Learn the Signs of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
4/7/2023
Many individuals suffer from the uncomfortable gastrointestinal (GI) effects of inflammatory bowel disease and think these symptoms are something they'll endure for life. Our gastroenterology doctors in Kansas City, MO want you to know that if you have inflammatory bowel disease, commonly called IBD, you do not have to face its symptoms alone. Support is here — and it may be closer than you think. At Digestive Health Specialists, we strive to provide education on IBD symptoms and offer treatments to help you feel better and improve your quality of life.
What is inflammatory bowel disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease is chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Two conditions you’ve likely heard of fall into this category — ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. While the condition often causes unpleasant symptoms, it can also result in permanent damage to the gastrointestinal tract over time.
The precise cause of inflammatory bowel disease is not known. However, it’s usually related to an unchecked immune system. It’s thought that a patient with inflammatory bowel disease has an immune system that is not reacting to environmental triggers properly, such as viruses and bacteria, and has a parent or sibling with IBD.
The most typical signs and symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease include:
- Loose and watery stool
- Bloody stool
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Exhaustion
- Unexplained weight loss
How is IBD treated?
After a diagnosis of IBD, our goal is to minimize intestinal inflammation to reduce your symptoms. There are a number of treatment options we can try, and our goal is that, eventually, you will experience prolonged freedom from discomfort. Common IBD treatments may include:
- Vitamin D and other supplements, such as iron and calcium
- Anti-diarrheal medicine
- Anti-inflammatory medicines
- Dietary changes
The GI specialists at Digestive Health Specialists can help determine a treatment ideal for your needs. It may take some investigation to identify an option that decreases your symptoms and GI inflammation. But our team will be there to guide you every step of the way.
Get help for inflammatory bowel disease in Kansas City, MO
If you suffer from abdominal pain, difficulty passing stool, loose and watery stool, or other bothersome symptoms on a consistent basis, IBD could be to blame. At Digestive Health Specialists in Kansas City, MO, our experienced gastroenterologists can help diagnose, treat, and regulate IBD and the troublesome symptoms it causes. If you expect you might have IBD and would like to get back to living life with less stress and discomfort, please contact your nearest Digestive Health Specialists location to schedule a consultation.