Are Inflammatory Bowel Disease And Gerd Linked?

Are Inflammatory Bowel Disease And Gerd Linked?

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The condition known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (or IBD) is fast becoming a more common ailment. There are 600,000 people in the United States each year who are dealing with this troubling condition each day. IBD is a problem with inflammation in the intestines, and can cause a whole host of problems and lead to other medical complications. It is not uncommon for people to suffer with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and GERD at the same time. Each involves a different area of the digestive system but they are sometimes linked to each other.

It would be a common mistake to think that GERD and IBD are not related in any way. They are different in cause, so it is easy to see why that would happen. IBD is basically the inflammation of the intestinal tissues, and this leads to problems with loose stool, cramping, bloating, pain, gas, and there may even be severe cases where blockage of the intestines needs to be fixed by the way of surgery. Whereas GERD is centered in the upper digestive tract and is caused by the lower esophageal sphincter muscle not closing properly which allows acid from the stomach to splash up into the esophagus.

Because GERD and IBD seem to be different diseases with different root causes, many don't think to connect them. Statistically, people diagnosed IBD have a higher risk of developing GERD too. In other words, they may not have any problems with acid reflux if they did not have IBD. The systems of the body are sensitive, and it is easy to understand why upset in one part of the digestive system might mean upset in other parts of it as well.

Someone struggling with both GERD and IBD must first get the underlying problem fixed. If the IBD can be controlled to some extent, the acid reflux will be easier to treat if it will need to be treated at all.

Keep reading for tips on tackling IBD with GERD and sign up for the free Acid Reflux, Heartburn and GERD newsletter below.

Following a low fat, high soluble diet will usually reduce both IBD and GERD symptoms as foods high in fat, such as red meat and full fat diary products, tend to tend to be triggers for starting symptoms.

Although, not a problem for all IBD sufferers, acidic foods are well known triggers for GERD, so best avoided. These include citrus, vinegar and tomatoes. Spicy foods are another common problem trigger for acid reflux and IBD suffers are better off avoiding spices from the capsicum family.

Coffee is a well-known digestive irritant and is also acidic and usually causes both IBD and GERD symptoms to flare. Try drinking herbal teas instead, as even ordinary tea can prove problematic for acid reflux.

Another common trigger to both IBD and GERD is chocolate. Chocolate is high in fat and also contains theobromine, which acts as a muscle relaxant, causing the Lower Esophagal sphincter to relax, and allowing acid to splash up into esophagus.

By following these diet guidelines and adopting other lifestyle changes the symptoms of both Inflammatory Bowel Disease and GERD can be controlled. Make an appointment with your doctor if you believe you are suffering from either of these conditions.

About the Author:
By Kathryn Whittaker. Sign up for a free newsletter that has proven methods for tackling Acid Reflux, Heartburn and GERD head-on and discover more about inflammatory bowel disease and gerd.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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