According to MedlinePlus, a health website operated by the National Institutes of Health, inflammatory bowel disease is a group of inflammatory conditions that affect the colon and small intestine. Two of the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. MedlinePlus states that it's important for a person with bowel disease to consume a sufficient amount of calories, vitamins and protein to ward off malnutrition and weight loss.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is a common symptom associated with bowel disease. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK--a division of the National Institutes of Health--many bowel diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, are characterized by varying degrees of abdominal pain. In the case of irritable bowel syndrome, which involves considerable abdominal discomfort and distress, a person will usually experience abdominal pain for a total of at least three months during a one-year period, with the pain or discomfort occurring at various points throughout the year. The NIDDK reports that the abdominal pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome has three distinct features: it's relieved by having a bowel movement, it alters the frequency of bowel movements and it changes the appearance of a person's stool. Other bowel diseases that cause abdominal pain include acute appendicitis, diverticular disease and intussusception, among many others.
Constipation
Constipation is a common symptom associated with bowel disease. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, or ASCRS, states that a functional bowel disorder is a gastrointestinal condition with symptoms arising from the mid or lower portion of the gastrointestinal, or GI, tract. Constipation is a common symptom associated with numerous bowel diseases or conditions, and is a general term used to describe stools that are too firm, too infrequent or too difficult to pass. The ASCRS states that constipation is defined by the presence of two or more of the following four conditions: straining during defecation 25 percent or more of the time, stools that are firm or lumpy 25 percent or more of the time, a sensation of incomplete stool evacuation 25 percent or more of the time, and less than two bowel movements each week.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a common symptom associated with bowel disease. According to FamilyDoctor.org, diarrhea--loose or liquid bowel movements three or more times per day--is especially common among people with irritable bowel syndrome, who may experience diarrhea after eating or first thing in the morning. FamilyDoctor.org states that consuming soluble fiber can improve the function of a person's intestines, helping eliminate or control both diarrhea and constipation. Soluble fiber dissolves in water, forming a gel-like substance, and can be found in whole foods such as apples, beans and citrus fruit. FamilyDoctor.org also recommends medicine such as loperamide for people who experience frequent bouts of irritable bowel syndrome-related diarrhea. According to NIDDK, other bowel conditions that can cause diarrhea include colitis, Crohn's disease and celiac disease.
References
- MedlinePlus: Crohn's Disease
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons: Functional Bowel Disease / Constipation
- Family Doctor: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Diarrhea
