Medically reviewed by
Dr. Ayanna Lewis
.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects more than
3 million Americans
with approximately
70,000 people
receiving an IBD diagnosis each year. Here are the basic facts.
What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition that affects the
digestive system
. The two most common forms are
ulcerative colitis
, which can cause painful ulcers in the rectum and colon, and
Crohn's disease
, which can involve any portion of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which runs from the mouth to the anus, causing inflammation in various parts of the GI tract.
What are the symptoms
of IBD?
The symptoms of both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss and fatigue. Symptoms can be mild or severe and can flare up from time to time then go into remission in milder cases. In more severe cases, patients can have continuous symptoms that interfere with daily life.
What are the symptoms
beyond the intestines that affect overall health?
People with both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can experience symptoms outside of the GI tract, such as
arthritis and joint pains
; eye and vision problems; and
skin disorders
, including mouth ulcers and skin rashes. Women with IBD are more likely to experience
premenstrual symptoms
(including nausea, abdominal pain and flatulence) and
iron-deficiency anemia
. Women with IBD who have had certain surgeries can have higher rates of infertility compared to the general population. It is important to discuss family planning with your physician prior to considering any elective surgery for IBD.
How is IBD diagnosed?
A
healthcare provider
will first take a medical and family history. This will be followed by several blood tests and a GI tract exam. The GI exam may include an upper endoscopy, which looks at the GI tract from the mouth to the first part of the small intestines and/or a colonoscopy, which looks at the GI tract from the anus to the last portion of the small intestine. A tissue biopsy may also be performed in order to exclude other conditions or infections that can mimic IBD.
What are flare-ups and
remission with IBD?
People with IBD may go through months or even years without symptoms, which is known as
remission
; a
flare-up
happens when those symptoms reappear. The goals for treatment are to increase the amount of time between flare-ups, decrease how severe the flare-ups are, and improve quality of life. IBD is considered to be in
endoscopic remission
when an endoscopy does not show evidence of an inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
What are some leading
treatments and/or ways to control symptoms?
Different types of medicines can be used to manage
IBD symptoms
. Some work better for ulcerative colitis and some are better for Crohn's. Corticosteroids can be useful for short-term control of flare-ups. Other treatments, such as
biologics and small-molecule therapies
, can reduce symptoms and keep people in remission.
What are the risk
factors for developing IBD?
-
Having a family history of IBD
-
Having an Ashkenazi Jewish background
-
Being non-Hispanic white
-
Smoking or having formerly smoked
Environmental factors such as consuming processed food, taking hormones and living in an urban or industrialized area can impact the body's gut microbiome, which can in turn lead to a higher incidence of IBD.
What are some
lifestyle changes people can make to improve their IBD?
Work with your healthcare professional or a dietitian to create a meal plan that works for you. Knowing your food triggers and maintaining good nutrition are both important ways to help control your symptoms.
Moderate exercise
and finding ways to reduce your stress, such as incorporating yoga or mindfulness into your daily routine, can also help relieve IBD symptoms.
How do IBD and
COVID-19 gastrointestinal symptoms differ?
While diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting can be symptoms of both COVID-19 and IBD, people with
COVID-19
often have respiratory symptoms as well, including shortness of breath and cough and fever. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to contact your healthcare provider.
This resource was created with support from Bausch Health, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A, Inc.