AIIMS-trained gastroenterologist reveals 5 mistakes that worsen IBD risk: Stopping medications to skipping follow-ups…

IBD is a chronic disorder that requires regular treatment and a healthy lifestyle to keep in check. However, some mistakes are commonly made, explains Dr Sethi.

IBD, or inflammatory bowel disease, is a chronic health disorder that involves inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. According to the Cleveland Clinic website, the symptoms of IBD can arrive in sudden flares and include severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea, among other things.

Since IBD is a lifelong illness with no complete cure, it affects not just the gut but also overall health as well as mental well-being. However, there are treatments that can keep the condition in check.

Taking to Instagram on May 19, Dr Saurabh Sethi, a California-based gastroenterologist trained in AIIMS, Harvard, and Stanford Universities, observed that certain habits make the situation worse for patients with IBD. Five of them are listed as follows.

1. Eating ultra-processed foods

Ultra-processed foods are never healthy for the gut, and the effects of such foods on people at risk of IBD are worse. “A study of 116,000 adults found that high ultra-processed food intake is associated with up to 82 percent higher risk of developing IBD - and worsening it,” stated Dr Sethi. “Your gut lining can’t heal in a processed food environment.”

2. Stopping medication during remission

For any disease, it is important to complete the entire course of medicine as prescribed by the doctor and not stop taking it midway through the course. The same goes for the treatment of IBD. As Dr Sethi shared, “Feeling good means the medication is working - not that you’re cured. Studies show roughly one in three IBD patients relapse within just 12 months of stopping biologics. Don’t self-discharge.”

3. Letting stress go unmanaged

The gut-brain axis is very real, and stress on one has an effect on the other. “Research shows high perceived stress increases IBD flare risk by 2.4 times,” noted the gastroenterologist. “Your brain and gut are one system - ignoring this is like treating half the disease.”

4. Cutting out entire food groups without guidance

While trying to eat healthy, one should consult a doctor or a nutritionist first before taking out foods from their regular diet. As Dr Sethi noted, “Restriction without a strategy backfires. Nearly 50 percent of IBD patients already have at least one nutritional deficiency. Random elimination makes this worse, not better.”

5. Skipping follow-up scopes

Since IBD is a chronic disorder, it requires regular check-ups and treatment to keep the condition in check. “Silent inflammation causes long-term damage,” cautioned Dr Sethi. “In IBD patients who underwent regular surveillance colonoscopy, five-year colorectal cancer survival was 100 percent versus 74 percent in those who didn’t. That gap is entirely preventable.”

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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