Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. IBD can not only make life difficult, but it can also be life threatening.
Like many GI disorders, scientists are still searching for the root of the problem. Although they don’t know what causes IBD, they do have some understanding of why it occurs as well as potential risk factors for developing it.
What Happens
Initially, diet and stress were considered the culprit of IBD. Although these things may cause flare-ups, scientists now suspect that IBD is in fact an immune disorder. When the immune system starts fighting off invasive foreign substances (like viruses), for some reason it will begin attacking the GI tract as well. Instead of allowing food and other matter to pass through, the tissue of the digestive system receives a hoard of white blood cells in its lining, which cause the underlying inflammatory issue.
Internal Risk Factors
Although some groups are more likely to develop IBD, it can happen to anyone. While it generally develops in young adults (before 30 years of age), middle aged people and older may also wind up with IBD. However, it seems to develops only rarely beyond the age of 50 or 60. Additionally, according to the Center for Disease Control, it appears most frequently among Caucasians and Ashkenazi Jews.
The specific type of IBD present must also be taken into account; males are more likely to develop ulcerative colitis, while women are at a greater risk of developing Crohn’s disease. The research also suggests a familial link, meaning when one person has an IBD, their immediate family members are more likely to have one as well.
External Factors
Smoking cigarettes is a serious risk for Crohn’s disease. However, some literature states that, although it offers virtually no other healthy advantages, smoking actually seems to be beneficial in the prevention of ulcerative colitis. This does not, however, mean that taking up smoking will guarantee you do not get ulcerative colitis, and the many unhealthy developments from cigarettes far outweigh this one asset. The CDC simply states that “ulcerative colitis is more common among ex-smokers and nonsmokers.”
Birth control, certain acne medication, and specific infections may play a role in the development of IBD. Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (such as aspirin) may also increase the chances of developing IBD. These medications also tend to lead to ulcers, which may be part of the link.
Some studies have also found links between IBD and geographic location. More industrialized areas tend to have a higher incidence rate. Northern populations especially seem to have more occurrences. However, it may be that people in these areas are simply more likely to seek care. Other research has found controversial answers: the CDC reports that while some studies suggest a higher “prevalence among white-collar occupations,” others show a lower incidence rate among “higher education and income.” All in all, more research is definitely needed to have a firm grasp of not only the cause but also the risk factors of IBD.
