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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common health condition in the United States. Up to 3.1 million people have IBD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
IBD is a suite of conditions, most notably Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, the body’s own immune system attacks the lining of the digestive tract, leading to chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain.
“About 50 percent of my patients with IBD live normal lives,” says Rajiv Sharma, MD, a gastroenterologist based in Indiana. “Another 35 to 40 percent can live pretty normally, but it definitely affects their lives. They need to know where a bathroom is at all times. For the remainder, it’s debilitating.”
Surgery and medicine can help with IBD, but so can lifestyle changes. Here are six to consider.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Preventi... + 32
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