If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, you’ll find that there are a lot of questions on you mind. As with any issue, though, the more that you find out about it, the less you have to be afraid and the better prepared you’ll be to decide on the best course of action, so take a look at a few important facts about this condition.
Crohn’s disease is typically classified as an autoimmune diseases, and it has a fairly wide range; it can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, and wherever it is located, it will cause an area of inflammation in the lining of the skin there. Due to the very varied locations of the disease, you can see that the effects will vary, but some symptoms for Crohn’s disease will include diarrhea which may or may not be bloody, constipation, weight loss or gain, vomiting, or abdominal pain. There is also a link between this condition and skin rashes, inflammations of the eye and a predisposition to arthritis.
The cause of Crohn’s disease is not known, though there is a general belief that there is a genetic link. The highest risk lies between siblings, with males and females be equally likely to get this disease. Smokers are more likely to get Crohn’s disease, and if they continue smoking after diagnosis, there seems to be a good chance that the smoking will exacerbate the situation further.
Just like there are no known causes for Crohn’s disease, there is no surgically based or drug based cure for it either. When a person undergoes treatment for Crohn’s disease, they are undergoing treatment that will mitigate and control the symptoms. Oftentimes, these symptoms can be neutralized, keeping the condition in remission for years at a time. Treatments for this disorder fall into two stages. The first is the reduction and elimination of the symptoms, while the second is keeping the symptoms in remission.
Antibiotics can be used to treat any infections or inflammations that are caused by Crohn’s diease, though the use of corticosteroids have enough side effects that they are not used on a long-term treatment. After the symptoms have been pushed into remission, people who suffer from Crohn’s disease are encouraged to take up an adjusted lifestyle that will help them keep the symptoms at bay. Good nutrition is a must, but what that means will vary from person to person. Keeping a food diary at the beginning will tell you what foods are to be avoided and which foods can help fend off an episode.
The consumption of fish oil has been shown to help, as can the use of vitamin B12. The regular consumption of foods rich in folate can also contribute to helping the body restore the nutrients that Crohn’s can pull away. For many people who deal with Crohn’s disease, increased hydration and breaking the smoking habit are instrumental to keeping the condition in remission.
Crohn’s disease can be a disorder that interferes with your life a great deal, but you’ll find that there are definitely treatment options that are open to you. Take some time and learn about them, and make sure that you find the one that suits you the best!
* There are many more resources and lots of information about controlling and treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Crohn’s Disease symptoms here:
Breakthrough Crohn’s Disease Guide
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