Crohn’s disease is a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). With IBD, the immune system misidentifies harmless bacteria as a threat and starts attacking the intestines.
About
Unlike Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Irritable Bowel Disease causes the intestines to become inflamed and may lead to ulcers (small, open sores) or other damage.
Crohn’s disease affects the intestines. It’s effects show up in many other parts of the body as well. For example, Crohn’s may be associated with arthritis, blood clots, depression, eye disease (and vision loss), headaches, kidney stones, liver disease, mouth sores, osteoporosis , seizures, skin disorders, and strokes.
FYI
Causes and Risk Factors
Crohn’s disease can affect anyone at any time. However, there are a few things that may affect your risk.
- Age. Most people develop Crohn’s disease before they turn 30
- Smoking. Smoking may not cause Crohn’s, but it can make many of the symptoms a lot worse.
- Ethnicity. Anyone can get Crohn’s, but Caucasians suffer at higher rates
- Family history. If anyone else in your immediate family has Crohn’s, your risk of developing it are higher than for those without a family history of the disease
Symptoms
The symptoms of Crohn’s Disease can be mild or severe and may include any or all of the following:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea (possibly bloody)
- Slight fever
- Weight loss
- Cramping
- Vomiting
- Occasional rectal bleeding
- Weight loss
Prevention
Constipation and other digestive problems can make life miserable, especially for people who suffer from them often. They can disrupt your daily life. Fortunately, these diseases are often manageable, sometimes even preventable, through diet and lifestyle. Here are some tips that will help keep your intestines and digestive system healthy.
Your provider may recommend that you make some lifestyle changes, such as:
- Limiting dairy products (milk, cheese)
- Limiting fiber—if they make your symptoms worse
- Eliminating other foods that you believe trigger your symptoms or make them worse.
- Making other diet changes, such as reducing fatty foods, alcohol, or spices
- Taking nutritional supplements to counteract the loss of nutrients caused by Crohn’s.
- Quitting smoking
- Reducing your stress
Diagnosis
Because there are so many possible symptoms, and because those symptoms can be mild to severe and may even disappear for a short while, it’s often very difficult to diagnose Crohn’s disease. If your healthcare provider suspects that you have Crohn’s, he or she may order one or more tests including a endoscopy and/or colonoscopy (inserting a small camera through the patient’s rectum to view the intestines), specialized x-rays and other scans, stool samples and blood tests.
If you experience frequent abdominal pain, blood in your stool, unexplained fever that lasts more than a few days and/or frequent diarrhea, consult your healthcare provider.
Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider
…about Your GI Condition
- What is the name of my condition?
- How severe is my condition? Is my condition considered chronic (long-lasting)?
- Is it hereditary or related to my environment or lifestyle?
- What complications might I experience?
- Does my condition increase my risk for developing any other medical problems?
…about Diagnosing Your Conditions
- What tests are available to diagnose my condition?
- Which of them do you recommend and why?
- What does the test involve?
- What are the side effects of each test?
- How should I prepare for this diagnostic test?
- How long will the test take?
- Will I be able to drive myself home immediately following the test?
- How long will it take to get the results of the test? Should I call for the results, or will someone contact me?
- If my test finds a problem, what will our next steps be?
…about Your Treatment
- Is there a cure for my condition?
- What are my treatment options and which do you recommend?
- What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of this treatment?
- What are the common side effects of the recommended treatment?
- What should I do if I experience severe side effects?
- Should I take any over-the-counter medications (e.g., antacids, aspirin) during treatment?
- How long should it take for the treatment to work?
- Are there any medications that I am already taking or am likely to take that can interact with the medications you are prescribing?
- What types of lifestyle and dietary changes may be helpful to manage my condition during and after treatment?
- Should I schedule appointments with a nutritionist, dietician, or other health care specialist? How often should I be seen for follow-up appointments?
- Are there any clinical trials available for my condition?
Treatments
There is no sure-fire cure for Crohn’s Disease. However, there are treatments that may help relieve and manage your symptoms. In most cases, your provider will prescribe drugs. These may include:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation
- Drugs to suppress your immune system. These are important because Crohn’s causes your immune system overreact and attack the rest of your body.
- Anitbiotics to help fight infections caused by the disease
- Other drugs to treat diarrhea, pain, constipation, low levels of iron in the blood, pain
If medication and lifestyle changes haven’t improved your symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the damaged sections of your intestines.