There is a common misconception, amongst the general public, that ‘Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)’ are one in the same. However, this is not the case.
Dr Ayesha Akbar
Although some of the symptoms are similar (abdominal pain, bloating, and bouts of diarrhoea/constipation), there are also some key differences which separate the two conditions.
Here to set the record straight, and educate the public on the important factors they need to know about each of the conditions is Dr Ayesha Akbar, Consultant Gastroenterologist from The London Digestive Centre at The Princess Grace Hospital, part of HCA UK:
“Although IBD and IBS are often categorised by similar symptoms (namely tummy pain and diarrhoea), the two conditions are in fact different.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is caused by an inflammation of the gut and presents itself in two different ways – as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. Approximately 300,000 people in the UK live with Crohn’s Disease/ Ulcerative Colitis – with one person being diagnosed every 30 minutes. Unfortunately there is no cure for IBD, and patients often need to take medication to control the inflammation.
In comparison, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is thought to affect up to 20 per cent of people in the UK at some point in their lifetime. The condition can develop at any age; however, the symptoms usually start to advance between the ages of 20 and 30 years old and are most prevalent in women.
IBD is sometimes referred to as ‘eczema of the insides’. It is a chronic, lifelong and debilitating condition whereby the digestive system has something structurally and functionally wrong. This frequently leads to severe internal inflammation, diarrhoea, blood in the faeces, weight loss and cramping in the stomach. The condition can lead to anaemia, fatigue and malnutrition, and in severe cases may require an individual to have surgery that could lead to a colostomy bag which is used to collect waste products.
On the other hand, the insides of someone with IBS actually look completely normal, with no inflammation. However, this is not to say that the digestive systems of people with this condition are working normally. The digestive system is made up of a complicated system of nerves. IBS is caused by a loss of coordination within this system and the way the bowel works. Therefore, sufferers of IBS have nothing structurally wrong, but so have something functionally wrong.
The symptoms of IBS vary from patient to patient however, the most common symptoms associated with the condition include, abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, excess gas, diarrhoea, /constipation and mucus in stools. The symptoms tend to come and go intermittently, most often lasting from a few days to a few months at a time, and often increasing during times of stress or after eating certain foods.
There’s no doubt that both IBD and IBS can impact heavily on an individual’s life from both a physical and social perspective. Therefore, it’s important to note that if you think you might be suffering from any of the symptoms associated with IBD or IBS, that you seek the expert help of your GP or visit a Gastroenterologist as soon as possible so they can carry out thorough diagnostic tests to help identify the best course of treatment and, in turn, help to relieve your symptoms.”
WWW.THEPRINCESSGRACEHOSPITAL.COM
Dr Ayesha Akbar, Consultant Gastroenterologist from The London Digestive Centre at The Princess Grace Hospital, part of HCA UK
Tagged in IBS