Originally published September 19 2005
Sufferers of IBD at higher risk for MS
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have released new studies linking inflammatory bowel disease with a higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders.
People with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher than normal risk for developing multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders, new studies show.
Researchers are also reporting that people with inflammatory bowel disease are at increased risk for asthma, arthritis, chronic kidney disease, psoriasis, bronchitis, and other conditions believed to be linked to the immune system.
"These studies remind us that the effects of inflammatory bowel disorders extend to every corner of the body, including the lungs and central nervous system," says Edward Loftus Jr.
of the Mayo Clinic, who wrote an editorial accompanying two studies.
"The findings lend credence to the concept that patients with one chronic inflammatory condition are more likely than the general population to develop another."
It is estimated that more than 3 million Americans suffer from either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, the two conditions that make up inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Ulcerative colitis commonly affects young adults; symptoms can include chronic diarrhea, abdominal cramping, weight loss, and fever.
The condition is limited to the lining of the large intestine, and because of this it is curable by surgery that removes the colon.
Crohn's disease involves any part of the intestinal tract from the mouth to the anus.
Unlike the poorly understood but more common condition known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), IBD is frequently associated with symptoms occurring outside the bowel.
These can include inflammation of the eyes, mouth ulcers, joint pain or swelling, and other inflammatory-related conditions.
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