IBD May Be More Common Than You Think

If you are among the 3 million Americans living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you likely struggle with abdominal pain or find yourself looking for the nearest bathroom a little too often.

You're probably also on high alert for the next flare-up.

“Some days are just fine, and other days, you’re running to the bathroom all day or having abdominal pain,” says Corey A. Siegel, MD, director of the Center for Digestive Health at Dartmouth Health, who specializes in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Managing everyday life with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can be challenging.

“An important thing to recognize is that having these diseases often makes you feel like the other shoe is about to drop,” Siegel says. “Even when you're feeling well, you might be worried and wonder, ‘What's tomorrow going to be like?’ or ‘Can I go on vacation without any difficulty?’”

Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis?

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are IBDs that cause inflammation in the intestines.

“The primary difference between the two is the location where they affect the intestines,” Siegel explains.

Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon, the large intestine and the inner lining of the colon. 

Crohn's disease can affect any part of the entire GI tract, starting in the mouth, proceeding down the esophagus, stomach and the small intestine.

“Crohn's disease can cause trouble a little deeper down in the intestines and can cause more damage over time,” Siegel says.

It's worth noting that these are not autoimmune diseases, but rather immune-mediated diseases.

Autoimmune implies the body is attacking itself. Immune-mediated disease means that the immune system is not targeting your body but rather bacteria in your body, Siegel says.

IBS or IBD?

It’s all about the “I.”

IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome, a common condition with GI-related symptoms that can be similar to IBD symptoms. But there's no inflammatory component.

"The letter 'I' is very important—it's irritable, meaning it's something about the way the muscles and the nerves squeeze the intestine and push things through that's not right," Siegel explains.

With IBD, the "I" stands for inflammation.

“That means somewhere in the intestine, some sores or ulcers are causing symptoms,” he says.

Are there foods you should avoid?

Siegel says there aren’t any foods that will worsen the inflammation or cause further damage.

“When you're feeling well, you can eat anything. But when you're feeling poorly, there are certain foods you're going to want to avoid because they're going to make you feel worse,” he says.

Working with a dietitian can help you navigate IBD.

How is IBD diagnosed and treated?

You need a colonoscopy, an examination of the inside of your large intestine (colon), to be diagnosed with IBD.

“All the preparation to get ready for the procedure—which we know everybody hates—is extremely important,” he says. “The more thoroughly cleaned out (your colon) is, the better view we have, and we can see exactly what's going on.”

There are many different options now to treat Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Siegel points out that IBD is a progressive disease that can get worse over time without proper treatment.

That damage can build up to the point where the medications might not even work, he says.

“Using medications regularly can help control inflammation and prevent damage,” he says.

If you suspect you have IBD, see a gastroenterologist

"It should be someone who is really comfortable treating Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis," he says. "And that's typically a gastroenterologist who specializes in these diseases."

Treatment will help control inflammation—making you feel better and keeping your days comfortably more predictable.

Watch our video with Corey A. Siegel, MD, to answer questions about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Resources and Services

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program at Dartmouth Health

IBD Resources Recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Gastroenterology Treatments and Services

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