Inflammatory bowel disease means two chronic digestive diseases: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. About 5 million people get this disease. Symptoms include rectal bleeding and diarrhea in many cases. Today we'll learn about this disease in detail because Fitness Garage team cares about everything related to digestion and nutrition.
Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease
There are some different symptoms that may show up, including:
- Rectal bleeding: Seeing blood in stool is not normal, so it's a worry for many people and doctors.
- Mucus in stool: Barely noticed at first in stool, but if it is noticeable you should see a doctor. Also, people who have colon surgery might get it.
- Stomach pain: This symptom shows up in many diseases. Usually felt in the middle of the belly or lower right side. It's not constant and can come and go.
- Diarrhea: Diarrhea lasts more than 3 days and only stops when you take the right treatment.
- Weight loss without a reason: Weight loss isn't always a good sign. If nothing changes in your lifestyle but you get pale and tired, you should see a doctor.
Rare symptoms for bowel inflammation patients
There are some rare symptoms you should watch for if you notice them:
- Fever.
- Fatigue.
- Joint pain.
- Skin rash.
- Increase in menstrual symptoms.
Causes of inflammatory bowel disease
This disease is called "autoimmune disease" because it's caused by the immune system, and its causes are:
- Allergic response: It can be due to an over-sensitivity to acids you get from your diet. These acids release substances found in stool, which doctors detect through stool tests.
- Cytokines: There is a defect in some cells that regulate immune response. A substance called TNF also shows up in high amounts in stool of people with this disease.
- Genetic factors: In the past, they thought inheritance had to come from both parents, but after finding hundreds of cases, it turned out one relative of the first degree could have it alone.
- Lifestyle factors : Some ladies get gastritis because they have these genetic factors, but others with the same genetics don't get it. So daily habits and lifestyle also affect the chance of getting the disease.
How to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease
Diagnosis can be tough often because symptoms are similar to many other digestive illnesses, like stomach pain and diarrhea. So doctors use the patient’s history, blood tests, and imaging to make a clearer diagnosis. Here are some things you should know:
- Self-exam: There is no test you can do at home without a doctor to diagnose yourself with this illness, but noticing symptoms you have and telling the doctor in detail helps them figure out the problem., and some early signs you should watch for are:
1- Ongoing diarrhea.
2- Blood or mucus in stool.
3- Fever.
4- Stomach pain.
The tests you should do are:
- Complete blood count: This test checks the number of white blood cells and red blood cells. A high white blood cell count means there is inflammation. A low red blood cell count means there is internal bleeding.
- Stool test: This test looks for any blood spots not visible to the naked eye in the stool, or bacteria that could cause infection.
- Liver function test: This test checks liver function and how it responds. Problems might come from poor absorption of nutrients by the body.
Imaging and procedures
Based on the initial diagnosis and suspicion, there are some scans we need to do for an accurate diagnosis, which are:
- X-rays: X-rays are quick, cheap, and non-surgical. They show if the intestines are narrow, blocked, or dilated.
- Enema: This injection uses a substance called barium sulfate to check if there are tumors in the colon or rectum or not.
- Sigmoidoscopy: This scan is used to check the last part of the large intestine including the sigmoid colon and rectum and to make sure there are no cancer cells, inflammation, or ulcers.
- Colonoscopy: This test is done with an endoscope and can reach places X-rays can’t. They can also take a sample from the colon to test in the lab.
- Upper endoscopy : This endoscopy is used to check the upper part of the digestive system like the stomach, esophagus, and duodenum. It helps find the cause of swallowing problems, bleeding, indigestion, belly or chest pain.
Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Most digestive system diseases don't have a final cure but there are some treatments and steps that help control the disease and stop symptoms from getting worse. Sometimes surgery is the only option. Treatments are divided into 3 categories Category One Is for Crohn's disease problems and category Two Is related to colitis, category Three For bowel inflammation, these medicines need to be prescribed by a doctor.
Over-the-counter treatments
There are some steps and changes you can do without a prescription, like:
- Fiber supplements: Mild diarrhea is often treated with some fiber supplements, which help make stools firmer.
- Anti-diarrheal medicines: There are some anti-diarrheal drugs that contain loperamide.
- Iron: Some people get chronic intestinal bleeding due to anemia, so it's recommended to take iron supplements.
This disease needs treatment from different angles, so you need to be a bit patient with it and follow doctors' advice. You should also know the diet that suits you. You can consult a nutrition specialist at Fitness Garage, because they might help you with some meals and plans that keep you from getting bored with healthy food and at the same time help you get everything your body needs.
