1. What is IBD ?
Answer : Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term for two conditions (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.1Prolonged inflammation results in damage to the GI tract.
2. What are the symptoms of IBD ?
Answer : Symptoms may range from mild to severe and may include, but not are not limited to, ongoing diarrhea (loose, watery, or frequent bowel movements), crampy abdominal pain, nausea, fever, and, at times, rectal bleeding. Fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss are common. IBD can also be associated with joint pains, osteoporosis , ulcers in mouth and anemia.
3. What is the cause of IBD?
Answer : Researchers are not sure of the exact cause of IBD . It is believed that many things work together to cause IBD including “genes” and environment. Substances from the environment (called “antigens”) may cause inflammation, or they may cause the body's defenses to “turn on” inflammation. Inflammation damages the intestine .Cigarette smoking is one factor in the environment that is known to increase the risk of Crohn’s disease.
4. Will the diseases ever go away?
Answer: IBD is a chronic condition and cannot be cured. However there will be periods of remission when the disease is not active. Often people will need treatment to control symptoms and improve their quality of life. A lot of patients are on medication for the rest of their lives even if the disease symptoms are not active (in remission).
5. Why do I need a colonoscopy?
Answer: A colonoscopy is a great tool that helps in making the the initial diagnosis of IBD . A colonoscopy can also be used to assess the symptoms of IBD flares and the response to treatment. Colonoscopy is used to screen for early colon cancer.
6 Could any condition other than IBD be causing my symptoms?
Answer: Yes. You can get IBD-like symptoms for other reasons.Gastrointestinal Infections can cause diarrhea. Previous inflammation can cause increased sensitivity of the nerves in the intestine and make you very sensitive to intestinal cramping. Also overgrowth of bacteria in the intestine can cause symptoms of cramping and gas. It is recommended that you visit a health care provider if there is a change in your symptoms because it might not be a flare of IBD.
7.How is IBD treated?
Answer: Several types of medications may be used to treat IBD: aminosalicylates, corticosteroids , immunomodulators, and the newest class approved for IBD—the “biologics”. Also , several vaccinations for patients with IBD are recommended to prevent infections. Patients may require surgery to remove damaged portions of the gastrointestinal tract. With the recent advances in treatment with medications , surgery is less common than it was a few decades ago.
8. Does stress play a role in the disease ?
Answer: Stressful situations may lead to flare-ups of symptoms for some people with IBD. This doesn’t mean that everyone who has stress will experience a flare, or even that people who are prone to having stress-related flares will always have this reaction to stress. Some people without IBD may notice a link between stress and their digestive tracts. But for those people with IBD who know that stress can be problematic, it is helpful to be prepared for this reaction and to learn some stress-management techniques.
There are also online support groups and a community site where you can get support in the privacy of your own home www.ccfacommunity.org.
References
Answer : Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term for two conditions (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.1Prolonged inflammation results in damage to the GI tract.
2. What are the symptoms of IBD ?
Answer : Symptoms may range from mild to severe and may include, but not are not limited to, ongoing diarrhea (loose, watery, or frequent bowel movements), crampy abdominal pain, nausea, fever, and, at times, rectal bleeding. Fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss are common. IBD can also be associated with joint pains, osteoporosis , ulcers in mouth and anemia.
3. What is the cause of IBD?
Answer : Researchers are not sure of the exact cause of IBD . It is believed that many things work together to cause IBD including “genes” and environment. Substances from the environment (called “antigens”) may cause inflammation, or they may cause the body's defenses to “turn on” inflammation. Inflammation damages the intestine .Cigarette smoking is one factor in the environment that is known to increase the risk of Crohn’s disease.
4. Will the diseases ever go away?
Answer: IBD is a chronic condition and cannot be cured. However there will be periods of remission when the disease is not active. Often people will need treatment to control symptoms and improve their quality of life. A lot of patients are on medication for the rest of their lives even if the disease symptoms are not active (in remission).
5. Why do I need a colonoscopy?
Answer: A colonoscopy is a great tool that helps in making the the initial diagnosis of IBD . A colonoscopy can also be used to assess the symptoms of IBD flares and the response to treatment. Colonoscopy is used to screen for early colon cancer.
6 Could any condition other than IBD be causing my symptoms?
Answer: Yes. You can get IBD-like symptoms for other reasons.Gastrointestinal Infections can cause diarrhea. Previous inflammation can cause increased sensitivity of the nerves in the intestine and make you very sensitive to intestinal cramping. Also overgrowth of bacteria in the intestine can cause symptoms of cramping and gas. It is recommended that you visit a health care provider if there is a change in your symptoms because it might not be a flare of IBD.
7.How is IBD treated?
Answer: Several types of medications may be used to treat IBD: aminosalicylates, corticosteroids , immunomodulators, and the newest class approved for IBD—the “biologics”. Also , several vaccinations for patients with IBD are recommended to prevent infections. Patients may require surgery to remove damaged portions of the gastrointestinal tract. With the recent advances in treatment with medications , surgery is less common than it was a few decades ago.
8. Does stress play a role in the disease ?
Answer: Stressful situations may lead to flare-ups of symptoms for some people with IBD. This doesn’t mean that everyone who has stress will experience a flare, or even that people who are prone to having stress-related flares will always have this reaction to stress. Some people without IBD may notice a link between stress and their digestive tracts. But for those people with IBD who know that stress can be problematic, it is helpful to be prepared for this reaction and to learn some stress-management techniques.
There are also online support groups and a community site where you can get support in the privacy of your own home www.ccfacommunity.org.
References
- The Facts About Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. New York, NY: Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America; 2014. http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/assets/pdfs/updatedibdfactbook.pdf Cdc-pdf[PDF-2.32MB]External.
