Lifestyle Changes to Manage Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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General Guidelines for Managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Lifestyle changes play an important role in controlling symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. The main steps that you can take to help manage this condition are:
- Avoid foods that trigger attacks.
- Take nutritional supplements when needed.
- Manage the stress in your life.
Avoid Foods That Trigger Attacks
Foods that trigger attacks are different for each person. In a notebook, keep a list of the foods you eat and any symptoms that occur or worsen after eating these foods. Discuss the findings with your doctor or dietitian.
Dairy foods commonly trigger attacks. This is believed to be due to intolerance to lactose (milk sugar) in dairy foods. If dairy foods are a problem for you, ask a dietitian to help you make substitutions or recommend supplements to ensure that you get enough calcium and other nutrients. Nondairy foods rich in calcium include:
- Calcium-fortified foods such as orange juice and soy milk
- Canned salmon or anchovies with bones
- Dried figs
- Turnip greens
Other foods that commonly cause attacks include:
- Highly seasoned foods
- High-fiber foods
- Alcohol
Take Nutritional Supplements When Needed
If there are many foods that you must avoid because they trigger reactions and/or cause diarrhea, you may not be meeting your nutrient needs. Your doctor or dietitian may suggest high-calorie supplements to provide additional nutrients and calories, which are needed for healing.
Manage the Stress in Your Life
Although stress does not cause inflammatory bowel disease, as in many illnesses, increased stress may play a role in making symptoms worse. Seek out emotional support from your family and caregivers. There are many support groups for people with inflammatory bowel disease, and these groups may have helpful suggestions for how to manage the challenges of this disease. In addition, you may benefit from stress reduction training and relaxation therapies, like meditation. Getting regular exercise and adequate sleep can also help.
When to Contact Your Doctor
Contact your doctor if you develop the following:
- Fever
- Bleeding
- Worsening abdominal pain or diarrhea
References:
American Gastroenterological Association website. Available at: http://www.gastro.org/ . Accessed March 6, 2006.
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America website. Available at: http://www.ccfa.org/ . Accessed March 6, 2006.
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. Available at: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ . Accessed March 6, 2006.
Primary Care Medicine . 4th ed. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2000.
Rakel RE and Bope ET. Conn's Current Therapy 2001 . 53rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company; 2001.
Last reviewed March 2009 by Daus Mahnke, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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