Digestive Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

If you are experiencing digestive issues, you are likely to be concerned about it and wonder what's going on and what's causing it. One possibility is that you are suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, which is a term used to describe a group of different inflammatory conditions that affect the colon and small intestine. The two most common of these inflammatory conditions are Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn's disease is thought to be an autoimmune disease, and it causes a host of problems, from diarrhea to vomiting and weight loss. Some people with Crohn's disease also experience skin rashes, arthritis, eye inflammation, fatigue and more. Ulcerative colitis causes similar issues, but is mainly characterized by bloody diarrhea, because it causes ulcers and lesions in the colon that can bleed.

Though the different conditions under the inflammatory bowel disease umbrella are separate and distinct, with separate and distinct causes, they do share some of the same symptoms and someone suffering from IBD of either sort is likely to experience them. These symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and rectal bleeding. There are other associated complaints with these diseases, as well, that aren't specific to your digestive tract, such as arthritis.

Inflammatory bowel disease is diagnosed with a colonoscopy and a biopsy of any lesions that are found. Once you have been diagnosed, there are many treatments available to you. Inflammatory bowel disease sufferers often opt for natural treatments to control their condition and repair their bodies, because these natural remedies do not come with the long term negative side effects that prescription medications for inflammatory bowel disease can bring. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, it is important to get checked out as soon as possible so you can begin treatment to find relief and prevent further damage from occurring.