On the surface, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) seem almost alike. Because they have similar symptoms that impact the digestive system, it’s easy to get them mixed up. However, there are several important differences between the two that will guide your health care provider toward an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
When you know the difference between IBD and IBS, you will have a better understanding of how to best manage your symptoms.
The Difference Between a Disease and a Syndrome
To better understand the difference between IBD vs. IBS, focus on the last word in each: disease and syndrome.
The dictionary definition of a disease is a condition that keeps a part of your body from functioning as it should. Diseases usually have specific signs and symptoms that can be detected through medical testing. A syndrome, on the other hand, is a collection of symptoms that don’t always indicate a specific disease or injury.
IBS is generally less severe than IBD. IBS doesn’t cause inflammation and rarely means a trip to the hospital. IBD, on the other hand, can be seen in diagnostic tests and can cause permanent damage to your intestines.
While IBD and IBS are not the same, these two conditions may co-exist in the same patient. In fact, up to 40% of patients with IBD will also have IBS.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms and Diagnosis
Your intestines are lined with muscles that move food along during the digestive process. People with IBS experience discomfort when these muscles don’t work as effectively as they should. Symptoms of IBS can include:
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Mucus in your bowel movements
It’s not clear what causes IBS. Your body could simply be more sensitive to gas and bloating. IBS can also be triggered by changes in the naturally occurring bacteria in your intestines. Some people with IBS say that stress can trigger their symptoms, as can some fruits and vegetables, spicy foods, wheat products, and drinks such as alcohol, coffee, and milk. Some women report more symptoms when they menstruate.
When diagnosing IBS, your provider will do a physical exam and ask about your medical history. If your symptoms don’t respond to initial treatment, your provider may ask for blood tests, stool samples and other tests to rule out diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Two Specific Conditions
IBD is more narrowly defined than IBS. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IBD is an umbrella term that usually includes one of two specific conditions: Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, both of which involve long-term inflammation of your GI tract.
Like IBS, people with IBD may have abdominal pain and diarrhea. Unlike IBS, however, IBD also includes these other symptoms:
- Blood in your stool
- Fatigue
- Symptoms that wake you from sleep
- Severe urgency with accidents
- Loss of appetite
- Problems with your eyes, joints and skin
- Weight loss
Depending on the type of IBD you have, it affects your digestive system in the following ways:
- Crohn’s disease—This condition usually centers on the part of your small intestine before your colon, but it can affect anything from your mouth to your anus. The affected areas usually show up in patches next to healthy tissue and can reach through several layers of the GI tract.
- Ulcerative colitis—This inflammation only affects your rectum and your colon, also called your large intestine. Inflamed areas are continuous rather than patchy and spread inward from the rectum into the part of the large intestine that is near the center of your body. This inflammation is only seen in inner layer of your colon’s lining.
It’s not clear what causes IBD, but researchers believe it could be triggered by environmental factors, such as diet, cigarette smoke, or an infection. It could also be caused by an immune disorder or an imbalance in the bacteria that naturally live in your intestines. People with a family history of IBD are more prone to develop the disease.
While men and women are equally likely to have IBD, treatment can affect women’s health and impact those who are pregnant or plan to have children.
To test for IBD, health care providers may take samples of your blood or stool. They may also ask for an endoscopy or colonoscopy along with an MRI, CT scan or other imaging study. Your treatment might include medication or surgery.
How to Prevent IBS and IBD Flare-ups
While IBS and IBD are not caused by diet, the food you eat can help prevent symptoms in the future. Your provider may ask you to eat smaller meals more often throughout the day rather than three bigger meals. You may also need to cut back on beans, certain vegetables and products made with wheat and milk. You might also have to restrict greasy or sugary foods that can trigger diarrhea or gas.
Your provider may recommend nutrition counseling, more physical activity, improved sleep habits and mental health therapy to help relieve stress.
More to Read
- 5 Ways to Improve Gut Health
- How to Relieve Diverticulitis Symptoms
- Tips for How to Treat GERD and Reclaim Your Life from Acid Reflux
- What Is the Difference Between Prebiotic and Probiotic Foods?
Medically reviewed by Raymond K. Cross, Jr., MD.
