What You Need to Know About Inflammatory Bowel Disease
IBD affects millions of Americans. Here's what you need to know.
Apr 28, 2021
Aug 17, 2023
Created With SupportThaïs Diaz has a background in public health, nutrition and chronic disease prevention and works as a program coordinator for HealthyWomen. Her previous experience includes research and work at the University of Georgia focusing on the undergraduate population's food choices, nutrition, and overall health and well-being. During graduate school, she was a part of a research team that studied nutrition apps and how they're evolving in the public health sector. She also worked closely with a pediatrician on her upcoming book related to nutrition, sleep, exercise and family health. Thais focuses on health literacy and public health advice. She has volunteered with public health organizations that offer health education to Hispanic populations and translated for migrant farm workers as well as physicians.
She holds a bachelor of science degree in media and communication from Georgia Tech and a master of public health degree with a concentration in health promotion from the University of Georgia.
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IBD affects millions of Americans. Here's what you need to know.
What You Need to Know About Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of your digestive tract. The two most common types are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
*GI tract anatomy image that compares Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis / their affected areas (great example here toward the bottom of the page)*
Did you know? IBD affects about 3 million Americans, with most being diagnosed in their 20s and 30s.
How Crohn’s disease differs from ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s Disease | Ulcerative Colitis | |
Location | Areas of continuous inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract | Patches of inflammation with some healthy areas in the GI tract |
Inflammation | Inflammation in any part of the digestive tract — most commonly affects the end of the small bowel (ileum) and the beginning of the colon | Inflammation of the large intestine (colon and rectum) |
Symptoms | Abdominal pain, weight loss, joint pain and swelling, fatigue, mouth sores and anemia/iron deficiency | Persistent diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, bleeding, and urgency to empty bowels (poop) |
Did you know?
Many women delay visiting their healthcare provider (HCP) and go months or years with pain or discomfort. This symptom tracker can help you understand how IBD is affecting your health.
When to see your HCP
Many women find it difficult to discuss symptoms during their visit with their HCP, or they dismiss symptoms as less serious conditions. Every person’s IBD is different, but a conversation with your HCP can help manage symptoms and discomfort.
Look out for these symptoms and make an appointment with your HCP:
Did you know?
Women with IBD are at higher risk for anemia and osteoporosis.
Don’t go through IBD alone
There are support groups available so you don’t have to go through this alone. Support from a community, even online, can help you cope with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
This resource was created with support from Bausch Health, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A, Inc.