Can You Prevent Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

IBD prevention and risk factors

There’s no known way to prevent IBD. But there may be things you can do to help reduce your risk. IBD develops due a combination of four factors:

• Genetics
• Environment
• Microbiome of the intestinal tract
• Immune system

The microbiome consists of microbes, including bacteria and fungi. These microbes reside in our bodies. In the digestive system, the microbiome influences our metabolism, immune system, and other body functions.

“For most people who develop IBD, it’s a mix of several of these factors that then leads to chronic inflammation,” explained Dr. Ananthakrishnan.

It’s possible that these things may increase your chances of having IBD:

• Antibiotics
• Foods you eat
• Poor sleep
• Stress

How can IBD be prevented?

To help reduce your risk of developing IBD:

• Avoid processed food and additives.
• Eat a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
• Get enough sleep.
• Limit exposure to antibiotics.
• Don’t smoke.
• Reduce stress and anxiety.

Breastfeeding during infancy has been shown to reduce risk of IBD in children. Studies also have shown that people who exercise regularly may have a lower risk of developing IBD.

IBD symptoms and diagnosis

Patients with IBD often have these symptoms:

• Belly pain
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Rectal bleeding or blood in stools
• Swelling in the joints
• Urgency in going to the bathroom
• Weight loss

If you have symptoms that include weight loss and large amounts of blood in stools, contact your primary care provider (PCP) right away. Early diagnosis may help prevent permanent bowel damage.

Treatment options

If you have IBD, there are different treatment options depending on the severity of the disease:

• For patients with mild inflammation: There are medications to treat the inflammation in the colon and intestine. These include the drug 5-ASA and corticosteroid therapies.
• For those with moderate to severe disease: There are medications that target the immune system and dampen the overactive immune response that damages the bowel. These medications include immunomodulators (like azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine) and biologics (like infliximab, adalimumab and certolizumab pegol).

For some patients, surgery to remove damaged bowel tissue is the best option to restore quality of life. 

These treatments can help patients control symptoms and improve their quality of life.