What Exactly Is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a common inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [6]. For reference, another common form of IBD is ulcerative colitis.
IBD are conditions that cause inflammation that can damage the intestines. Crohn’s disease causes damage to the small and large intestines, while ulcerative colitis usually causes damage to mostly the large intestines.
These conditions are not the same as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) [7]. Although they have some similar symptoms such as:
- Bloating
- Gas
- Stomach discomfort
But IBS doesn’t usually cause permanent damage to your intestines like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis can.