What is the difference between Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), their symptoms, and effective treatment methods? They are both common diseases affecting the digestive system. Crohn's disease is an inflammation and swelling of the intestines, which can affect the intestines. IBS is a functional disorder of the digestive system that does not lead to actual inflammation of the intestines. We will learn about the difference between them, their causes, and effective treatment methods in the rest of the article.
What is Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, non-infectious inflammatory condition that causes irritation and inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract. It affects the intestinal wall and any part of it, gradually progressing and can worsen over time.
What is irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder affecting the large intestine and causing changes in bowel movements, leading to constipation and diarrhea. It is caused by multiple factors, including bowel movement disorders, genetic factors, or exposure to anxiety and stress.
Symptoms of Crohn's Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The most common symptoms of Crohn's disease are:
- Anemia, which occurs as a result of poor iron absorption in the body.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Constant fatigue and exhaustion.
- Loss of appetite and consequent weight loss.
- High fever.
- Chronic diarrhea, which may contain blood or mucus.
Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome include:
- Disturbed bowel movements and changes in bowel movements, such as constipation or diarrhea.
- Rectal bleeding with blood in the stool.
- Gas accumulation in the abdomen.
- Abdominal bloating.
- Abdominal cramps and pain, which may worsen or subside after bowel movements.
- Unexplained weight loss.
Causes of Crohn's Disease
There is no single known cause for Crohn's disease, but it is a disease resulting from complex factors, including:
- An abnormal immune system response that causes it to mistakenly attack the lining of the digestive tract.
- Genetic factors, as a family history of the disease increases the risk of developing the disease.
- Environmental factors, such as smoking, increase the likelihood of the disease worsening.
What are the causes of irritable bowel syndrome)?
There is no single cause for IBS. Rather, it is a complex disorder resulting from several factors, including:
- Stress and anxiety increase the severity and frequency of symptoms.
- Disturbed bowel movements, which affect food movement and cause constipation.
- When the nerves in the intestinal wall become sensitive to normal stimuli, this leads to bloating and pain.
- When there is a communication disorder between the brain and the nerves responsible for the digestive system.
- Eating certain foods, such as fatty and fried foods and dairy products.
- Genetics and family history.
- Bacterial infections in the digestive system.
- Hormonal changes, especially in women.
What is the difference between Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome
The main difference between them is that Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes damage and inflammation to the intestinal wall. Its common symptoms include blood in the stool and unexplained weight loss.
While irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder that affects the intestines, it doesn't cause any changes in the intestines. It is linked to dietary factors and stress. Its symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, or alternating constipation, and it doesn't cause weight loss.
Methods for Treating Crohn's Disease
Treatment for Crohn's disease aims to control inflammation and reduce its symptoms. This is achieved by prescribing medications containing:
- Aminosalicylates, which are used to treat inflammation in the digestive tract.
- Corticosteroids, which rapidly reduce inflammation.
- Antibiotics, which treat bacterial infections associated with Crohn's disease, such as abscesses.
- Antidiarrheal medications, which alleviate symptoms.
Other interventions include:
- In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve severe symptoms such as bleeding and obstruction.
- Quitting smoking can help prevent recurrence.
- Manage your psychological state by managing anxiety and stress and using relaxation techniques.
Diet for Crohn's Disease Patients
The diet for Crohn's Disease patients is based on avoiding irritating foods such as:
- Fried foods, dairy products, nuts, seeds, sweets, coffee, and alcohol.
- It is important to follow a healthy diet based on easily digestible foods and eat small, frequent meals such as:
- Low-fat grilled meats, fish, potatoes, peeled fruits and vegetables, and drinking plenty of fluids.
How to Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome relies on some dietary modifications to alleviate symptoms:
- Eat soluble fiber, which is found in fruits and vegetables, to regulate bowel movements.
- Avoid irritating foods that may exacerbate irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, such as spicy, fried, and processed foods.
- Reducing stress and anxiety and changing your way of thinking.
- Drink plenty of water to improve digestion.
- Drink natural herbs to soothe the colon and expel gas, such as mint, fennel, cinnamon, and ginger.
Where does irritable bowel syndrome pain begin
The pain caused by IBS and its location varies from person to person. It may extend throughout the abdomen, but it is most often concentrated on the left and right sides or in the lower abdomen in the form of cramps. Sometimes, it is around the navel. The pain may be constant or intermittent and worsens after eating.
How to Diagnose Crohn's Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
A doctor diagnoses Crohn's disease through a medical history and physical examination. He or she may also order blood and stool tests to rule out infection. He or she may also perform endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopy, capsule endoscopy, or imaging tests such as CT scans and MRIs.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is diagnosed by exclusion. The doctor does not order tests to diagnose IBS, but may order tests to rule out other conditions. The diagnosis focuses on bowel movements and is based on symptoms, physical examination, and family history.
Summary of the Difference Between Crohn's Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The main difference between them is that Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes changes and damage to the intestines and can be detected through examination. Symptoms of Crohn's disease include fever, bleeding, and unexplained weight loss.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder that does not cause damage to the intestines and can be diagnosed by knowing the symptoms alone. Its symptoms include bloating and cramps, and it is not accompanied by bleeding or weight loss.