IBS vs. IBD - How Are They Similar and Different?

Both IBD and IBS are chronic gastrointestinal diseases. In addition, they’re both acronyms, and they even share two out of three letters. Therefore, mixing up the two conditions is as easy as ABC. But make no mistake - confusing these two conditions isn’t innocuous, as these two health issues have very different causes and health outcomes. 

 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an immune condition that occurs when the bowel wall becomes inflamed, swollen, or damaged. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a non-inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. And yes, it is possible to suffer from both of these conditions. But these definitions barely scratch the surface of the many differences between the two gastrointestinal diagnoses. 

 

Let’s compare and contrast IBS and IBD in this educational article. 

 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) 

This condition affects the lower GI tract: the large intestine, the small intestine, and the colon. If you suffer from chronic constipation, diarrhea, or both, and you feel bloated all the time, you could be suffering from IBS. The bloating that accompanies this condition may also make your belly appear large and protruding, even if you’re exercising regularly and have an otherwise lean and athletic body. Some people describe the feeling as having a balloon stuck in their stomachs. This sensation is due to excessive bloating caused by the condition.

Estimates suggest that between 10%-15% of the world suffer from IBS, but this condition remains poorly understood. Many people suffering from IBS have normal test results and display no abnormal findings in the gut. The cause of the condition remains unknown to this day, although many scientists now believe that bacterial overgrowth or other problems with gut microbes may be the main cause of IBS. 

 

Other potential causes and risk factors of IBS are: 

 

- Bacterial GI infections (around 70% of IBS patients had severe food poisoning in the past) 

 

- Genetics: you have a family member who also suffers from IBS 

 

- Food sensitivities and intolerances (lactose, gluten, sucrose, fructose) 

 

- Depression and anxiety 

 

Interestingly, IBS is also believed to be triggered by stress and mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. This is why mental health interventions, such as psychotherapy or even antidepressants are sometimes used to treat the condition. 

 

Although IBS is not a life-threatening condition and often has no complications, it can be very painful and uncomfortable to live with. Therefore, those who experience any IBS symptoms should definitely seek medical help (especially since the same symptoms could point to other serious GI diseases, including cancer).

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)  

IBD occurs when the surface of the bowel becomes inflamed or damaged. During an inspection, a gastroenterologist can see swelling and sores in the GI tract. What does it feel like? Diarrhea is the most widespread symptom, but pain, fever, and bloody stools are also common. Patients may also have a frequent need to go to the toilet, but when they do, they experience incomplete bowel movements.

There are two main forms of IBD: 

 

- Ulcerative colitis: recurrent inflammation of the colon. 

 

- Crohn’s disease: inflammation that can develop in any part of the gastrointestinal system. 

 

There’s also a third possible IBD diagnosis - indeterminate colitis - but most cases of this condition eventually develop to either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s. Both conditions have a strong hereditary component, so patients with a family history of IBD are more likely to develop the condition as well. IBD sufferers are believed to have a weak immune system that allows inflammation to develop in the GI system. Sadly, the exact cause of IBD remains unknown. 

 

The condition can become quite severe, in some cases, and it may cause extreme weight loss or blocked bowels - a life-threatening condition.

Comparing the symptoms of IBS and IBD

Both IBS and IBD can be manifested through the following symptoms: 

* Diarrhea and urgent bowel movements 

* Abdominal cramps and pain 

* Constipation 

 

IBS symptoms are typically limited to the digestive system. IBD, on the other hand, can cause many other symptoms, even such that don’t involve the GI tract, namely:

* Joint pain 

* Unintended weight loss and malnutrition 

* Eye inflammation 

* Scarring 

* Rectal bleeding 

 

Another distinguishing feature between the two conditions is pain. Although it is a common complaint in both conditions - 75% of IBS patients report abdominal pain, as do 50%-70% of IBD sufferers - the localization of the pain can be different. 

 

Most IBS patients experience pain in the lower abdomen, that gets better after a bowel movement, although cramps and sharp pain can also be present in the upper or middle abdomen due to bloating.

 

In IBD, abdominal pain can happen anywhere in the digestive system, and patients also often report pain in other parts of the body, namely the joints, eyes, mouth sores, skin, and rectum.

How common are IBD and IBS? 

As mentioned earlier, IBS is a very common health concern. According to gastroenterologists, it is the most common gastroenterological complaint, with 10%-15% of the world population reporting having IBS. IBD is much rarer. Only about 1.3% percent of American adults have IBD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

 

Diagnosis and treatment options

Diagnosing IBD is a process that requires more than a physical exam. Lab tests, endoscopic procedures, and possibly even imaging may be required to establish the severity of the disease. Although there’s no cure for IBD, a patient may need a variety of medications, such as antibiotics, immunosuppressants, or antidiarrheal drugs, to manage the condition and prevent complications. 

 

In some cases, surgery is also required to remove the badly-damaged parts of the intestine. 

