Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can affect men and women of all ages.

Types of IBD

The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are both associated with inflammation within the digestive tract.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• ongoing diarrhoea
• abdominal pain and bloating
• fatigue
• sometimes weight loss.

Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are life-long conditions that can cause malabsorption and serious complications, sometimes requiring bowel surgery.

Treatment

The good news is, there’s a lot that can be done to help manage IBD. This usually involves a combination of medication, monitoring gut damage with procedures such as colonoscopies, and maintaining a nutritionally adequate diet, particularly during flare-ups.

At Hadley Wood, we appreciate that this can seem overwhelming at times. You’re not alone – and we here to help. Our dietitian can work with you one-on-one to identify any foods that don’t agree with you, and work out diet and nutrition plans that ensure you are getting all the nutrients you need.