Your body is like a well-oiled machine. It runs like a dream until something breaks. That is when the trouble starts. Depending on how bad the condition is, there are several things that you can do. One of the more important parts of your body is the digestive system. It is what allows you to digest food and get energy. This is why it can be a problem when something goes wrong with it.

One of the more severe disorders your digestive system can have is inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS). It is actually more common than some people think. If you get a diagnosis that says you are experiencing this, you will need to prepare since it will change your life.

What Is It?

Inflammatory bowel syndrome is actually a catch-all term for a set of disorders that affect the lower part of your intestines. They start becoming inflamed and irritated. This can cause problems with your digestion and bowel movements. The cause for this is still unknown, but the main idea behind it is that something triggers your body’s inflammatory response. This could be any combination of bacteria, substances, and the like. The result is that the immune system starts an autoimmune response that causes inflammation.

Fortunately, unlike normal diseases, IBS waxes, and wanes. There can be long periods of time when your body will not display any of the symptoms of your disorder. But if the trigger agents are ingested, then your body starts suffering. This can range from diarrhea, cramps, fever, loss of appetite, and more. It is the combination of symptoms that will decide what type of IBS you are suffering from.

The Two Types

Though there are many sub-types of IBS, the two most dominant divisions are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The former only affects the large intestine while the latter can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. Though they may be named differently and have affect different names, the two disorders generally have the same symptoms.

IBS sufferers complain mostly about diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite, blood in the stool, painful bowel movements, and cramps. If left alone, the complications of IBS can result in colon cancer, bowel obstructions, ulcers, and malnutrition.

Treatment

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis treatment in Lehi and nearby areas should be possible considering the many medical institutions in the area. Since the root of it all is inflammation, the common response is to have anti-inflammatory drugs administered to them. This actually works for mild cases but sever sufferers will need something more robust.

Changing your diet is also recommended. This is because IBS triggering can mean that some foods can literally start your disease up. The more severe treatments will have specific areas of your gastro-intestinal tract removed by surgery.

Medical conditions can be hard to handle. This is especially so with inflammatory bowel syndrome. Knowing what you can expect can go a long way to reassure you. The unknown is what frightens many people, so having all of this information laid out should help ease your mind so that you can face this challenge.