Are you struggling with problems like fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, severe/chronic abdomen cramping, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and joint pain? These are among the common inflammatory bowel disease symptoms, concerns that can significantly impact the quality of your life. If left unmanaged, the symptoms could keep flaring up and lead to significant complications, including an increasingly high risk of developing colon cancer. Early inflammatory bowel disease Austin diagnosis and interventions can keep the symptoms in remission and, with maintenance medication, facilitate an active and productive lifestyle. You can also improve the progress by following certain home remedies that help lower flare-up risks. Such remedies include:
1. Dietary changes
What you eat may not cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nonetheless, the diet can aggravate the symptoms, especially when you have a flare-up. Dietary changes, especially after monitoring what you consume and how it affects you, such as worsening or soothing you, can help manage IBD. Among the dietary tips to consider includes the following:
- The portion size: Consuming smaller portions spread over the day instead of larger ones can be helpful. Smaller portions do not put a significant load on the digestive tract, which improves its efficiency and helps avoid flare-ups.
- Avoid dairy products: Are you lactose intolerant? You know how uncomfortable it gets when you consume dairy products, yet you can’t digest lactose (milk sugar). This gets worse in IBD cases, as it aggravates symptoms, including gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Limiting or avoiding dairy products is advised. You can also use enzyme products like Lactaid to assist with digestion.
- Supplements: IBD, especially Crohn’s disease, impacts your ability to absorb nutrients. This can cause deficiency, impacting your overall wellness. Multivitamins and mineral supplements are a good alternative, but talking to your doctor before you dive in is recommended.
- Hydration: Drinking enough liquids, especially water, is recommended as you strive to manage IBD and keep the symptoms at bay. Steer clear of options like carbonated drinks since they often lead to gas, alcohol, and caffeinated fluids, as they can worsen concerns like diarrhea.
Dietary changes can help lower or avoid inflammation, keeping IBD symptoms at bay. Consulting a dietitian is recommended, making it easier to tailor a personalized nutrition regimen accounting for IBD and other health concerns.
2. Stress management
Stress can aggravate IBD symptoms. The symptoms can also cause and worsen stress. You can easily be trapped in that cycle, making your other efforts hardly productive. Stress management doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You can try exercises, relaxing techniques, or enlist professional assistance. When your stress is managed well, your overall well-being improves, making it easier to keep IBD symptoms in check.
3. Quit smoking
Smoking is among the destructive habits you will always be advised to stop. The habit puts you at high risk of developing IBD, specifically Crohn’s disease. If you already are battling the condition, smoking aggravates it, which could lead to relapses and the need for invasive treatments, including repeat surgeries. Quitting the habit can help improve your digestive tract health, among other notable benefits.
Whether dealing with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, IBD can significantly stress your overall health. Seeking immediate attention is recommended, helping you adopt less invasive interventions while still viable, especially since it is not curable. Visit Lone Star Gastroenterology today for more on IBD and its treatment and management.
