Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease are two conditions of the intestinal tract that can affect our GI health and bowel habits.

Gastroenterologist Suresh Chavakula explains "Inflammatory bowel disease should not be confused or mistaken with irritable bowel syndrome."

Dr. Chavakula says that most people get the two confused but inflammatory bowel disease is very different from irritable bowel syndrome. "The ramifications of inflammatory bowel disease are much more vast than IBS which is a much benign disease."

Courtney Aufdenkompe says "I didn't know that inflammatory bowel disease could lead to colon cancer."

Dr. Chavakula also says that it can and to complicate matters more-there are two different types of inflammatory bowel disease: Chron's disease and ulcerative colitis, and the symptoms for those can be similar as well. "Usually the symptoms may include diarrhea, sometimes the diarrhea is bloody, they have abdominal cramps, pain in the abdomen.

Bottom line-you should see your doctor if you experience any changes in your bowels-to be sure you are getting proper treatment.

Now irritable bowel syndrome, which is the less serious condition and often triggered by nerves or food choices is the number one digestive disease in our Country with 30 to 50 million people who suffer from it.