By Dr. Trina Ting
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of conditions including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. They are conditions in which in the lining of the intestinal tract becomes inflamed, causing disruption to the digestive process and restricting absorption of nutrients and hindering the normal waste elimination functions of the body. Symptoms include abdominal cramping, diarrhea, blood in the stools, weight loss and reduced appetite. Such symptoms can be acutely present or people can go long periods with no symptoms at all.
The number of people living with IBD is increasing (an expected 1.1% of the Canadian population by 2035 is expected to be living with it, or 470000 people), and the numbers of new diagnoses is rising fastest in children under the age of 6.
The illness can seriously impact people’s quality of life and mental health: it is known that psychiatric disorders are 1.5-2x more common in those suffering with IBD.
On World IBD Day, May 19, this day is acknowledged by over 50 countries in order to raise awareness and support for the 10 million people around the word diagnosed with IBD. It is important at a government level to implement health and social policies that will help those suffering with IBD, and minimize time off work, mental health issues, and improving quality of life.
While we as chiropractors and RMTs do not specifically treat IBD, we have many of our patients with the condition and there can be associated neuromuscular/spinal tension. It causes an acute and chronic form of stress that may result in pain that chiropractic care may be able to assist with. Intestinal pain can refer pain into the low back due to the nerve distribution.
Our primary mission is to help you live better and we want to know as much as we can about your overall status of your health. If you are suffering from the symptoms of IBD, let us know and we would be pleased to see if we can alleviate any related aches and pains.
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