In this video from Symptoms of Colitis, Dr. Brain Bressler, an international expert on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, explains that while irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may share some common symptoms, there are some critical differences between the two.  He also shares that it’s not uncommon for patients with IBD to also suffer from IBS.

MORE: Discover three tips for improving digestion.

There is one main difference between the two conditions: people who have IBS may suffer from abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation (or both), caused by irritation of the bowel, whereas IBD patients suffer from inflammation of the bowel which can cause ulcerations of the bowel and intestines, along with the symptoms of IBS.

MORE: Read our seven tips for managing Crohn’s disease flare-ups.

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