IBS and IBD – how are these two conditions different? Many people incorrectly assume both these conditions are the same. IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and IBD stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. They are two distinct conditions with causes and symptoms that sometimes overlap. Determining which of the two conditions you have is important. Otherwise, you won't be able to find treatments that will actually help you get relief. Let’s talk about IBS and IBD to clear the ... [Read More]
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
A Crohn’s and Colitis Disease Patient Story: Meet Erin Bush
Erin Bush understands the importance of “Making the Invisible Visible,” the theme for this year’s World IBD Day. Since birth, there were always certain foods that bothered Erin's stomach so her mother naturally modified Erin's diet accordingly. Erin continued this way of eating throughout her childhood, knowing that if she ate certain foods she would most certainly suffer the consequences later. It never occurred to them that Erin could actually be suffering from a serious inflammatory bowel ... [Read More]
What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
We all have the occasional stomach ache or gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort. But if the problem becomes persistent or the pain gets worse, it’s time to seek a medical evaluation – it may be an issue in the intestines, or bowels. The two most frequently diagnosed types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Let’s take a deeper look into these two conditions, what they are, and how they can be treated. Types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease The two main ... [Read More]
Is Bloating a Cause for Concern?
We’ve all had that bloated, uncomfortable “full belly” feeling at some point. Most of the time, it’s perfectly normal and no cause for concern. On rare occasions, it could be an indication of a more serious problem. Unless your bloating is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and weight loss, it’s probably nothing to worry about. Most of the time, diet and other simple reasons such as eating a big meal or too much salt can explain the bloating you’re experiencing. Let’s ... [Read More]
IBD vs. IBS
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) broadly refers to chronic inflammation of the intestines. It’s often conflated with a noninflammatory condition called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Both can cause diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and cramping. Although the two disorders share similar names and symptoms, they are different conditions requiring different treatments. The exact causes of IBD and IBS are unknown. Researchers believe they are the result of an autoimmune reaction. Stress ... [Read More]
