Crohns Disease Overview
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) wherein the intestines are swollen or inflamed. The large intestine also referred to as the colon is frequently affected by this disorder, while the small intestine is affected most commonly. Crohn’s disease occurs equally in both men and women and is generally noted in the individuals between the age group of 20 to 30 years. This disorder is also commonly referred to as ileitis or enteritis. Crohn’s disease results in severe abdominal pain and can also lead to life-threatening situations in certain instances. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can improve the quality of life of those suffering from Crohn’s disease.
Do You Know About Crohns Diease?
Crohn’s disease can result in severe pain that may restrict you from performing everyday activities and can also be at times life threatening. This disorder affects about 1 in every 1,500 individuals and can occur anytime between the ages 15-40 years.
What Are The Causes of Crohns?
Although the exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown, factors such as defect in the immune system (our body’s defense system) or heredity have been proposed to play a vital role in the occurrence of this disease. In case of individuals with Crohn’s disease, the body’s defense system overreacts to the infection caused by certain bacteria resulting inflammation of the colon. This reaction which is generally a controlled one may go haywire in case of individuals with Crohn’s disease. In some instances, Crohn’s disease is observed to run in families wherein 20 percent of the affected individuals have a parent, sibling or other relative who is also a Crohn’s disease sufferer.
Am I At Risk?
You may be at an increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease if:
- Are between the age group of 20 and 30 years
- You are of Jewish or European descent
- Anybody in your family has Crohn’s disease
- You are living in a developed country – environmental factors such as urban diet may have a role
- You are a chronic smoker
How Do I Know If I Have Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is generally characterized by symptoms and signs such as diarrhea (loose, watery stools), pain or cramping in the abdomen, presence of blood in the stools, reduced appetite, unintentional weight loss and formation of ulcers or fistulas (formation of an abnormal passage) in the colon. Fever, skin problems and arthritis (inflammation of the joints) are also observed. Furthermore, Crohn’s disease may also lead to anemia (decrease in red blood cells in the body), delayed growth in children and eye inflammation. Meet a doctor if you experience any or some of these signs and symptoms.
The doctors usually perform a complete physical examination and advise certain specialized tests to diagnose Crohn’s disease. The laboratory tests include blood tests, colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy (both involve the insertion of a tube like device with camera into the colon), barium enema (introduction of fluid contain barium into the colon followed by X-ray), plain X-ray of the colon and at times CT scanning of the intestines. These tests help the doctors to identify the inflammation and also rule out the presence of other disorders.
How Is Crohn’s Disease Treated?
The treatment of Crohn’s disease is based on the severity of the condition and includes a wide variety of treatments. Medications that belong to the group of anti-inflammatory agents, immune system suppressing agents, antibiotics, pain killers, anti-diarrheal agents, laxatives, iron supplements, and vitamin and mineral supplements are advised as appropriate. Surgery is attempted as a last resort wherein the affected portions of the colon are surgically removed.
Some Tips For Crohn’s Disease
While you cannot prevent the occurrence of Crohn’s disease some of the following measures are helpful in relieving the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
- Limit intake of dairy products
- Follow a low-fat diet
- If you are following a high-fiber diet, try stewing, steaming or baking the vegetables instead of having them raw
- Have multiple small meals instead of 2-3 large meals in a day
- Take multivitamin supplements
- Follow a healthy lifestyle; exercise regularly, join stress reduction classes or follow other relaxation methods if you are under constant stress
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