Inflammatory bowel disease: Treatment and Tips to manage

Inflammatory bowel disease represents a group of intestinal disorders that cause prolonged inflammation of the digestive tract. And when you have IBD, you can have some rough seas if you have to navigate to work and if your work requires being outdoors. You may be dealing with diarrhea, bowel urgency, stomach pain and anemia- symptoms that often don’t mesh well with a long day on job. It is a chronic condition which means it lasts a long time or constantly comes and goes.
There are two kinds of Inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These diseases have many things in common, but there are important differences:
Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. The inflammation of crohn’s disease damages the entire bowel wall.
Ulcerative colitis happens only in the large intestine or colon. It causes sores called ulcers that affect the inner lining of the colon.

Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms include bleeding ulcers, perforation of the bowel, obstruction of the bowel from scarring, perianal disease and a higher risk of colon and small intestinal cancers. Other complications may include arthritis, skin conditions, eye inflammation, liver and kidney disorders and bone loss.

Can we tackle IBD with diet?
Many people receive information telling them to avoid entire groups of food or specific foods. However, there is no need to avoid foods unless they worsen your symptoms. Low residue diets may decrease the frequency of bowel movements.
Diet can influence inflammation in Crohn’s disease. Nothing by mouth, a liquid diet, or a predigested formula may reduce inflammation.
Smoking is one of the main risk factors for developing Crohn’s disease. Smoking also aggravates pain and other symptoms of IBD and increases the risk of complications.

What are the possible treatments?
The goal of any treatment is to reduce the inflammation that triggers the signs and symptoms. In the best cases, this may lead to long term symptom relief but also long term remission and reduced risk of complications. Inflammatory bowel disease involves either drug therapy or surgery.

Anti-inflammatory drugs
Anti inflammatory drugs are often the first step in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Anti-inflammatories include corticosteroids and aminosalicylates, such as mesalamine, balsalazide and olsalazine. The medicine you take depends on the area of your colon that is affected.

Immune system suppressors
These drugs work in a variety of ways to suppress the immune response that releases inflammation- inducing chemicals in the intestinal lining. For some people a combination of these drugs works better than one drug alone.

Antibiotics
Antibiotics may be used in combination to other medication or when infection is a concern- in cases of perianal crohn’s disease, for example. Frequently prescribed medicines may include cipro and flagyl.

In addition to controlling inflammation, some medications may help relieve your signs and symptoms, but it is always advised to consult a doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications. Depending on the severity of your inflammatory bowel disease your doctor may recommend any from the following:

  • Anti-diarrheal Medications
  • Pain Relievers
  • Iron Supplements
  • Calcium and Iron supplements

Comments

  1. I found this blog informative or very useful for me. I suggest everyone, once you should go through this.

    Inflammatory bowel disease

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