Inflammatory Bowel Disease Specialist
Moshe Barnajian, MD
Minimally Invasive and Robotic Colorectal Surgeon based at Cedars Sinai, Los Angeles
In a given year, over 3 million American adults are diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If you struggle with IBD-related issues, including weight loss, abdominal pain, and chronic fatigue, you can receive the care you need at the practice of Moshe Barnajian, MD, in the Beverly Grove area Los Angeles, California. Click on the online scheduler to book your inflammatory bowel disease evaluation at this West Hollywood-area colorectal practice today. You can also call to schedule an appointment.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Q & A
What is inflammatory bowel disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a broad term that describes conditions that cause ongoing inflammation of your intestinal tract. The most common types of IBD include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Ulcerative colitis means that you have ulcers or small sores throughout the inner lining of your large intestine and rectum. If you have Crohn’s disease, you wind up with a chronic inflammation of the intestinal lining.
Why do I have inflammatory bowel disease?
Medical experts aren’t clear as to why some men and women are more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease; it’s likely that several issues play a role.
Immune system issues can lead to IBD, for instance. When your immune system fights off a foreign invader, it unintentionally attacks the lining of your digestive tract at the same time. This can lead to chronic inflammation.
In addition to your genetics, any of the following factors can increase your risk of inflammatory bowel disease:
- Cigarette smoking
- Diet high in processed, low-fiber foods
- Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Without proper treatment, inflammatory bowel disease can lead to serious complications, including joint problems, blood clots, and colon cancer. Because of these concerns, early intervention with Dr. Barnajian is important.
What is the treatment for inflammatory bowel disease?
The severity of inflammatory bowel disease symptoms varies dramatically. You may experience occasional abdominal pain or diarrhea, all the way up to unplanned weight loss and blood in your stool. In any case, Dr. Barnajian spends time carefully evaluating you and conducting diagnostic testing to get to the root of your condition.
Depending on the details of your inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis, Dr. Barnajian may recommend any of the following treatments:
- Antibiotic medications
- Immune system suppression with medications
- Corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatory drugs
- Dietary supplements, including fiber, iron, and calcium
These conservative therapies aren’t always effective for more severe cases of inflammatory bowel disease. For more serious issues, Dr. Barnajian could recommend surgery to remove the damaged portion of your colon or rectum. As a board-certified colorectal surgeon, Dr. Barnajian has advanced training in the most up-to-date surgical solutions available.
If inflammatory bowel disease is starting to lower your quality of life, contact the office of Moshe Barnajian, MD, to get started on treatment. Book your exam online or over the phone today.
