Navigating IBD: The Role of Environmental Stressors and Nutrition

IBD is an umbrella term to describe chronic inflammatory disorders that affect the GI tract. The primary disorders are Crohn's Disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Broadly, differences between the two diseases depend on what part of the gut is inflamed; CD affects any segment of the GI tract, usually in the ileum, whereas ulcerative colitis inflammation is concentrated in the colon and rectum. Symptoms of both diseases include abdominal pain with diarrhea and systemic manifestations such as fatigue and fever. Although genetic predisposition is associated, environmental factors include diet and pollution. This article will discuss the symptoms, treatments, genetics, and environmental stressors related to IBD and what current therapeutic options are available to treat the diseases.