There’s No IBD Cure, But Research Is Ongoing – Healthline

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect the intestinal tract. IBD happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the intestines.

These are the two main types of IBD:

IBD is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management. Theres no cure for ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease.

There are treatments for IBD, with the goals of reducing inflammation, easing symptoms, and reducing flare-ups.

Lets go over current treatment options for IBD and see whats on the horizon.

The main treatments are medicines and surgery. Your doctor will recommend treatment based on whether you have ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease, as well as the severity of your symptoms.

Some medications are meant for short-term use and others can be taken longer. You may require a combination of medicines. Also, your needs will likely change over time based on symptoms, flare-ups, and remissions.

If you have any other conditions or develop one along the way, that must be taken into account. Among the medications used to treat IBD are:

Aminosalicylates, which may help prevent flare-ups and keep you in remission. These include:

Biologic therapies, which help block proteins that cause inflammation. These include:

Other newer therapies are:

Corticosteroids can help when youre having a flare-up. Theyre fast-acting and meant for short-term use. These include:

Immune system suppressors reduce inflammation and help prevent flare-ups. They can take a few weeks to a few months to start working. These include:

Your doctor may prescribe other medicines for specific symptoms. These may include:

In cases where medications arent working well enough, surgery may help improve quality of life. Some types of ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease surgery are:

Complications of IBD that can be treated surgically include:

Certain lifestyle choices may help with symptoms and affect how you feel overall.

A severe case of IBD can make it difficult to get the nutrients you need through food. But if youre thinking of taking dietary supplements, speak with a doctor so you can do it safely and effectively.

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend changes to your diet, such as:

Keeping a food diary can help you figure out which foods cause problems. Creating the right diet plan for you can take time, and it may help to meet with a dietitian.

Stress doesnt cause IBD. But living with IBD can be stressful, and that can affect you physically. You may be able to reduce the effects of stress by:

Research suggests that psychological interventions may be helpful for some people with IBD. These may include:

More research is needed to assess the effectiveness of these therapies as they relate to IBD. But if youre feeling stressed out or overwhelmed, you might want to consider seeking help from a qualified therapist. It may also be helpful to join a support group for people with IBD.

According to the National Institutes of Health, some people with Crohns disease can benefit from resting the bowel for a few days or weeks.

This involves drinking only certain liquids or not eating or drinking anything at all. You may need intravenous (IV) nutrition during this time, so its crucial that you do this under a doctors care.

Treatment for IBD has come a long way in recent decades. A wider selection of drugs for ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease is allowing a more personalized approach to treatment. Still, not everyone responds well to treatment.

The Crohns & Colitis Foundation has identified five priorities for research:

Theres also plenty of ongoing research into new and emerging therapies, such as:

You can keep up with the latest research and clinical trials through The Crohns & Colitis Foundation.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease are chronic diseases. Either of these can go into remission for long periods but remission is not a cure. Theres always the chance of a relapse.

Theres no shortage of online or word-of-mouth claims of a cure for IBD. They usually involve sales of expensive:

While some of these things may improve symptoms, they are not a cure. And even natural products can interfere with medications or increase symptoms of IBD. Consult with a doctor before making drastic changes to your diet or taking new supplements of any kind.

You can learn more about complementary therapies from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Maintaining a healthy diet can help manage symptoms. But theres no specific diet known to cure IBD. Its important to continue with regular medical check-ups even when youre in remission.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease are the two main types of IBD. Both are chronic, inflammatory conditions that require lifelong management.

Despite claims to the contrary, theres no cure for IBD. However, there are many medications to help control flare-ups and manage symptoms. And in some cases, surgery can result in long-term remission.

Research into the exact cause of IBD is ongoing. Its a piece of the puzzle that may eventually lead to a cure. In the meantime, new and more effective treatments are improving quality of life for many people with IBD.

If you have IBD, see your doctor regularly. If your medications arent working, ask about the latest advances in treatment, as well as lifestyle adjustments that might help.

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There's No IBD Cure, But Research Is Ongoing - Healthline