What is "IBD"?
- Brian Dooreck MD
- Nov 19, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 27, 2023
You probably know at least a handful of people who suffer from one form of inflammatory bowel disease (IB, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (UC).
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Private Healthcare Navigation and Patient Advocacy when YOU need it mostGut diseases are on the rise due to several different factors. Read more about the causes behind this upward trend and how we can heal sensitive stomachs.
What is IBD?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, is an umbrella term referring to a chronically inflamed digestive tract.
According to the CDC, IBD has increased by about 45% since 1999.
In 2015, it was estimated that about 1.3% of adults (3 million people) in the US are suffering from IBD.
Two conditions fall under IBD:
Ulcerative colitis: Constant inflammation that occurs ONLY in the colon
Crohn's disease: Continuous inflammation that can affect the entire GI tract. However, you can have healthy parts of the intestine mixed in with some inflamed areas, aka "skip lesions."
Why is IBD on the rise?
There is a public health explanation behind why IBD has risen!
IBD was first seen in industrialized nations. People's germ resistance development weakened as places became more urbanized and hygiene methods advanced.
Research has shown that when someone emigrates from a country with low IBD rates to a country with high IBD rates, their children become more likely to develop IBD. This indicates that the environment plays a significant role along with a genetic factor.
With IBD, your immune system accidentally classifies harmless food or bacteria in the GI tract as foreign substances and responds by sending white blood cells into your bowel's lining, leading to inflammation.
What environmental factors contribute to IBD?
Although genetics plays a role in IBD, environmental factors contribute a lot to the development of IBD.
These factors include:
Diet
Nowadays, our diets are filled with heavily processed, additive-filled, sugary foods.
Diets consisting of refined carbs and red meats, with few fibers, fruits, and vegetables, may lead to IBD.
On top of that, a lack of high-fiber foods can promote gut disorders.
Stress
Our gut-brain connection is more vital than we may think,
Lack of sunlight
Sterile surroundings
The decline in smoking rates
But don't start smoking!
How is IBD diagnosed?
IBD can be difficult to diagnose. Usually, your gastroenterologist uses an elimination process of diagnosis, eliminating other possible causes of the symptoms you may be experiencing. Some tests for IBD may include:
Stool tests
X-rays
Endoscopy tests
Blood tests
How is IBD Treated?
Treating inflammatory bowel disease aims to reduce inflammation, specifically the inflammation that triggers the clinical signs and symptoms.
This may lead to symptom relief. But, the real goal is long-term remission and reduced risks of complications, such as cancer, fistula, strictures, and abscesses.
In some cases, IBD treatment usually involves either drug therapy to reduce inflammation or surgery.
What can I do to prevent IBD?
The hereditary causes of IBD can’t be prevented. However, you may be able to reduce your risk of developing IBD or prevent relapse by:
eating healthy foods
exercising regularly
quitting smoking
IBD can cause some discomfort, but there are ways you can manage the disease and still live a healthy, active lifestyle.
Talking to others who understand what you're going through can also be helpful. IBD Healthline is a free app that connects you with others living with IBD through one-on-one messaging and "live" group chats while also providing access to expert-approved information on managing IBD.
Download the app for iPhone or Android.
Here are some takeaways on this from a public health point of view.
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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