Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

There are a lot of diseases and illnesses that people have a problem discussing with her friends and family and then there are some people just won’t discuss with anyone. Some people like to wear their diseases and illnesses as a badge of courage, that is unless they suffer from something like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Inflammatory bowel disease, although it might sound like it, is certainly no laughing matter for those that are suffering from it. The problem with treating inflammatory bowel disease is that many people are afraid to go to the doctor for fear of exposing themselves or because of embarrassment. However, what they might not realize is that doctors are very familiar with this sickness and there are actually several home remedies that you can use to treat it.

Inflammatory bowel disease can stem from a lot of different issues, but there are certain few of them that are more prevalent than most. Two of the more common causes of inflammatory bowel disease are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both of these conditions can read havoc on the body and cause damage to the intestinal tract and the digestive system. Unfortunately, treating Crohn’s disease is an uphill battle that is not won easily. Is true of all sorts of colitis, which unlike Crohn’s disease is restricted to the colon and the rectum. Crohn’s disease can actually affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus and unfortunately tracing symptoms can be difficult because they are all very similar.

The current medications that are available to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are steroid treatments, such as prednisone. Many people don’t like to take prednisone because of side effects, such as weight gain and increased hunger, however the side effects of prednisone are definitely no worse than the side effects of inflammatory bowel disease. The root cause of these conditions is generally traced to inflammation any affected area, any anti-inflammatory properties of drugs like prednisone can make a big difference in reducing inflammation. Once inflammation has been reduced, it is much easier to manage the side effects of the disease. Usually, this involves immunodepressants and other prescription medications.

Although inflammatory bowel disease is rarely fatal on its own, it can cause an increase in risk of colorectal cancer. However, if the condition is diagnosed and treated early on, then you’re much more likely to reduce that risk. Aside from cancer, there are also other conditions that can manifest such as toxic megacolon and bowel perforation. Luckily these conditions are rare and most people don’t have to worry about them.

In regards to the flare-ups of this disease, once treated generally two things occur. Either the condition goes into remission for an unknown amount of time, or the flare-ups continue until a more potent drug is prescribed. Unfortunately, you won’t know which direction you will have to take until you see how your body reacts to the original dose of medication. The goal is to send the flare-ups into remission permanently, which can be done using the right medications.

Although inflammatory bowel disease is certainly not a condition that is easy to talk about, that should not deter you from seeing a doctor to help treat it. The earlier on that you treat it, the better off you will be in the long run. Being at a higher risk of cancer is certainly something that you should be cautious of. For more information, I recommend that you visit a doctor that has a general knowledge of these types of conditions and can help you determine whether or not he might be suffering from IBD.

Last updated on Feb 15th, 2009 and filed under Digestive Health. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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