While going through my daily browsing through Yahoo Health, I stumbled upon an article relating to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Since many of the articles we read touched upon treatments targeting the initiation of inflammation before tissue damage occurs, I thought it would be interesting to read about various treatments. Treatment is individualized based upon each patient. The physician and the patient work closely to develop which treatment goal is most effective. The goals are developed based upon the intensity of IBD and the side effects of a treatment. Managing IBD serves to improve quality of life by either reducing symptoms or eliminating them. This article discusses the use of corticosteroids for IBD to reduce the inflammatory response in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Typically, corticosteroids are used by people with severe symptoms because they stop symptoms by putting patients in remission. Long term use is not encouraged because they have side effects which limit treatment. Using systemic corticosteroids causes side effects such as acne and severe mood changes, adrenal insufficiency, visual changes, cataract formation, and aseptic joint necrosis.
Pregnant women use corticosteroids to manage IBD as well. They are considered as a safe means of treatment when symptoms flare up. Before, women with IBD were advised not to have children because they are more at risk for having a miscarriage, to deliver prematurely and to have a low birth weight infant. Medications have been used to help manage this problem in order for women to have a more successful pregnancy.
One common factor that develops with IBD is depression. This coexistence further decreases the “fair and poor” quality of life many IBD patients have described. Nearly 30-50 percent of people with IBD also suffer from depression and of these people, 30 percent develop a dependence on medication and alcohol.
Sources:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/980101ap/botoman.html
http://health.yahoo.com/digestive-medications/corticosteroids-for-inflammatory-bowel-disease/healthwise--hw40876.html;_ylt=AhI4dhx_I93e9ODpBwFreVFLvs8F
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I just found a website that mentions a treatment for IBD patients through stress management. As stated on the cite "Stress activates the sympathetic nerve plexuses, and stimulates excessive adrenaline production, which in turn upsets the rhythmic muscle contractions of the gut". These muscle contractions are symptoms for IBD and by managing stress levels, patients with IBD can have this treatment. One type of stress management would be the practice of "yoga", I believe this treatment is reliable since is a more natural way of approaching the disease.
ReplyDeleteCoincidentally, I opened up my Yahoo homepage and happened to come across dietary ways to "Fight Stress." The article is from Women'sDay, but was found on the Yahoo Health site. The article gives 8 foods that can help reduce anxiety. These include:
ReplyDeleteDark chocolate - the darker, the better due to being high flavonoids and phenethylamine, which have relaxing and mood enhancing properties.
Skim Milk - the article doesn't say much about this other than that one study showed a reduction in stress-related PMS symptoms in women who drank 4+ servings of skim milk per day when compared to women who drank less than 1 serving per week.
Oatmeal - this is mainly due to the carbs that oatmeal has, but also because it is high in fiber, which means the body will absorb it more slowly and prolong the effects of serotonin (a calming hormone).
Salmon - this is for the Omega-3 Fatty Acids, which boost serotonin and suppress adrenaline and cortisol.
Walnuts - lowers blood pressure (FDA recommends 1.5oz per day).
Sunflower Seeds - high in folate, which helps the body produce dopamine.
Spinach - magnesium improves the body's response to stress
Blueberries - antioxidants to counter the effects of cortisol
Some of these food suggestions seem less reliable than others (especially in the case of skim milk because of the servings and also that it only refers to ONE study), but overall it seems to be a fairly healthy list and I have heard many people tell me that chocolate makes them feel better!
The full article can be found here:
http://health.yahoo.com/featured/87/8-foods-that-fight-stress/