Everything You Should Know About Inflammatory Bowel Disease


Inflammatory bowel disease affects many people so it’s important that you understand what inflammatory bowel disease is and what may put you at a higher risk for having it. Your gastroenterologists at Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute in Berwyn, LaGrange, and Elmhurst, IL, treat inflammatory bowel disease.

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBD can cause inflammation to occur anywhere in the digestive tract and this can occur with the natural process of digesting and breaking down food. The two most common types of IBD include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis usually involves the inflammation of the large intestine and Crohn’s disease can cause inflammation anywhere in the digestive tract, but usually occurs at the end of the small intestine. There is no direct known cause for IBD, but some common risk factors include:

  • A family history of IBD
  • A weakened immune system
  • Smoking
  • Age because it normally occurs under the age of 35
  • Living in urban and industrialized areas

You may notice that you often have diarrhea, bleeding ulcers, blood in the stool, stomach pains, unplanned weight loss, or anemia. Another common symptom of Crohn’s disease is consistently getting canker sores on the mouth or getting ulcers and fissures around the genital area and anus. When left untreated, IBD can develop into a worse problem so it’s important to talk to your gastroenterologists in Berwyn, LaGrange, and Elmhurst, IL, as soon as possible.

Contact Your Gastroenterologist Today!

If you think you may suffer from IBD, be sure to talk to your doctors as soon as possible. Contact your gastroenterologists at Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute in Berwyn, LaGrange, and Elmhurst, IL, to learn more about Irritable Bowel Disease today by calling (708) 484-0621.

Please call our office number (708)484-0621 for all questions and appointment requests.