Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of diseases that affect the lining of the gastrointestinal tract or GI tract. IBD can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for patients, so knowing how to calm inflamed intestines makes for useful information.
What Causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Until now, scientists are not exactly sure of what causes inflammatory bowel disease. However, the prevailing theory is that it has something to do with a person’s immune system.
What happens is that instead of attacking foreign substances, the immune system attacks healthy cells in the GI tract. This results in the symptoms that IBD patients know all too well.
Inflammatory bowel disease has no cure. This means that patients with IBD will need to deal with their condition for the rest of their life. However, managing IBD is relatively straightforward, and most patients have a high quality of life so long as they follow their doctor’s advice.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Prevention: Is It Even Possible?
How to Calm Inflamed Intestines
Here are some useful things to remember on how to calm inflamed intestines, and manage IBD:
Watch what you eat
- Because IBD affects the gastrointestinal tract, the food that a person eats has an effect on the symptoms of IBD. One of the best ways to manage IBD would be to know what foods trigger the symptoms and to avoid or limit the consumption of those foods.
- In the case of people with Crohn’s disease, eating less fiber is one way of managing the symptoms. Foods that increase stool should also be eaten in lesser amounts.
- Eating less fatty foods is also a good idea, especially for people with fat malabsorption. People who have this condition can’t digest fat properly, so they end up having oily and foul-smelling stools.
- For people with lactose intolerance, it is important to read the labels of food that you eat. Sometimes, manufacturers use dairy products as fillers or extenders, and this can trigger the symptoms of IBD.
- When eating out, it’s also a good idea to ask if the food contains any possible trigger foods. That way, you can avoid accidentally consuming food that might cause you discomfort.
- One problem with restricting your food intake is that you might not be getting enough nutrients in your diet. So get in touch with a dietician to make sure that your diet is sufficient for your body’s needs.
Take your medication
It’s not uncommon for patients with IBD to be given prescription medication. This helps manage their symptoms and reduce the risk of flare-ups.
Medication for IBD usually comes in the form of anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors, or a new type of drug called biologics that neutralize inflammation-causing proteins in the body.
It is very important to make sure that you’re taking the right medication for your condition and in the right dosage. Not only does medication help alleviate the symptoms, but it can also cause IBD to go into remission. However, this can only happen if patients take their medication religiously.
If you feel that the medication is not enough, or if you’re experiencing some side effects, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about it. They should be able to provide you with alternatives or change your dosage in order to ensure that the medication is still effective.
Key Takeaways
The most important thing to remember on how to calm inflamed intestines would be to pay attention to your symptoms. Take note of any foods that trigger the symptoms, as well as the effects of any medication that you’re taking.
Be sure to consult your doctor, so that they can give you better advice on how to manage your IBD. If managed properly, people with IBD can enjoy a high quality of life.
Learn more about IBD here.
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