Any problem related to the body is unpleasant, but if the problem is related to bowel, it becomes all the more unpleasant. There are some common health problems associated with bowel, but if you look closely, you will find some differences.
IBS is irritable bowel syndrome and IBD is inflammatory bowel disease. Both IBS and IBD share some common features but have different symptoms and causes. If you explore how these conditions originate, then exploring holistic health treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Or Inflammatory Bowel Disease may be an option for you.
IBS and IBD share some common symptoms
Both these conditions are hard to distinguish as they share quite a few common symptoms including
- Abdominal pain
- Cramps
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Gas
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
This is a kind of functional disease whereby looking into your gut your doctor would not be able to tell much. As a patient, you will be feeling a group of symptoms making it a syndrome but not a disease.
Since IBS is difficult to diagnose as it doesn’t come with physical markers, your doctor or your holistic health care expert will look for symptoms that might include:
- Experiencing on and off belly pain for the past 3 months
- Frequent changes in bowel movement
- Change in the stool when experiencing pain
There are certain contributing factors to IBS
- Muscle contractions in the intestine during digestion that are stronger or weaker than normal
- After a severe bout of diarrhoea
- Associated with a surplus of bacteria in the intestines
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
IBD is a structural disease that causes certain physical damage that causes the main problem. When your doctor performs certain scans of your gut they might be able to see chronic inflammation or ulcers.
IBD could be related to an autoimmune response, genetic or environmental factors.
Symptoms of IBD
Besides these common symptoms, IBD also presents a host of unique symptoms that might seem unrelated to the bowel but are associated with IBD. These symptoms include:
- Eye inflammation
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
- Malnutrition
- Weight loss
- Rectal bleeding
- Intestinal scarring
IBD is an umbrella term for a lot of diseases that affect the gut, some of which can lead to long-lasting inflammation and sores in your colon or rectum.
IBS and IBD are common
IBS is extremely common, it affects upto 15% of the world population while people suffering from IBD also complain of IBS.
Stress is a big contributing factor to both IBS and IBD and to combat it holistic health treatments including acupuncture, massage therapy, naturotherapy and/or supplements can be of great help. Talk to your holistic health care provider for the same.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog or in any linked material is not intended and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For holistic health advice and consultation, visit https://www.mywellself.ca/.
