Our mission is to improve the quality of life for BIPOC who are affected by IBD, Digestive Disorders and associated Chronic Illnesses; through Community, Research, Education, and Advocacy.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of your digestive tract.
Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease usually are characterized by diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. IBD can be debilitating and sometimes leads to life-threatening complications.
Inflammatory bowel disease symptoms vary, depending on the severity of inflammation and where it occurs. Symptoms may range from mild to severe. You are likely to have periods of active illness followed by periods of remission.
Signs and symptoms that are common to both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis include:
See your doctor if you experience a persistent change in your bowel habits or if you have any of the signs and symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.
Although inflammatory bowel disease usually isn’t fatal, it’s a serious disease that, in some cases, may cause life-threatening complications.
The exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease remains unknown. Previously, diet and stress were suspected, but now doctors know that these factors may aggravate but aren’t the cause of IBD.
One possible cause is an immune system malfunction. When your immune system tries to fight off an invading virus or bacterium, an abnormal immune response causes the immune system to attack the cells in the digestive tract, too. Heredity also seems to play a role in that IBD is more common in people who have family members with the disease. However, most people with IBD don’t have this family history.
Ulcerative colitis may cause the colon to rapidly widen and swell, a serious condition known as toxic megacolon.
A perforated colon most commonly is caused by toxic megacolon, but it may also occur on its own.
Excessive diarrhea can result in dehydration.
The digestive system made up of the gastrointestinal tract (GI), liver, pancreas, and gallbladder helps the body digest food. Digestion is important for breaking down food into nutrients, which your body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair.
Some digestive diseases and conditions are acute, lasting only a short time, while others are chronic, or long-lasting.
Celiac disease afflicts millions of Americans, most of whom are undiagnosed, and is second only to end-stage renal disease in perceived burden by patients and caregivers.
Celiac disease and Crohn’s disease are both diseases that deal with inflammation of the intestines. Studies debate the extent of the connection between Crohn’s disease and celiac disease, but all conclude that Crohn’s is more common in those with celiac disease than in the general population.
COGI is committed to working with its colleagues in the celiac disease community to advocate for increased federal funding for celiac disease research with an emphasis on the connection between Crohn’s disease and celiac disease, labeling standards for gluten free foods, widespread patient and provider education in celiac disease access to mainstream gluten-free products, improved diagnostic tools, and accelerated development of therapeutic treatments and a cure for celiac disease.
Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. They are also leading drivers of the nation’s $3.8 trillion in annual health care costs.
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