occur anywhere within the GI tract.
What about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and is it related to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), or is it the same?
IBS differs from IBD but is often confused due to sharing similar symptoms and acronyms. It's important to know that they are very different conditions and can have both simultaneously. The critical difference between the two is that IBS, unlike IBD, is not life-threatening and does not cause any form of inflammation.
Here's a great video called "Ulcerative Colitis versus Crohn's Disease" by Alila Medical Media
It's important to note IBD does not have a cure, but rather is treated to remission or to the point of minimizing patient discomfort.
What are some common ways IBD is treated?
There are a variety of treatment plans for those with IBD. Some of the most common are:
Aminosalicylates (anti-inflammatory medication)
Antibiotics
Biologics (drugs that target inflammatory signals)
Antidiarrheals
Probiotics and Vitamins
What about surgical treatment?
Surgical treatments are another option for those with IBD; however, it usually is not the go-to treatment and is generally used as a treatment when medications stop providing relief. It's also important to note how surgical treatment depends on your IBD type, as it is rare in those with Ulcerative Colitis. In contrast, those 7 in 10 people with Crohn's Disease eventually get surgery.
How can I prevent IBD?
IBD is a genetically inheritable disease and is hard to avoid if it's in your family. However, there are practices to minimize the risks.
Most commonly, you can reduce your risk of developing IBD by:
Exercising regularly
Not smoking
Maintaining a healthy diet
Personally
I eat a high-fiber, mostly plant-based 🌱 diet, no red meat, drink 4 liters of water a day, exercise, and am focused on keeping nutrition simple. I am sharing what works for me and what I routinely recommend to my patients.
"Balance. Portion control. Keep nutrition simple. Eat Smart. Eat Healthy. 🌱 🌾 🌿"
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If you were looking for information about Private Healthcare Navigation and Patient Advocacy from Executive Health NavigationClick here for Executive Health Navigation✴ Connect with Dr. Dooreck on LinkedIn, where he focuses his sharing on Health, Diet, Nutrition, Exercise, Lifestyle, and Balance.
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