Q&A: Oklahoma City doctor writes book about inflammatory bowel diseases

“This is a disease where there is not a good reference book for patients,” Ali said. “Unlike diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, where you can find tons of information, this was a subject where you won't find a good, reliable book.”

Ali, a gastroenterologist at OU Physicians Crohn's and Colitis Clinic, is the author of the upcoming book “Crohn's & Colitis for Dummies,” part of the popular “For Dummies” series that has published numerous how-to guides since 1991.

Ali's book is available for pre-order and will go on sale in June. He answered questions about inflammatory bowel diseases and his upcoming book.

Q: What diseases are included in inflammatory bowel diseases, or IBD?

A: Inflammatory bowel diseases affect about 1.4 million Americans, according to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two main forms of chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, called inflammatory bowel disease, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the digestive system, often affecting the lower part of the small intestine, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes ulcers in the lining of the rectum and colon.

Some people might have heard of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, which is a different diagnosis than inflammatory bowel disease, Ali said. IBS is not a disease but rather a group of symptoms that occur together.

Ali said with both IBS and IBD, you suffer from diarrhea and abdominal pain. But the difference is with IBD, you battle chronic inflammation of your intestines.

“It's a chronic inflammation where your intestines from inside get swollen, get ulcerated, and it bleeds, and that can cause pain and diarrhea,” he said.

Q: What motivated you to write about this topic?