Links between Inflammatory bowel disease and acid reflux.

Two digestive problems are among the fastest growing medical problems in the western world.

Acid reflux disease (GERD) of which I suffer and Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are both very debilitating and have a great impact on your day to day lifestyle.

The way we live has a lot to do with both of these diseases and lifestyle changes are needed to combat both.

While acid reflux disease attacks the upper GI tract mainly the esophagus inflammatory bowel disease is a condition that affects the large intestine but can also be found in the small intestine.

Crohn’s disease is the main form of Crohn’s disease and in a lot of cases requires surgery to remove part of the gut. In some cases parts of the intestine have to be removed again and again.

Although there are no studies to link IBD directly to acid reflux disease many people who suffer from one also suffer from the other. Statistics have shown that someone who suffers from IBD is more likely to have upper GI problems like GERD. It stands to reason that someone suffering from one type of digestive problem can mean the rest of the digestive system may not be functioning correctly.

When we eat or drink our bodies release digestive juices into the stomach and the small intestine reabsorbs this liquid. But in the case of Crohn’s disease sufferers if part of the intestine has been removed they are in danger of becoming fatally dehydrated whenever they eat or drink and have to have fluid pumped into the bloodstream through a catheter. While in the case of acid reflux disease because the acid is not absorbed it is more likely that reflux will occur causing severe heartburn and damage to the esophagus.

Both problems can be controlled to some extent and if someone has both problems a special diet for Crohn’s disease can usually be just as beneficial for there acid reflux.

I have written more information about this on my article Links between Inflammatory bowel disease and acid reflux.