Inflammatory Bowel Disorder (IBD) Treatment Clinic in Charleston, SC

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for conditions characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive system.

Inflammatory bowel disorder symptoms include:

• Persistent diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Rectal bleeding/bloody stools
• Weight loss
• Fatigue

Types of IBD include:

• Ulcerative colitis: This disorder causes inflammation and sores (ulcers) on the surface of your large intestine (colon) and rectum.

• Crohn’s disease: This is characterized by inflammation of the digestive system lining, which affects the deeper layers of the digestive tract.

Diarrhea, rectal bleeding, stomach discomfort, exhaustion, and weight loss are common symptoms of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Also read: Autoimmune Diseases and Toxic Chemical Exposure: Is There a Connection?

Some of the possible complications of IBD include:

• Malnutrition with resulting weight loss
• Colorectal cancer
• Fistulas, or tunnels that go through the intestinal wall to connect different regions of the digestive tract.
• Intestinal rupture or perforation
• Bowel obstruction

In rare situations, a severe attack of IBD might cause shock. This is potentially fatal.

There’s no need to avoid any meal unless it triggers or increases your symptoms. However, some common food items which you may have to avoid are:

• Fatty, greasy, or fried foods
• Hot or spicy foods
• Raw, high-fiber fruits and vegetables
• Caffeinated or sugary beverages
• Alcoholic beverages
• Candy, sweets, and other products with added sugar

Role of Food Sensitivities in Inflammatory Bowel Disorders

Getting healthy nutrition might be difficult when you have inflammatory bowel disease. Your small intestine absorbs the nutrients from the food you consume. However, you may not absorb all of your nutrients or digest your food properly when you have chronic inflammation and other IBD symptoms. This can result in major issues such as malnutrition, weight loss, and vitamin deficiencies.

To avoid these issues and make eating more pleasant, pay close attention to what you put into your body and how your digestive system responds. Calcium-rich foods, vegetables, probiotics, and lean meats should be included in a balanced diet.

Also read: Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO): Everything You Need to Know About It

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Diagnosis and Treatment

The objective of treating inflammatory bowel disease is to minimize the inflammation that triggers your symptoms. In the best-case scenario, this may result in symptom alleviation, long-term remission, and reduced consequences.

IBD treatment generally consists of either medication or surgery. Anti-inflammatory medicines, immune system suppressors, biologics, antibiotics, and other medications such as pain relievers and vitamins are used in IBD treatment. Diet and exercise are also part of the overall IBD treatment strategy. However, if none of this works, then surgery becomes the last option.

If you are looking for expert Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment near you, call us or schedule an appointment with our expert doctors today. At the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, we have a team of doctors dedicated to improving your overall health. We serve patients from Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, North Charleston SC, Ladson SC, Hanahan SC, James Island SC, John’s Island SC, Daniel Island SC, all of South Carolina, Nationally, and Internationally. Patients routinely fly into Charleston to be evaluated by COEM and to enjoy this beautiful city which is a Condé Nast and Travel and Leisure Top Domestic and International Tourist Destination.