 

The complications of IBD can be life-threatening and include: 

- Intestinal rupture (perforation) 

- a medical emergency that requires urgent surgery 

- Bowel obstruction 

- a blockage in your bowels 

- Colorectal cancer 

- Fistulas, or tunnels in the bowel wall that can create holes in the tissue

IBS is diagnosed very differently. A patient is given an IBS diagnosis only when other, more serious causes are ruled out. When you seek medical help, your doctor may have you do a number of medical tests to make sure that your symptoms are not caused by cancer, IBD, or other serious health conditions first. 

 

Typically, an IBS diagnosis is made no sooner than 6 months from the onset of the first symptoms. A diagnosis is established when a person experiences symptoms of IBS at least one day every week for the past 3 months. This is done to rule out temporary causes of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as food intolerances or foodborne illnesses. 

 

Like IBD, IBS doesn’t have a cure, but medications, dietary changes, exercise, and even mental help interventions can significantly help reduce the symptoms of the condition.

 This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Sweet vs Regular Potato: Is One Really Healthier Than the Other?

It’s common to believe sweet potatoes are much healthier than regular white ones, and many people decide to cut out white potatoes and replace them with sweet ones in an attempt to improve their diet. Realistically speaking, the difference between the two varieties is much smaller than most people think. The two varieties belong to two different plant families, but they have a similar macronutrient profile, differing only slightly in their vitamin content and GI index.

In fact, the cooking method you use may make a bigger difference to the health effects of potatoes than the inherent nutritive content of the two potato varieties. Learn about the actual difference between the two vegetables and healthy ways to cook potatoes.

The Nutrition Content White potatoes are often demonized for their “diabetes-causing” ingredients, high-calorie content, and lack of any beneficial nutrients, while sweet potatoes are known for their many health benefits. However, if we examine the two tubers more closely, we’ll be able to see that the two are actually not so different. 

 

The difference in calories is negligible - with ⅔ cup (100 g) of sweet potatoes containing 90 calories, while the same amount of white potatoes contains just 2 calories more - 92 calories. The protein, fat, and carbohydrate content of the two potato varieties are identical, both contain 2g of protein, 0.15 grams of fat, 21g of carbs. 

 

Both root veggies are rich in minerals and vitamins, such as magnesium, calcium, Vitamin B6, and vitamin C, with sweet potatoes being marginally richer in the last two. White potatoes also contain more potassium - 17% of the daily value as opposed to 10% in sweet potatoes.

The main difference between sweet potatoes and regular ones is the amount of beta-carotene, aka vitamin A. This vitamin imparts sweet potatoes with their orange hue, and it’s practically non-existent in white potatoes. This color difference makes many people believe yams are much healthier, which is just not true. 

 

"People are under the impression that sweet potatoes are healthier because they are orange. We have heard that 'white foods' are bad which is not true," registered dietitian nutritionist Shana Spence said in an interview with the Insider.

 

According to Healthline, sweet potatoes, especially purple ones, are also higher in antioxidants. On the other hand, white potatoes have compounds called glycoalkaloids, which have been shown to possess anti-cancer properties in studies. The fiber content of both veggies is also the same.

The Glycemic Index (GI Index)

Another pro-sweet potato argument you will typically see is the difference in the GI index - which is the rate at which different foods affect your blood sugar levels. If the GI index is higher than 70, a specific kind of food will increase blood sugar levels faster, which is why it’s not recommended for diabetics and people with other blood sugar issues. 

 

And while the glycemic index of sweet potatoes is lower than that of white ones in general, the way you cook will significantly affect the GI index, too. So, depending on the cooking method used, the GI index of sweet potatoes varies from 44 to 94! Thus, it’s more important to choose the right cooking method for potatoes than limit yourself to sweet potatoes only. 

 

Healthy Ways to Cook Potatoes

To enjoy all the nutrient benefits of both sweet and white potatoes without worrying about blood sugar spikes, it’s important to cook them properly and avoid adding unnecessary additives, such as cheese, cream, sugar, or butter when preparing potatoes. 

 

Frying will also increase the GI index of foods and will make both sweet and white potatoes less nutritious. Dietitians recommend baking instead of frying and keeping the skin on to get more fiber from the tubers. Instead of excessive oil, cheese, and butter, nutrition experts say it’s better to add herbs and spices to potatoes for extra flavor. 

 

Combining potatoes and yams with non-starchy vegetables, fish, meat, and other protein-rich foods is also beneficial, as it can further decrease their glycemic index. Lastly, those who wish to decrease the impact of sweet and white potatoes on blood sugar should boil them instead of baking, because boiling actually decreases the GI index of starchy foods like potatoes. 

 

In summary, you can and should enjoy both sweet and white potatoes in a well-balanced diet. As long as you cook them right, don’t eat more than a serving of potatoes at a time, and include a variety of other nutritious foods in your diet, both of the potato varieties will only boost your health.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement