What are the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease?
IBD symptoms may be mild or severe. They come and go, and you can’t always predict when they’ll happen. When they do, a healthcare provider may say you’re having an IBD flare (active disease). When your symptoms go away after treatment, a provider may say the disease is in remission. Common IBD symptoms include:
- Lower abdominal pain that may feel like stomach cramps.
- Blood in your poop (stool).
- Chronic diarrhea.
- Fatigue.
- Unintended weight loss.
What causes inflammatory bowel disease?
IBD happens when immune system cells in your GI tract mistakenly attack healthy tissue, causing inflammation that leads to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Researchers don’t know the exact reason why this happens. But they’re studying mutations in certain genes that normally:
- Keep your immune system on an even keel so it doesn’t overreact when it detects intruders.
- Affect your mucosal barrier, which is the first line of defense in your intestine.
- Control bacteria growth in your intestine.
When these genes mutate (change), it increases your risk of IBD. Researchers may call these genes susceptibility genes. There are more than 160 different susceptibility genes. If you inherited any number of them, several everyday activities could trigger IBD symptoms. These activities don’t cause the disease. Common IBD triggers include:
- Antibiotics.
- NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
- Smoking cigarettes.
- Stress.
Researchers are also investigating if issues with your gut microbiome may play a part in the chronic inflammation that causes IBD.
Can food cause IBD symptoms?
No, but you may notice that your symptoms get worse after you consume certain foods or liquids. Everyone is different, but food and drink that may make you feel worse may include:
- Beverages with alcohol.
- Caffeinated drinks.
- Carbonated drinks.
- Food made with milk.
- Food with lots of fiber.
- Greasy food.
What are the risk factors for IBD?
The most significant risk is having a family history of IBD. Studies show that 5% to 20% of people with IBD have a close family member — parent, sibling or child — who has IBD.
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What are the complications of inflammatory bowel disease?
IBD may cause other medical conditions in your GI tract and beyond. Some may be medical emergencies or serious illnesses, including:
- Colon cancer: Having IBD increases the chance you’ll develop colon cancer.
- Perforated bowel: Symptoms include severe belly pain and cramping, bloated belly and pain when you touch your belly.
- Toxic megacolon: Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, severe belly pain and pain when you touch your belly.
Other IBD complications that affect your GI tract are anal fistula and anal stenosis. Anal stenosis is when your anal canal narrows, making it hard for poop to leave your body.
IBD may increase your risk of complications like:
- Anemia (low levels of red blood cells).
- Blood clots.
- Eye pain and irritation.
- Kidney stones.
- Mouth sores.
- Liver diseases like cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
- Malabsorption and malnutrition.
- Swollen joints.
- Skin sores and rashes.
- Weakened bones (osteoporosis).
