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The distinguished organizers of the 2019 Gastroenterology Conference did well with structuring the program and topics of the event. There were discussions, presentations, and the exchange of knowledge and insights among the various participants focused on gastrointestinal health research. The conference further brought together a diverse scope of gastroenterology, including a brief explanation of common GI diseases such as infections, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancers of the GI tract.
Below is a brief discussion of a specific GI condition, inflammatory bowel disease.
Overview
Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD is composed of a range of intestinal disorders that cause long-term inflammation of the GI – specifically – the digestive system. The digestive system consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, respectively. The system functions to break down the food that a person consumes, extract the healthy substances from it, and get rid of waste products. If there is swelling anywhere along with the digestive system, this interrupts its normal process. IBD can ultimately be very painful, troublesome, and in worst cases, life-threatening.
Causes
The precise cause of IBD is not known, but genetics and abnormalities in one’s immune system are apparently associated with the disease.
Genetics. If your parents or other siblings have been diagnosed with IBD, then there is a higher likelihood that you to may develop the disease. This is why researchers have associated it with having a genetic component.
Immune System. Typically, your immune system protects your body from organisms that cause infection and illness. If you have IBD, on the other hand, and a viral or bacterial infection occurs in the digestive tract, this may evoke an autoimmune response, wherein your immune system attacks your body’s healthy cells.
Symptoms
- Diarrhea
- stomach pain, bloating and cramping secondary to bowel obstruction
- bleeding ulcer
- anemia and weight loss.