Crohn's Disease
Digestive disorders in the United States are rampant. Today, millions of Americans are plagued with gastrological conditions that cause pain and often more severe complications. Sadly, the typical American diet, loaded with unhealthy foods, is a major culprit. Though not all digestive disorders such as Crohn's disease are caused by diet, because many of the kitchens throughout Queens and the rest of the country are filled with unhealthy foods, our diets are often to blame. One of the most common of these digestive disorders is Crohn's disease. Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, wherein the lining of the digestive tract becomes inflamed. This can lead to many digestive symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and often malnutrition due to malabsorption of vital nutrients. Doctors of gastroenterology, or GI doctors, can diagnose and prescribe treatments for Crohn's disease. Here are some of the signs you may be living with Crohn's disease, as well as information on how a qualified gastro doctor can help.
What are the signs?
There are many symptoms of Crohn's disease, and they can often mimic the signs of other digestive disorders. The many symptoms of Crohn's disease include abdominal pain, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, bloody stools, ulcers, reduced appetite, and weight loss. Symptoms of Crohn's disease often become severe, causing acute pain. Severe cases of Crohn's disease can lead to more serious health problems, including fever, arthritis, inflammation of the eye, disorders of the skin, liver or bile duct inflammation, and mouth ulcers. Because of this, it is vital that persons suffering from any of symptoms of this disease contact a GI doctor in order to be properly diagnosed. The symptoms of Crohn's disease differ from patient to patient, and they often depend on the disease's location. Typically, patients suffering from Crohn's disease are affected in the last part of the small intestine, or ileum, and the colon. These areas become inflamed, causing symptoms such as pain and bloating. Inflammation can occur at the bowel wall, resulting in scarring, or it can spread through the bowel wall.
What are the risk factors?
Believe it or not, a major risk factor of Crohn's disease is age ... not old age, as might be suspected, but young age. Most patients suffering from Crohn's disease are diagnosed with it when they are young, often by the age of 30. Family history is also a risk factor of Crohn's disease. If you have a close relative such as a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with Crohn's, your risk of developing the disease can be higher. Reportedly, one person in five who suffer with Crohn's disease has a family member who also has been diagnosed with it. Where you live can also be a risk factor for developing the disease. Residents of industrialized areas or urban neighborhoods are often at a higher risk due to the tendency to eat a diet of processed or fatty foods. Smoking is also a risk factor. In fact, it is considered the most controllable of all the risk factors of Crohn's disease.
What are the treatments?
Crohn's disease can be treated, but it must be diagnosed by a qualified GI doctor. If you suspect you may be suffering from Crohn's disease, it is important to make an appointment with a gastro doctor for testing. While there is no known cure, millions of Americans living with Crohn's disease are able to function well and lead comfortable, pain-free lives. The medical treatments for Crohn's disease typically include a regimen of prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs that can reduce the inflammation that causes the pain and bloating associated with the disease. These treatments can alleviate the inflammation that can lead to further complications. Drug and other medical therapies can even lead to long-term remission of the disease. In some cases where Crohn's disease has led to more severe inflammation, drug therapies may not be enough. In these patients, a GI doctor may recommend surgery.
If you are experiencing a number of the symptoms of Crohn's disease, it is critical that you contact a GI doctor for testing and treatment. The debilitating symptoms caused by this disease not only interfere with everyday activities; they can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as cancers. In such cases, your gastro doctor may need to recommend a colon cancer screening, as well as routine screenings in order to prevent further complications.
Every patient suffering from Crohn's disease is different. Therefore, different therapies work for different people. Anti-inflammatory drugs are often the first course of treatment for the symptoms of Crohn's disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases. These anti-inflammatory drugs include sulfasalazine, corticosteroids, and sometimes drugs that suppress the immune system.
Occasionally, patients suffering from Crohn's disease may be reluctant to try drug therapies, and are more willing to try alternative treatments such as probiotics and fish oil. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, patients in a study who were given fish oil were found to be less likely to have their Crohn's disease symptoms return. Often GI doctors will prescribe a combination of alternative treatments along with drug therapies. If you suspect you may be suffering from Crohn's disease or any other gastrointestinal disorder, contact a GI doctor for more information.
What are the signs?
There are many symptoms of Crohn's disease, and they can often mimic the signs of other digestive disorders. The many symptoms of Crohn's disease include abdominal pain, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, bloody stools, ulcers, reduced appetite, and weight loss. Symptoms of Crohn's disease often become severe, causing acute pain. Severe cases of Crohn's disease can lead to more serious health problems, including fever, arthritis, inflammation of the eye, disorders of the skin, liver or bile duct inflammation, and mouth ulcers. Because of this, it is vital that persons suffering from any of symptoms of this disease contact a GI doctor in order to be properly diagnosed. The symptoms of Crohn's disease differ from patient to patient, and they often depend on the disease's location. Typically, patients suffering from Crohn's disease are affected in the last part of the small intestine, or ileum, and the colon. These areas become inflamed, causing symptoms such as pain and bloating. Inflammation can occur at the bowel wall, resulting in scarring, or it can spread through the bowel wall.
What are the risk factors?
Believe it or not, a major risk factor of Crohn's disease is age ... not old age, as might be suspected, but young age. Most patients suffering from Crohn's disease are diagnosed with it when they are young, often by the age of 30. Family history is also a risk factor of Crohn's disease. If you have a close relative such as a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with Crohn's, your risk of developing the disease can be higher. Reportedly, one person in five who suffer with Crohn's disease has a family member who also has been diagnosed with it. Where you live can also be a risk factor for developing the disease. Residents of industrialized areas or urban neighborhoods are often at a higher risk due to the tendency to eat a diet of processed or fatty foods. Smoking is also a risk factor. In fact, it is considered the most controllable of all the risk factors of Crohn's disease.
What are the treatments?
Crohn's disease can be treated, but it must be diagnosed by a qualified GI doctor. If you suspect you may be suffering from Crohn's disease, it is important to make an appointment with a gastro doctor for testing. While there is no known cure, millions of Americans living with Crohn's disease are able to function well and lead comfortable, pain-free lives. The medical treatments for Crohn's disease typically include a regimen of prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs that can reduce the inflammation that causes the pain and bloating associated with the disease. These treatments can alleviate the inflammation that can lead to further complications. Drug and other medical therapies can even lead to long-term remission of the disease. In some cases where Crohn's disease has led to more severe inflammation, drug therapies may not be enough. In these patients, a GI doctor may recommend surgery.
If you are experiencing a number of the symptoms of Crohn's disease, it is critical that you contact a GI doctor for testing and treatment. The debilitating symptoms caused by this disease not only interfere with everyday activities; they can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as cancers. In such cases, your gastro doctor may need to recommend a colon cancer screening, as well as routine screenings in order to prevent further complications.
Every patient suffering from Crohn's disease is different. Therefore, different therapies work for different people. Anti-inflammatory drugs are often the first course of treatment for the symptoms of Crohn's disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases. These anti-inflammatory drugs include sulfasalazine, corticosteroids, and sometimes drugs that suppress the immune system.
Occasionally, patients suffering from Crohn's disease may be reluctant to try drug therapies, and are more willing to try alternative treatments such as probiotics and fish oil. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, patients in a study who were given fish oil were found to be less likely to have their Crohn's disease symptoms return. Often GI doctors will prescribe a combination of alternative treatments along with drug therapies. If you suspect you may be suffering from Crohn's disease or any other gastrointestinal disorder, contact a GI doctor for more information.