Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Little Rock, AR
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Find a ProviderWhat is IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)?
IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) is a comprehensive label to describe inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract. IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) can be grouped into two similar but separate diseases:
- Crohn’s disease: Crohn's disease creates uncomfortable inflammation of your digestive tract, namely your colon. It is usually at the base of the small bowel, the start of the colon, and could affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract ranging from the mouth to the anus.
- Ulcerative colitis: Ulcerative colitis also occurs through swelling of the colon but is typically accompanied by ulcerations in the tissue. It is restricted to the colon.
The gastrointestinal specialists at GastroArkansas commonly diagnose and deal with IBD. If you think you might be experiencing this problem and are requiring treatment for IBD in Little Rock, AR, please contact us to connect with a gastrointestinal doctor.
What causes IBD?
The reason behind inflammatory bowel disease is often described as an immune system issue. Just as when your body properly activates your immune system to deal with bacteria or a virus, an abnormal immune system response can fight the cells in the gastrointestinal system. As a result, different components of the small bowel and colon become inflamed. Inflammatory bowel disease does have a genetic component and can be passed down from parent to child. Risk factors of inflammatory bowel disease include:
- Family history: Inflammatory bowel disease is linked to being passed down genetically.
- Race or ethnicity: IBD is most frequent among Caucasians and people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent but can affect persons of any race.
- Geography: Living in an industrialized country and/or northern regions may enhance the risk of developing IBD.
- Smoking
- Age: Most individuals diagnosed with IBD are below the age of 30.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen
What are the symptoms of IBD?
Signs of inflammatory bowel disease will vary according to the disease and its severity. The standard symptoms of IBD include:
- Unexplained weight changes
- Fever
- Stomach discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Blood in the stool
- Rash
- Immediate need to defecate
- Abdominal pain
- Pain or drainage in the area around the anus
- An abrupt change in weight
- Loss of typical menstrual cycle
- Constipation
- Mouth sores
- Joint aches or inflexibility
- Rectal soreness
- Chronic tiredness
Please get in touch with a GastroArkansas GI doctor if you notice any consistent shift in bowel habits, or have any mix of the above indicators. Contact our GI office in Little Rock, AR today to arrange for a visit.
How is IBD diagnosed?
Inflammatory bowel disease is often detected through various approaches, chosen by your physician according to your symptoms. An endoscopy or a colonoscopy is frequently utilized to diagnose IBD. Sometimes, other imaging evaluations will be carried out, such as X-ray, MRI, or CT.
What are treatment options for IBD?
The leading treatment objective is to minimize the inflammation in your GI tract in order to relieve or reduce symptoms. Treatment might, over time, enable long-term remission of inflammatory bowel disease. IBD treatments include:
- Antibiotics
- Surgery
- Anti-inflammatory drugs targeted at an overactive immune system
- Anti-diarrheal medications
- Enteral nutrition (liquid supplements)
- Calcium and vitamin D supplements
- Iron supplements
Inflammatory Bowel Disease FAQs
Is inflammatory bowel disease an inherited condition?
Genetics can impact the chance of having inflammatory bowel disease in some individuals. However, you can be genetically predisposed to having IBD yet not ever experience the condition. The genetic risk for disease development is greater with Crohn’s disease than with ulcerative colitis.
Does having inflammatory bowel disease elevate the risk of developing cancer?
Being diagnosed with IBD does not mean someone will get cancer. However, having the disorder can increase the chance of colorectal cancer development. Controlling IBD appropriately and managing inflammation could help lessen the cancer risk. Speak with your GastroArkansas GI specialist to learn more about the risk of cancer with IBD.
Can dietary factors affect IBD?
Incorporating certain dietary changes could help relieve some of the symptoms of IBD. This might entail not eating foods that tend to cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, gas, or other unpleasant symptoms. Your gastroenterology team can help you identify a dietary plan that is right for your health and wellness.
Will inflammatory bowel disease ever go away?
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for IBD. However, there may be instances when the condition is not in an active state and falls into remission. Inflammatory bowel disease and its symptoms may be treated and controlled via medications, changes to the diet, and supplements.
Living with IBD?
IBD is not a fatal disease. However, if left uncontrolled and untreated, with time, a person with IBD may have increased issues that could lead to a greater risk of colon cancer or other issues that could be fatal. Featuring a physician-led group of GI doctors, GastroArkansas carries out options for care to help regulate the symptoms and boost the lives of those dealing with IBD. To find help for IBD in Little Rock, AR, please schedule an appointment with our gastroenterology practice today.
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