Up to 1.6 million Americans suffer from inflammatory bowel disease. Exact symptoms and severity may differ, but for people with inflammatory bowel disease, daily life is greatly influenced by the way their digestive system behaves. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea weight loss, rectal bleeding, and fatigue.

Doctors don't have a clear picture of what causes inflammatory bowel disease. However, some potential risk factors include:

●  Smoking cigarettes
●  Family history of inflammatory bowel disease
●  Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. These medications may increase the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease or worsen disease in people who have inflammatory bowel disease.
●  Living in northern climates in industrialized countries