Neon glowing water pipe illustrating intestinal disease

What is inflammatory bowel disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a term for two conditions (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and impacts 1 in 140 Canadians. While commonly confused with irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, it is very different. In this 2-minute video, Dr. Neeraj Narula, a gastroenterologist, explains what IBD is and what is known about what might cause it.

 

 

Download a transcript of this video.

Looking to learn more about inflammatory bowel disease? Visit the Crohn's and Colitis Canada website.

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Author Details

References

  1. About Crohn’s & colitis. Crohn’s and Colitis. 2019. Accessed April 3, 2024. https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/About-IBD
  2. Narula N, Wong ECL, Dehghan M, et al. Association of ultra-processed food intake with risk of inflammatory bowel disease: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2021;374:n1554. doi:10.1136/bmj.n1554

DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).