Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a long term inflammation that occurs in the digestive tract. Two of the most common types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which we will discuss further on in this article. Common symptoms of IBD are diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, blood in the stool, fatigue, bloody stool, and unintended weight loss. While the exact cause of IBD is not clear, what is apparent is that it tends to be a result of a viral, bacterial, or allergic response to something that starts inflammation within the gut. IBD also affects around 3 million people within the United States alone. Most experts advise their patients to follow a low fiber diet if diarrhea becomes a problem, as well as avoiding dairy products for lactose intolerant patients. Others may require medications or even surgery, depending on whether there are obstructions or abscesses within the affected areas.
