Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms

Most infections are handled by the body’s own defense systems. Sometimes the systems malfunction. Inflammatory bowel disease is thought to be a result of the body’s immune system not shutting off. Inflammatory bowel disease symptoms vary in severity but the disease is generally chronic. This means that symptoms can usually be alleviated with treatment but often return. It is also thought that this disease is hereditary.

Abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss are general indications that something is wrong with the digestive tract. The pain is usually severe and consistent. The diarrhea may contain blood and can vary in consistency. The weight loss could be attributed to nutrients not being properly absorbed due to the diarrhea or simply a loss of appetite due to the discomfort.

Anemia is a symptom related to blood loss. Tiredness is the main sign of anemia. If there is bloody diarrhea or leakage of blood from the anus then anemia is very likely present also. Blood indicates damage to the intestinal wall and it should be closely monitored.

The disease causes chronic inflammation to the intestines. More severe symptoms may result from damage caused by the inflammation. Inflammation can lead to ulcers that may perforate the intestinal wall. Holes in the intestines can allow leakage of bacteria into the abdominal cavity or into nearby organs and cause infection. This is a life-threatening situation. Severe pain and fever are signs that there is an infection. Surgery is necessary to repair the damage and antibiotics are necessary to clear the infection.

Inflammatory bowel disease symptoms might include other diseases. This disease can cause arthritis, osteoporosis, gallstones, kidney stones and skin conditions. There have even been rare cases in which the lungs have been affected. Some of these conditions are caused by poor absorption of nutrients while others are the result of the inflammation. Some of these health problems will clear up when the inflammatory bowel disease is treated.

All the advances in science have not fully unlocked the mysteries of the human body. Genetics holds the keys to many of the reasons why our bodies act the way they do. Chronic bowel inflammation seems to be a genetic condition. Diet will not cure this disease but it can affect the symptoms. Symptoms vary from basic intestinal unbalance to more severe and disruptive conditions. Most people experiencing inflammatory bowel disease symptoms are able to adjust their lifestyles until the symptoms clear up.

What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

The first question that often comes to the mind of anyone who has ever received a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is usually, “What is inflammatory bowel disease?”  The answer to that question is not exactly straightforward. This is because very often when a doctor refers to this illness, he or she is actually talking about more than one type of ailment.

What is inflammatory bowel disease?

When doctors refer to IBD, they are often referring to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Each of these conditions causes the intestine and colon to become red and irritated, often oozing blood and pus. That irritation can then result in the following symptoms:

•    Chronic or severe abdominal pain
•    Diarrhea, sometimes it is bloody
•    Weight loss that cannot be explained
•    Little to no appetite
•    Rectal bleeding
•    Pain in the joints
•    A fever
•    Problems with the skin

The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person; sometimes they can even disappear for years. The term flare-up is used when a person is having symptoms. A person is considered to be in remission when there is a period of time when he or she is not experiencing symptoms.

Differences

Even when a person has an answer to the question, “What is inflammatory bowel disease?”, there can still be some confusion if he or she does not know what type of IBD he or she has. Although Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have similar symptoms, they affect different parts of the digestive tract.

Ulcerative colitis damages the top layer of a person’s large intestine. It will cause sores, and swelling. In some cases, it can cause the wall of the intestine to weaken to the point that a hole develops in the intestinal wall. When this happens, bacteria and other substances leak into the abdominal cavity, and will result in a dangerous infection.

Crohn’s disease affects every layer of the intestinal wall, especially the end section of the small intestine and the beginning section of the large intestine. However, it can also cause problems in other areas of the digestive system, including the mouth and the anus. Fistulas may also develop, and connect to different parts of the intestine as well as to other organs, like the bladder or the skin.

Some people, when they think about the question, “What is inflammatory bowel disease?” think it is the same thing as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is not the same thing. Although the symptoms of IBS mimic those of IBD, it does not damage the intestine the way IBD does.

By putting the question, “What is inflammatory bowel disease?” into a search engine, a person can find some information about the topic, such as its symptoms. However, it is best if he or she checks with a doctor to find out which type of IBD he or she has. Knowing what type of IBD a person has will allow him or her to be better prepared for its treatment and make it possible to take action to prevent flare-ups.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has a variety of treatments available, depending upon the level of severity and the root cause, either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. While these conditions can not be cured, inflammatory bowel disease treatment is possible, focusing on relieving the symptoms and putting the disease into remission.

Many medications are used in the treatment of IBD including anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors, and antibiotics.  The later two work by calming the immune system reaction that takes place in the digestive tract, thus reducing inflammation.  Other medications, such as anti-diarrhea medications, pain relievers and various nutritional supplements, are used to help with mild symptoms and protect the body from damage caused by IBD.  If medication fails, then surgery is an option as well.  For ulcerative colitis this involves removing the entire colon and rectum but can mean a permanent solution to the problem.  With Crohn’s disease the damaged portions of the digestive tract are removed, though the best that can be hoped for is a temporary improvement or several years of remission.

There are many side-effects associated with using medication for inflammatory bowel disease treatment.  Some anti-inflammatory drugs may result in diarrhea, heartburn, headaches, or nausea and vomiting.  Corticosteroids, one anti-inflammatory drug, can cause side-effects as severe as type 2 diabetes, glaucoma, and osteoporosis.  Immune system suppressors have the potential to create allergic reactions, increase risk of infections, and inflame the liver or pancreas.  Antibiotics may result in muscle pain, weakness, numbness in hands or feet, and possible tendon rupture.

Changing one’s lifestyle will help in alleviating some of the problems associated with this condition.  Certain foods should be limited or avoided altogether in a diet, such as dairy, foods high in fiber and drinks that are carbonated or contain caffeine.  Smoking is a particularly bad habit to have with IBD, as it will increase flare-ups and make symptoms worse.  Smoking also increases the chances of a relapse with Crohn’s disease.  Stress will often aggravate symptoms and provoke attacks, so one should try to keep stress levels to a minimum.  Adopting such healthy habits as exercising and the practice of relaxation techniques will help.

While the risks associated with inflammatory bowel disease treatment may seem severe, if left untreated IBD can seriously affect one’s quality of life and even end in death in more dangerous cases.  It is important to see a doctor if symptoms of IBD occur.  With the proper changes in lifestyle and proper medical care, inflammatory bowel disease does not need to keep one from living their life.