According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 10 million people live with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs) in the world. In Brazil, it is estimated that more than 100,000 patients have some type of IBD, according to the Brazilian Society of Coloproctology.

In this context, the Maio Roxo campaign seeks to raise awareness among the population about these chronic conditions that affect the gastrointestinalexpanding knowledge about symptoms, early diagnosis and treatment, in addition to encouraging the search for specialized monitoring and combating prejudice surrounding diseases.

Most common inflammatory bowel diseases

IBDs are conditions characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract, with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis being the best known forms. Although they present similar symptoms, they have important differences. While the first can affect any part of the digestive system, from the mouth to the anus, compromising all layers of the intestinal wall, the second mainly affects the large intestine and rectum, causing more superficial inflammation.

Among the symptoms The most common are persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, blood in the stool, weight loss, fatigue and urgency to have a bowel movement. In some cases, patients may also present manifestations outside the intestine, such as changes in the joints, skin and eyes.

You give DIYs reasons from the origins

According to Dr. Ana Cristina Amaral, gastroenterologist and professor at Afya Brasília, IBDs have a multifactorial origin. “There is an interaction between genetics, the immune system, environmental factors, medications, infections, smoking and even changes in the intestinal microbiota. The patient has a genetic predisposition and, at some point in life, a trigger can trigger this chronic inflammatory process”, he explains.

Despite advances in medicine, the exact origin of these diseases is still not fully understood. According to Dr. Thalles Valente, proctologist and professor at Afya Itajubá, there are still important gaps regarding the functioning of IBDs.

“The inflammatory disease intestinal is not yet fully understood by medicine. We know that there is a significant activation of the immune system, which starts attacking the intestinal cells themselves, causing inflammation and damage that can affect the entire intestinal wall”, he states.

Importance of diagnosing diseases

Dr. Thalles Valente highlights that early diagnosis makes a difference in the patient’s prognosis. “The sooner we can get the patient into remission of the disease, the lower the risk of complications, surgeries and permanent damage to the intestine”, he highlights.

According to him, late diagnosis is still one of the main challenges in the management of IBD, as prolonged inflammation can leave scars and make the disease more serious and difficult to treat.

Prepare treatments as DIYs

The good news is that, currently, there are several therapeutic options capable of controlling diseases and providing quality of life to patients. “Today we have a much better scenario than 15 years ago. There are many medications available and new therapies in development, with excellent response rates, including for patients who have failed previous treatments”, highlights Dr. Ana Cristina Amaral.

Habits that help control IBD

Below, doctors list habits that help control inflammatory bowel diseases:

1. Practice physical activity regularly: exercises help with immune health, muscle strengthening and stress reduction;
2. Taking care of mental health: stress can directly influence the immune response and worsen IBD symptoms;
3. Avoid alcoholic beverages: alcohol attacks the intestinal mucosa and can increase inflammation and intestinal permeability;
4. Maintain a balanced diet: consuming fruits, vegetables and fiber can help with intestinal functioning and inflammatory control;
5. Reduce ultra-processed foods: excess processed meats, preservatives, colorings and ultra-processed foods can promote inflammatory processes;
6. Avoid self-medication and maintain medical supervision: Adequate and individualized treatment is essential to control diseases and prevent complications.

By Beatriz Felicio