PrintCauses and Risk Factors for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The cause for inflammatory bowel disease is unknown. IBD may be caused by an immune system response that is related to a combination of genetic (hereditary), environmental, and infectious (e.g., viral, bacterial) risk factors.
In patients who have IBD, a genetic abnormality may cause the immune system to overreact to bacteria, a virus, or an environmental factor, resulting in chronic inflammation in the GI tract.
Environmental risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease may include the following:
- Diet
- High stress levels
- Lack of exercise (sedentary lifestyle)
- Smoking
