Sudden abdominal pain, urgent trips to the restroom, and other symptoms including bleeding and weight loss are an everyday reality for many people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the digestive tract.
The two main types of IBD – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – affect an estimated 2.4 to 3.1 million Americans. Crohn’s disease can affect different segments of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus, and symptoms may be subtle at first, starting with nutritional deficiency like low iron levels and vague abdominal pain. Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon but is characterized by the more urgent gastrointestinal symptoms.
Cases are steadily rising, partly because of improved diagnosis, but doctors also theorize that stress and a Western diet, heavy with processed foods, could play a role. IBD symptoms can also mimic other conditions, such as food poisoning or lactose intolerance. But if problems like cramping, diarrhea, or blood in the stool persist for several weeks, it is time to call your doctor.
Comprehensive, Coordinated Care
White Plains Hospital’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, which brings together comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services, is overseen by its Associate Director, board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Amneet Hans. “It’s best to treat IBD early, to prevent long-term complications, which include increased risk of colon cancer,” she says.
While there is no cure for IBD, treatments have advanced significantly over the past few decades and now include a variety of options such as topical, oral, injectable, or intravenous medications.
Program participants meet with Dr. Hans or one of her colleagues every few weeks until symptoms are under control. Once a patient is in remission, follow-up visits are typically scheduled every three to six months. These visits may include blood tests, stool testing (such as fecal calprotectin), or a colonoscopy to assess for endoscopic remission — evidence that the lining of the colon has healed.
For some patients, IBD medications may not be the best option or there are other complications that may not respond to medical therapy. In these cases, patients may be referred to the program’s colorectal surgery specialists, Dr. Kimberly Yee, Dr. June Hsu, or Dr. Yadin Bornstein, to discuss how surgery may help relieve their symptoms.
“Shared decision-making is an important component of IBD care,” explains Dr. Hans. “I discuss different treatment options with each patient, help them understand their diagnosis, and achieve and stay in remission. Building long-term relationships and seeing patients regain their quality of life is very rewarding.”
Dr. Amneet Hans is Associate Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program at White Plains Hospital. Board-certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Dr. Hans practices in White Plains and specializes in the medical and endoscopic management of IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. To make an appointment, call (914) 948-1000.