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The Irish Sun

‘It can be life threatening' warns medics over common disorder that affects the digestive system

AN URGENT warning has been issued to thousands of Irish people over a common disorder that affects the digestive system. Advertisement 4 The immune system mistakenly attacks the digestive tract Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 Oonagh O'Hagan set up Symprove to support Irish people to achieve good gut health Credit: StoryLab And an estimated 40,000 Irish people suffer from IBD. Crohn's disease affects people of all ages, and the symptoms usually start in The main symptoms are diarrhoea, stomach aches and cramps, blood in your poo, fatigue and weight loss. Advertisement Read more in Health The symptoms may be constant or may come and go every few weeks or months. Ulcerative Colitis directly affects the colon and rectum. The colon is the large intestine (bowel) and the rectum is the end of the bowel where poo is stored. Small Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Exclusive Exclusive The main symptoms are: Recurring diarrhoea, which may contain blood, mucus or pus Tummy pain Needing to poo frequently Lorraine host reveals health update after emergency surgery and having to pull out of live TV hours before going on air People may also experience extreme fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. IBD is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the digestive tract. And despite being chronic and incurable, IBD is not classified as a disability in Ireland. Advertisement CAUSES OF IBD The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Your genes - you're more likely to get it if a close family member has it A problem with the immune system (the body's defence against infection) Smoking A previous stomach bug An abnormal balance of gut bacteria There's no evidence to suggest a particular diet causes Crohn's disease. And ulcerative colitis is thought to be an autoimmune condition. Advertisement This means the immune system, the body's defence against infection, goes wrong and attacks healthy tissue. The most popular theory is that the immune system mistakes harmless bacteria inside the colon as a threat and attacks the tissues of the colon, causing it to become inflamed. Exactly what causes the immune system to behave in this way is unclear but many experts think it's a combination of genetic and environmental factors. TREATMENTS AVAILABLE There's no cure for Crohn's disease, but treatment can help ease or control your symptoms. Advertisement Medicines are the main treatment and may include: steroids to reduce inflammation - for example, prednisolone immunosuppressants - if steroids do not help to reduce inflammation biological medicines - if other medicines do not help Treatment for ulcerative colitis aims to relieve symptoms during a flare-up and prevent symptoms from returning (maintaining remission). TREATMENT In most people, this is achieved by taking medicine, such as: aminosalicylates (ASAs) corticosteroids (steroid medicines) immunosuppressants Mild to moderate flare-ups can usually be treated at home. But more severe flare-ups need to be treated in hospital. WORLD IBD DAY Managing Director of Meaghers Pharmacy Group, Oonagh O'Hagan, took Symprove to manage her own IBS symptoms. Advertisement Symprove is a digestive health supplement that can provide relief from some of the symptoms of IBD. Oonagh then set up Symprove Ireland to distribute the supplement to as many outlets as possible across Ireland to support Irish people to achieve good gut She said: "We are proud to be partnering with Crohn's & Colitis Ireland to mark World IBD Day on Monday, May 19. "Crohn's & Colitis Ireland does incredibly important work in supporting people who suffer from IBD. Advertisement "And I am looking forward to working with Amy to ensure that IBD sufferers – and those with IBS – know how to manage their conditions as effectively as possible, so they complement their medical treatment with supplements that can significantly relieve their symptoms." 4 Amy Kelly is the COO of Crohn's & Colitis Ireland Credit: StoryLab 4 The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown Credit: Getty Images - Getty