As you know I am a Nia teacher not a doctor nor a medical professional, but I would like to share some things with you because it seems the situation is becoming more and more prevalent in the population. I thought I would point out a few things so we can learn the difference and try to keep it straight. I am talking about gut problems. Stomach, intestines, and colon issues. I talk to more and more people who are having issues. You might even be aware of the fact that my cat has an issue. Now, I am not going to get into what might be the cause of the issues because that is very complex and I think it relates to the individual. Plus you probably already know that I believe much of our food “stuff” is partially responsible for ALL of our health issues. This post though is just to help shed some light on the terms and letters you might be hearing. Specifically, IBS and IBD! What do those letters stand for: IBS is Irritable Bowel Syndrome and IBD is Inflammatory Bowel Disease. They are not the same thing. And I don’t think you want one over the other. They are just something no one wants.
Keep in mind I am just sharing what I have gleaned off the internet, so yes, the information could be faulty, but you might agree it makes sense. Also, keep in mind that this post, nor anything you read on the internet–including my blog–should not be used to diagnose a situation. Go to a medical professional for that. This article just might help you learn somethings that will allow you to ask the right questions or perhaps point you in the right direction to get a diagnosis (from a professional) and work on the treatment you need.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome/IBS and Inflammatory Bowel Disease/IBD are gastrointestinal disorders. The symptoms might present the same, but they are not the same . . . although some people think that you can have IBS if you have IBD. With IBS the doctor might not see anything wrong. The bowels appear normal, but they are not functioning normal and more than likely are causing pain and discomfort. With IBD, the intestines do not appear normal they are inflamed and do not function as they should. With IBD the entire digestive tract could be affected by inflammation.
IBS is considered a “functional disorder”, things look fine, but don’t operate fine. With IBD there is damage and the damage keeps the body from absorbing the necessary nutrients. A little like a gluten intolerance might cause pain and discomfort and Celiacs Disease keeps the body from getting what it needs from food. IBD is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system is on overdrive and ends up doing damage to the very thing (the body) it is supposed to protect.
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s website states researchers are leaning away from the idea that stress CAUSES IBS, they now believe it has to do with a “disturbance in the way the brain and the gut interact”. They think the nerve endings in the gut are overly sensitive and the controlling nerves are over active.
The cause of IBD is unknown.
Both disorders have digestive issues associated with them, and both can also have additional health issues arise in connection with the disorder. There you have it, a really quick glance at the main difference between Irritable Bowel Syndrome/IBS and Inflammatory Bowel Disease/IBD. Both have similar symptoms, but IBS does not have inflammation and show signs of damage, whereas the digestive tract with IBD is does.
What do you have to share about IBS/IBD?
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