Crohn’s Disease is a painful and debilitating disease, which causes inflammation of the bowels and can lead to life-threatening complications. Crohn’s can cause numerous uncomfortable symptoms and yet is manageable enough to reduce and eliminate most of the symptoms with enough treatment.
Although there is a large amount of coping that needs to be done on behalf of the patient, Crohn’s Disease is a lifelong complication and is treatable.
People who have Crohn’s disease can have delayed development in a number of areas in their body including weight loss, or serious trouble gaining or maintaining weight. Because Crohn’s Disease is believed to be genetic, people who have it generally have dealt with it their entire life, or have been living with an extended remission for most of their lives.
The signs and symptoms of Crohn’s Disease a easy to recognize and diagnosis and treatment is as simple as coping and managing the disease on your own terms.
- Abdominal Pain and Cramping
- Arthritis
- Bloody Stools
- Delayed Growth or Sexual Development in children
- Diarrhea
- Eye Inflammation
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Inflammation of the Liver and Bile Ducts
- Mouth Sores
- Reduced Appetite and Weight Loss
- Skin Disorders
- Ulcers
Because of this disease’s inherit severity; Over-The-Counter medications have little to no effect on the symptoms. Because of the little control that its victims have, it is important to see a specialist at Arlington Gastroenterology Services quickly to suppress and treat the symptoms more effectively with prescription-strength medication.
People with Crohn’s Disease generally respond poorly to rich, spicy, hot, or creamy foods and it was suspected for a long time that diet was the main cause of the disease, but it only aggravated the disease rather than cause it.
The two factors that currently are believed to cause the disease are the immune system and heredity. Due to the fact that these factors are carried from birth to diagnosis, victims can live for years without knowing that their symptoms are due to the disease. It is usually after Crohn’s Disease has come out of remission a few times before the victim voluntarily sees a specialist and while this is normal, it is usually best to seek treatment as soon as possible so no further scarring of the bowels and intestines are caused. Most people experience symptoms for many years but wrongfully attribute them to other things. Most people who have Crohn’s Disease are diagnosed before they are 30 years of age.
While Age does not affect the chances of contracting the disease because it is hereditary, people who are younger are normally diagnosed, meaning that younger people are more likely to be diagnosed with Crohn’s disease than older people are.
Being white also increases the chance that you may have Crohn’s disease. While any ethnicity can have it, white people are more likely to have it. Genetics and family history also have a very large impact on your susceptibility to be diagnosed with the disease.
Smoking is the largest controllable factor that contributes to the disease. If you smoke, it is extremely important that you stop. It can severely increase your susceptibility to be diagnosed and increases the potential for the disease to come out of remission if you do have Crohn’s Disease.
Bowel Obstruction is common and linked to severe constipation within the bowels, but is confused with thickening of the intestinal walls due to Ulcers and other Scarring of the bowels. Fistulas are a large concern, though they carry a low risk as well as Anal Fissures and malnutrition, which are all linked and all equally discomforting and possibly life threatening. Crohn’s Disease while affecting a significant number of Americans and due to its high level of inconvenience and discomfort is an important disease to diagnose and treat.
If you see the symptoms described earlier and experience them regularly or at normal intervals, you should see Arlington Gastroenterology Services as quickly as possible to get a diagnosis and treatment plan underway. You will find the quality of life improved and the manageability of your symptoms much easier with the help of your AGS specialist.
