ask your doctor
Q.
I was recently diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Is this the same as inflammatory bowel disease?
A. No, it’s not the same. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to two conditions caused by immune system dysfunction: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. In these diseases, the immune system malfunctions and the lining of the gastrointestinal tract becomes chronically inflamed and inflamed. Both can cause long-term gastrointestinal damage. In Crohn’s disease, this inflammation can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, whereas colitis only affects the colon and rectum. IBD causes many symptoms, including abdominal pain and cramps, fever, diarrhea, and bloody stools.
People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may experience some of the same symptoms as people with IBD, but without the obvious inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. The root cause of IBS is unknown, but symptoms can be caused by uncoordinated intestinal contractions that affect intestinal motility or by oversensitive nerves in the intestine. Patients with IBS commonly experience abdominal pain and cramps, as well as diarrhea, constipation, or both. Although IBS can cause significant pain and discomfort to those affected, people do not usually experience serious complications or require surgery as a result of this condition. In most cases, it is managed with lifestyle changes and medication.
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