Change in dietary habits can lead to inflammatory bowel disease: Experts

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 18

As more than 10 million people suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) worlwide, May 19 is celebrated as World IBD Day to build awareness about these digestive diseases.

Dr Nirmaljit Singh Mallhi, HoD, Gastroenterology Department at SPS Hospital, said the IBD has no geographical, physical or emotional borders. The disease can affect anyone across the globe and every part of the body.

There is no cure, no known cause and little public understanding of the pain and chronic suffering which the IBD patient copes with.

Since the manifestations of disease are subtle and highly variable, the effects are largely invisible in initial stages. Hence, the theme for this year is “To make the invisible visible”, he said.

Dr Jasmeet Singh Dhingra, senior gastroenterologist at SPS hospital, said the IBD was considered a Western disease but now it has gained significant importance in Indian sub-continent due to changing dietary habits, westernisation of lifestyle and increase in awareness along with prevalence of disease due to better diagnosis.

Dr Nitin Behl, additional director (gastroenterologist), Fortis Hospital, Ludhiana, said the cause of the IBD was generally unknown and experts believe that it is an abnormal activity of ones immune system.

Normally, the immune system protects the body from infections caused by bacteria or virus and once the infection has been cleared immune system “Shuts off”, he said.

In people with the IBD, the immune system over reacts to normal bacteria and once it starts working the immune system fails to “Shut off”, thus causing inflammation, which damages the digestive tract.

Genetic and hereditary factors also play a role. Stress and eating certain foods can also contribute to making symptoms worse, he added.

If a patient is having symptoms like diarrhoea, frequent urgency to have bowel movement, abdominal cramps, blood in stools, weight loss, spondylitis, arthritis and loss of appetite, then these symptoms should warrant a consultation with a gastroenterologist.

Dr Pinak Moudgil, zonal director, Fortis Healthcare said, “Fortis Hospital, Ludhiana, provides high quality tertiary care in various specialities, including gastroenterologist.”