Everyone experiences an upset stomach from time to time. It’s not pleasant, and you become way more familiar with your bathroom than you’d like. But it passes.
But when irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or ulcerative colitis are causing the problems, the symptoms keep coming back.
To make matters worse, the symptoms – abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation – aren’t predictable. Both conditions can wreak havoc in people’s personal and professional lives.
“Irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis share symptoms and can appear very similar on the surface, but they can be differentiated through diagnostic tests,” said Tyler Miksanek, MD, a family medicine physician with Endeavor Health. “Relief is definitely possible for both.”
Things that raise someone’s risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis include age – both conditions are more likely to occur in people younger than 50, with IBS most often diagnosed between ages 15 and 30.
Risk factors for ulcerative colitis also include:
- Family history, specifically a first-degree relative with ulcerative colitis
- An immune system disorder
- Imbalances in the gut biome
Risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome can include:
- Anxiety, depression or high stress
- Sensitivity to high-fiber food or dairy
- A previous severe gastrointestinal infection
- Family history may play a role
The exact cause of either condition isn’t known. But the things that trigger an episode differ.
Ulcerative colitis has been linked to immune response, which sets off inflammation in the digestive tract. IBS is triggered by other things, including:
- Certain foods. The role of food allergy or intolerance in irritable bowel syndrome is not yet clearly understood, but many people have more severe symptoms when they consume certain things. Spicy or fatty foods are common culprits, as well as dairy, caffeine and alcohol.
- Stress and anxiety. Most people with IBS find that their signs and symptoms are worse or more frequent during periods of increased stress, such as finals week or the first weeks on a new job. But while stress may aggravate symptoms, it doesn't cause them.
- Hormones. Because women are twice as likely to have IBS, researchers believe that hormonal changes play a role in this condition. Many women find that signs and symptoms are worse during or around their menstrual periods.
- Other illnesses. Sometimes another illness, such as an acute episode of infectious diarrhea (gastroenteritis) or too many bacteria in the intestines (bacterial overgrowth), can trigger IBS.
If you’re having stomach trouble, it isn’t always clear that IBS or ulcerative colitis is the cause. That’s why it’s important to start with your primary care physician if you notice changes in your health.
While neither condition is curable, there are ways to ease the symptoms. Dietary changes and medication can help people with IBS and ulcerative colitis take control of their gut health again. Talk to your primary care doctor if you experience symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis.
Related Articles
