Everyday Health: According to Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America estimates, as many as 1.4 million American have the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. What are risk factors for these chronic digestive conditions, and can they be prevented?
Mark Babyatsky, MD (mssm.edu)
The most well — known risk factor for inflammatory bowel disease is a family history. However, smoking is a risk factor for Crohn’s disease, one of the inflammatory bowel diseases, and aspirin/nonsteroidal anti — inflammatory drugs can also precipitate inflammatory bowel disease. We have no clear preventive measures so far, although smoking ironically seems to protect against ulcerative colitis; doctors do not recommend smoking to protect against the disease since the evidence is not strong enough.
Elisa Faybush, MD (bannerhealth.com)
Risk factors for IBD include living in well — developed countries, particular northern climates. IBD is more common in Jews, and it tends to run in families.
Lisa Ganjhu, DO (wehealnewyork.org)
Inflammatory bowel disease is an inflammatory condition of the digestive tract and can present with blood in the stool, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. It most commonly runs in families. Any disruption of the immune system can cause IBD as well. It is difficult to say what you can do to prevent IBD. It can be treated with medications, and if the symptoms are controlled there is a lower risk to complications of IBD.
Brett Lashner, MD (clevelandclinic.org)
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the two most common inflammatory bowel diseases, are believed to be caused by the presence of an environmental toxin in a genetically predisposed individual. There has been a lot of work recently identifying genetic mutations that predispose to the development of IBD, and over 70 such susceptibility genes have been identified. The first and most important gene mutation discovered is in the NOD2 gene on chromosome 16. These mutations are commercially available if your doctor thinks it is important for diagnosis or prognosis of disease. Preventing IBD will require identifying the environmental toxin, like components of cigarette smoke, Mycobacteria paratuberculosis, another microbe, or something in the diet, and minimizing exposure. We are a long way from finding that toxin, though, but promising research is being conducted.
Lisa Pichney, MD (stopcoloncancernow.com)
The risk factors for IBD can be genetic or ethnic — that is, there are certain populations that have a higher propensity to manifest these conditions. Currently, we do not know how to prevent these diseases from occurring, but we have a vast amount of knowledge about how to treat these diseases and put them in remission.
Andrew Sable, MD (gastrohealth.com)
IBD (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) are chronic inflammatory disorders affecting the intestine. Although he disease course and symptoms can be very different, one common feature of both is that they are marked by an abnormal response by the body’s immune system. In other words, whereas the normal immune system will protect the body from infection, in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis the immune system reacts inappropriately, leading to inflammation and illness. Even after several decades of research it still remains unclear which risk factor for the development of IBD is most important. There likely exists some interaction among a person’s genetic makeup, their exposure to things in development (such as bacteria), and their immune system that triggers the disease. And while it is not yet known how to prevent Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, eating healthy, reducing stress, and smoking cessation may all help to provide some long — term benefit.
Sutha Sachar, MD (susacharmd.com)
The interplay among genetics, the immune system, and environmental triggers in a susceptible person is what causes IBD. Certain ethnic groups are also more affected than others; for example, American Jews of European descent are up to five times more likely to develop IBD than the general population. Unfortunately, there aren’t any good prevention strategies at this time due to the genetic component.
Albert Snow, ND (holisticgastroenterology.com)
First off, IBD is not a separate condition itself. It is just a broad term that refers to all of the inflammatory bowel conditions. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis as well as irritable bowel syndrome and leaky gut syndrome are all IBDs. You are at risk whenever you take an antibiotic without following it up with a probiotic. They can be prevented by rereading the last sentence over and over. An "ounce" of antibiotics takes a "pound" of cure=probiotics.
Jacqueline Wolf, MD (drjacquelinewolf.com)
There are many changes in the genes that are associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Over 50 have so far been identified. These increase the susceptibility of a person to ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. One such gene, the IBD 1 gene (NOD 2) is associated with Crohn's disease. A specific infection has not yet been identified, although a report suggested an increase of IBD after a viral gastroenteritis. At this time it is thought that an abnormal reaction to the normal intestinal bacteria or their products, an abnormality in the intestinal bacteria such as an absence of protective bacteria and/or abnormal local (mucosal) immune responses may in a susceptible individual cause IBD. Other environmental factors may have an impact on the cause of the IBD. Cigarette smoking (nicotine) appears to be protective for ulcerative colitis but be harmful for those with Crohn's disease.