Everything You Need to Know About Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease which causes inflammation in an individual’s digestive tract and can lead to abdominal pain, weight loss, malnutrition and severe diarrhoea. Often, the inflammation spreads into deeper layers of the digestive tract, and it can be painful and weakening and can even cause death.

It is a disease that cannot be cured, and individuals diagnosed with it have to live with it for their life. However, with the help of treatment and medication, the symptoms can be brought under control, and individuals can lead an everyday active life.

Want to know more about the Crohn’s disease? Read along to know more.

Individuals having Crohn’s disease might experience severe symptoms at times and moderate or no symptoms at times as well. There are no ways one can predict when he/she will experience the symptoms. Now that individuals know what Crohn’s disease is, they must know its symptoms as well.

The symptoms, however, include:

• Fever
• Weight loss
• Anal fissures
• Rectal bleeding
• Anal fistulas
• Chronic diarrhoea
• A feeling of fullness
• Abnormal skin tags(especially on buttocks)
• Abdominal pain
• Reduced appetite
• Iron deficiency
• Inflammation of joints, eyes and skin
• Kidney stones
• Delayed growth in children
• Inflammation of the liver or bile ducts

The exact cause of this disease is still unknown to doctors and health professionals. Although earlier, stress and unhealthy diet were taken into consideration, it is now understood that these factors might aggravate the disease but are not causes of Crohn’s disease. However, factors like poor immune system and heredity are likely to play a role in this disease’s development.

1. Autoimmune disease

Crohn's disease is most likely an autoimmune disease where an individual's immune system attacks healthy cells in his/her body. According to experts, healthy bacteria in an individual's system mistakenly trigger his/her immune system. When the immune system responds, it causes inflammation, a symptom of this disease.

2. Heredity

Other than having chances of it being an autoimmune disease, it also has chances of being a hereditary disease. Individuals having relatives like a sibling, child or parent are prone to developing this disease. According to reports, 1 in 5 people diagnosed with Crohn's disease has a family member who has it.

Apart from knowing the symptoms of Crohn's disease , individuals must also know its risk factors. The risk factors of Crohn's disease include the following -

• Although this disease can occur at any age, this disease is more likely to develop at a younger age. Most individuals develop this disease before they turn 30.
• This disease can affect any ethnic group, yet, people of white origin, especially individuals of Eastern European Jewish descent, are more prone to developing this disease.
• People prone to smoking can also develop this disease and make it more complex, leading to surgery. 
• Medicines such as diclofenac sodium, naproxen sodium, ibuprofen and several others can lead to inflammation of the bowel, making this disease worse.

Apart from knowing the causes, individuals must also know about the treatment for Crohn’s disease. Currently, there is no particular cure for this disease, and neither is one single treatment useful for all. However, health professionals and doctors aim to reduce the inflammation which might trigger an individual's symptoms. Apart from that, health professionals also aim to improve conditions in the long run.

Besides, anti-inflammatory drugs are the first step of treatment that doctors take to treat this disease. Unfortunately, anti-inflammatory drugs like corticosteroids might help a few individuals to reduce the inflammation.

1. Immune System Suppressors

These drugs aim to reduce inflammation while targeting to develop an individual's immune system, which produces the substances which cause this inflammation. For some individuals, a combination of anti-inflammatory drugs and immune system suppressors work better together than a single one. 

Immune system suppressors include-

• Methotrexate (Trexall)
• Mercaptopurine (Purinethol, Purixan) and Azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)

2. Biologics

Biologics target proteins made by the immune system to treat Crohn’s disease. These include-

• Adalimumab (Humira), Infliximab (Remicade), and certolizumab pegol (Cimzia)
• Vedolizumab (Entyvio) and Natalizumab (Tysabri)
• Ustekinumab (Stelara)
• Pain relievers like ibuprofen, naproxen sodium
• Vitamins and supplements
• Antidiarrheals like psyllium powder, methylcellulose, and for severe diarrhoea, loperamide might be effective.

3. Nutrition Therapy

To treat Crohn's disease, an individual's doctor might recommend a feeding tube or a special diet given by mouth, or nutrients will be infused by vein. This way, the diagnosed individual's bowel gets some rest, and it can improve overall nutrition. By allowing the bowel to rest, inflammation can decrease for a short period of time.

4. Surgery

This is the last option left to treat this disease if neither drug therapy nor diet and lifestyle changes or any other treatment does not seem to provide relief or decrease the symptoms of this disease. Although at least one surgery is required for those who are suffering from this disease, it does not cure Crohn's disease.

Apart from that, doctors might also prescribe antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and metronidazole.

Other than knowing Crohn’s treatment methods, individuals must also know ways to prevent it. To prevent Crohn's disease, individuals need to follow a few dietary rules along with bringing necessary lifestyle changes. However, individuals need to remember that a one-size-fits-all diet plan does not work for people having this disease. Thus, individuals must avoid certain food products to maintain their health.

1. Avoid Eating Foods That Trigger the Symptoms

Individuals must keep a check on what food items trigger their symptoms. They should avoid any food item that might have caused trouble to them in the past. Some of the common food item which might trigger the symptoms is-

• High-fibre foods
• Carbohydrates
• Low-fibre foods

2. Reducing Intake of Dairy Product

Individuals who are lactose intolerant and cannot properly digest the sugar in dairy products should avoid dairy products as these worsen Crohn's disease symptoms like abdominal pain, gas and diarrhoea. Instead, individuals can try taking Lactaid, which is an enzyme product to ease their digestion.

3. Increasing Fibre Intake

For individuals having chronic diarrhoea, fibre might help them keep their digestive system flowing and regulated. It can help add bulk to their stool which in turn increases the chances of food passing through the intestines quickly. However, individuals must consult with a doctor before increasing fibre intake as it might worsen the symptoms as well.

4. Staying Hydrated and Taking Supplements

Individuals must make sure they are properly hydrated and have an adequate intake of vitamins and nutrients. However, individuals must avoid alcohol, and other caffeinated drinks as these might increase the symptoms. Since this disease can make nutrition absorption difficult for individuals, they can take vitamin D supplements to fulfil their nutrient requirements.

5. Managing Stress

Stress and anxiety can worsen the symptoms and trigger the symptoms of Crohn's disease. When an individual is under stress, his/her body does not function normally and it includes one's digestive tract as well. However, individuals can cope with their stress through yoga, exercise, or psychotherapy.

That is all individuals need to know about causes, risk factors, treatment, and symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Hopefully, this article will be of help to someone who is undergoing similar symptoms or knows someone experiencing the same. Individuals must not forget to consult a physician once these symptoms show up or worsen.