World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day: IBD Has No Age

World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day is observed on May 19 every year. The theme of this year is IBD has no Age.

Highlights:

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term for two conditions (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract
World IBD Day is observed on 19 May every year to bring awareness about the disease and its manifestations
The theme of World IBD Day 2023 is IBD has no age which is to raise awareness on the fact the effect of the disease on older adults

Imagine having pain in your stomach for a long time along with diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal cramping, blood in your stool, reduced appetite, and unintended weight loss. These are symptoms of a disease called inflammatory bowel disease. 4.9 million people suffer from this disease all over the world.

World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day is an annual global healthcare event held on May 19th to raise awareness of inflammatory bowel illnesses (IBD) that include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. On this day, several global and local organizations join forces to help a million individuals worldwide suffering from inflammatory bowel disease.

Can Ultra-Processed Food Cause Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Ultra-processed food is linked to higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, further studies are needed to identify the contributory factors in processed foods that might be responsible for these associations.

‘The theme of this year’s World IBD Day is IBD has no Age to shed light on how the disease affects older adults’

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

IBD is an umbrella name for two chronic digestive diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis ().

The first is Crohn’s disease which can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Followed by ulcerative colitis can affect any part of the large intestine. There is a third category, indeterminate colitis inflammatory bowel disease, which refers to IBD that has features of both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Although the actual cause of these conditions is uncertain, doctors believe that a compromised immune system plays a significant role.

Common Food Dyes can Cause Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Allura Red is a food coloring that is commonly found in candies, soft drinks, dairy products, and some cereals. This common food dye has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease.

Theme for World IBD Day 2023

The theme of this year’s World IBD Day is "IBD has no age". This theme was given by the European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA).

The theme encourages many local and global IBD patient organizations to participate in raising awareness of IBD in the elderly, with a focus on their quality of life and care. Famous sites throughout the world will be lit purple as part of the global effort to raise awareness about the daily struggles of living with IBD. In addition to illuminated landmarks, patient organizations, and activists will organize local support activities aimed towards IBD prevention.
Significance of World IBD Day Even though millions of people have IBD, many of them go undiagnosed, especially in Asian countries. The global incidence and the prevalence of IBD are rising. IBD is becoming more common in the Indian subcontinent, as is the financial burden that comes with long-term therapy and regular monitoring.

Epidemiological research from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka suggests that ulcerative colitis is more common in South Asians than Crohn's disease, with Crohn's disease on the rise ().

Older adults are sometimes stereotyped as fragile, dependent, and a burden on society. The attitude towards the elderly must be altered, which will result in less prejudice against the elderly, with the repercussions seen in society as a whole.

Health professionals, patient organizations, and other stakeholders should collaborate to develop comprehensive procedures and policies that support a high quality of life for senior patients while combating ageism.

Pomegranate Diet Can Reduce Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Diet containing pomegranates and berries can reduce inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Metabolite from pomegranate and berries can improve gut barrier and reduce inflammation, reveals a new study.

What Can I do for World IBD Day

If you have symptoms of IBD, please contact your healthcare professional for a diagnosis. Usually, it is recommended that people with IBD reduce the consumption of sweets, such as juices, candies, and soda, to reduce the quantity of water drawn into the gut, which may lead to watery stools. It is also recommended to reduce alcoholism
You can participate in or organize events like neighborhood walkathons, fundraisers, and informal educational seminars that raise awareness regarding IBD
If you are unable to attend an event, you can wear a purple ribbon throughout the day and use the chance to talk about IBD with people you meet on a daily basis
You can learn more about IBD by visiting several websites. You should also think about enrolling in online learning programs

References:

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470312/)
The epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in Asia and Asian immigrants to Western countries - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36479863/)

Source-Medindia

New Probe to Detect Inflammatory Bowel Disease During Routine Colonoscopy
A new probe has been designed using Raman spectroscopy that can detect inflammatory bowel disease better than current diagnostic procedures.