CDHF Talks: Understanding the Benefits & Risks of IBD Treatment Options with Dr. Yvette Leung

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease for which there is currently no cure. It is a group of conditions that involve chronic inflammation of all or part of the digestive tract. Like many chronic diseases, IBD can alternate between severe episodes (flare-ups) and stretches of time with milder symptoms or no symptoms at all (disease remission). It can be painful, affect growth in children, and sometimes lead to serious complications. The disease has two main forms: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD).

Treatment can help you maximize your health. Treatment can:
• Reduce complications
• Reduce the number and frequency of flares
• Minimize hospital stays and surgery
• Improve healing
• Enable longer periods of remission
• Provide a better quality of life
Finding the best medicine and consistently following the recommended treatment can help you control your disease. When you achieve your best health, you increase your opportunities to develop physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. A standard of health that allows you to enjoy and fully participate in life should be your goal.

Learn all about the treatment options in this video.