Inflammatory bowel disease is a painful medical condition that can disrupt your life. You may have difficulty eating foods you love because of unpleasant symptoms. Fortunately, your surgeon can help you feel better. The metabolic specialists at Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute provide a wide range of metabolic and specialty surgical services, including diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel disease or IBD. They have convenient office locations in Elmhurst, and Hinsdale, IL.
What You Need To Know About Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, actually includes several conditions including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It may develop due to genetic factors or an immune system disorder. Inflammatory bowel disease results in chronic inflammation of all or part of your digestive tract.
Symptoms of IBD can be different for each person, and some of the most common symptoms include:
- Chronic abdominal cramping or diarrhea
- Frequent fever or fatigue
- Reduced appetite or weight loss
- Anemia or blood in your stool
Dietary and lifestyle changes are the foundation of managing IBD. It’s important to:
- Eat small meals
- Eat low-fat foods
- Eliminate or reduce dairy products
- Avoid spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine
- Talk with a dietician about diet, including fiber intake and other issues
- Quit smoking, to avoid making symptoms worse
You should also try to reduce your stress because stress can also make symptoms worse. You can try yoga, deep breathing exercises, and meditation. Staying active with regular exercise can also help manage symptoms.
Your metabolic specialist can also help you manage IBD and may recommend:
- Antibiotics
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Immune system suppressant medication
- Anti-diarrheal medications
- Pain relieving medications
- Iron and calcium supplements
- Dietary and nutritional support
Surgical treatment is also an option in severe cases or cases that don’t respond to other treatments.
Want To Know More?
To find out more about the causes, signs, symptoms, and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease or IBD, talk with the experts. Call the metabolic specialists at Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute. You can reach them in their offices in Elmhurst, and Hinsdale, IL, by calling (708) 484-0621, so call today.