IBD emerges as a global disease

"Researchers found that the highest prevalence of IBD worldwide was reported in Canada and Europe, whereas Asia had a lower prevalence of IBD. In developing nations, IBD was a rare occurrence; however, as these nations have become more industrialized, the incidence of IBD has increased. Gender differences were inconsistent, suggesting that the disease occurred equally among females and males."



www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/aga-iea010412.php

Not that I'd wish this disease on anyone, but if *everyone* had it, imagine how much more prevalent publicly accessible bathrooms would be!

This is alarming as far as public health (from the report):

"Universally, incidence rates for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were highest among individuals who were between 20 and 40 years old. Thus, IBD affects individuals in the most healthy and productive years of life, resulting in long-term cost to the patient, health-care system and society."

I got UC at 46 and it changed my life (not for the better). I know that I could not have worked as hard as I did in my 20 to early 40's if I had gotten UC that early. Makes me very concerned for everyone, the younger generation who are the backbone of productivity and the older generation who depends on them in many ways.

Now the report does NOT say that UC rates are skyrocketing. They said "stable" IIRC. Yes it is a long term cost to humanity because of the loss of production, cost of treatment, etc, not to mention the personal suffering. Perhaps Asian countries will become dominant in the future because they have less IBD (as well as many other factors including a younger population eager to improve their living conditions).

pb4

I hope you don't think your life is lost. There is a difference between pre-UC and now, for sure, but not lost. Unlike cancer we UC'ers rarely die from it. I don't think UC is a blessing but it has changed the way I live in good ways. I value my time much more and having been very sick with it in the past am grateful for being healthier now.

I've always been an optimist so I believe that we can get better and better, almost as good as "normal" people healthwise and happier because we know how bad it was is the past.

Best wishes.

It's kinda hard not to, to some degree at least...my crohn's colitis has taken a HUGE chunk of my life from me, never being in a full remission my entire 20 yrs and knowing I likely never will be doesn't help...I'm actually surprised that since my CD has been active in my colon for the entire 20 yrs that there still is no signs of cancer, but cancer is another entity anyways...even though our risks of having IBD in our colon increases for cancer especially as yrs go by with continual inflammation there and yet still no sign of cancer, that's pretty good. I don't mean to sound down and major negative in my replies but it does get depressing when you've never had a full remission after 2 decades and know your chances of every having one is slim to zero but I accept it to some degree, I really have no other choice but to accept it.


I eat healthy, exercise regularly and do what I can to help my symptoms, I have been much worse off in the past so I'm happy I'm where I am with my crohn's and realistic about it.


Thanks for the well wishes :)

Pb4- I understand your feeling. Im 35 and havent totally in remission since i was 27. I'm really struggling to get to that last bit that will make me almost symptoms free. But it doesnt happen.

God knows im better now overall. But I hear ya. It's still haunting everyday. Or at least it's never far. It tends to drain a lot from us. And amazingly we adapted to that on a daily basis. So suprising i managed a stressfull full time job and so on. However cant manage socialising a lot like I used to be.

Colitis makes you also less incline to socialise.

But at the end of the day, I don't wish anyone to have it but... if most poeple have IBD would it brings more awareness and maybe a faster solution?

pb4 said...
Thank you tournvice...I'm sorry you've been in a flare for so long, I think we are oddballs that way since it seems like the majority of IBDers do get to experiance full remissions...and I agree with you, I'd hate for the majority of the world to have this disease and it would be a shame if that's what it took in order to get rid of it....I just hope a cure for all of us will happen sooner rather than later, regardless of being oddball cases or not.

Being that 40% of people with UC end up needing surgery I would say that's a HUGE chunk of people who do not experience remission so you are definately not oddballs. I was one of them too...nothing worked for me...even high doses of Prednisone didn't work. I have gotten to know A LOT of people with no colons due to IBD. I agree, hopefully they will find a cure someday that is safe without having to go thru major surgery. I worry for my kids since UC is in my family big time.

greenuc, i totally agree. the most "americanized" we get, the more prevelant disease is. also, asia does not consume a lot of animal products and i feel that this has a lot to do with u.c.

Couldn't agree with you more greenuc. My theory on pediatric IBD is that the nutrients babies depend on from their mothers are not being given to them. Infact they are most likely being introduced to harsh environmental chemicals and toxins, along with poor dietary habits in mothers. It's just my theory though, I'm interested in research that will be ongoing in the next years....

The reason IBD is spreading throughout the world and in remote parts of the world too is because of agra-culture, GMO, and the introduction of a more "westernized" diet in remote locations that didn't know from processed foods, HFCS, and all the rest of the junk we eat. The traditional westernized diet has no nutrition in it.

My personal theory on IBD increase involves antibiotic overuse (directly as pills and indirectly in meat production) and chlorinated water (damaging gut flora if highly dosed). Once a person gets IBD they become super-sensitive to certain food-types like gluten and dairy because their good gut flora is gone or severely damaged.

In the US the Food and Drug Administration has just announced new limits on some antibiotic use in industrial feedlot animals. Yay, but more needs to be done in this area, much more.

My theory would agree with mumof3's in that Asians do eat less meat (less antibiotic exposure) until they become Westernized in their diet and have more antibiotics prescribed by doctors.

IBD has been around for thousands of years, not a new disease. But it is affecting many more people now that could be spared. Just my 2 cents.