New research has revealed that a healthy lifestyle could be the key to preventing up to sixty percent of cases of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
An article revealed that individuals at a heightened risk for IBD due to heredity might be able to reduce their odds of developing the condition by taking proactive measures.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is commonly associated with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. It is characterized by persistent abdominal discomfort, cramping or bloating, recurring bouts of watery stools with blood in them, unexpected weight loss, and extreme exhaustion. Unfortunately, these conditions cannot be cured and may range in intensity.
Treatments typically include dietary alterations or medications such as aminosalicylates and mesalazine to combat inflammation in the gut. If needed, one may also utilize immunosuppressants, including steroids, for extra relief.
Research conducted by the NHS has revealed that approximately one-fifth of those suffering from ulcerative colitis have symptoms too severe to be treated with conventional medicines and require surgery for partial bowel removal. At the same time, up to three-quarters of those living with Crohn’s disease will require surgery to treat complications and repair damage to their digestive system.
To ascertain the extent of preventable cases, experts from Massachusetts General Hospital and other research institutions relied upon data from multiple lengthy studies centered around nurses and doctors with thousands of participants. Utilizing this data, they established modifiable risk scores (MRS) to estimate how many IBD incidents would have been avoidable.
The MRS scale ranged between 0 and 6, where higher scores indicated an increase in potential risk factors. To assess participants’ risk levels, researchers considered various factors such as BMI, smoking habit, consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, physical activity level and daily dietary intake including fruits & veggies; fiber; PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids); and red meat.
After conducting the research, it was found that 346 individuals had Crohn’s disease, and 456 exhibited ulcerative colitis. After analyzing MRS scores, researchers estimated that 43% of Crohn’s cases and 45% of ulcerative colitis cases could have been avoided with a low MRS score. Similarly, the research revealed that if people had maintained a healthy lifestyle, 61% of Crohn’s disease cases and 42% of ulcerative colitis cases could have been prevented.
Subsequently, a plethora of studies conducted in various European countries was utilized to delve deeper into the research. These investigations encompassed thousands of participants and spanned multiple years. Astonishingly, through the analysis of these cases, it was demonstrated that up to 60% of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) cases could have been prevented if people had maintained a low Maternal Risk Score and healthy lifestyle.
The experts concluded that the correlation between lifestyle factors and IBD development is causal rather than coincidental. Despite the fact that this has yet to be confirmed, many sources of evidence suggest quite strongly that environmental and lifestyle considerations play a significant role in IBD’s emergence.
Constructing healthier lifestyles may be an effective way to prevent issues associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the future.
For those considered high-risk, such as family members of individuals with IBD, their lifetime probability of developing the disorder is estimated to be between 2%-17%. An estimated three million adults in the United States and another 1.3 million in Europe are believed to be affected by IBD.
