Crohn's disease affects up to 2 million people around the globe. While the causes of the illness are unknown, it appears to be hereditary. Crohn's patients often live in fear of living active lifestyles because of the limitations the illness places on their body; however, with proper treatment, it is possible to live normally.
Identification
Crohn's disease is one of the more difficult conditions to diagnose because it does not always have the same symptoms in all patients. Some patients experience more gastrointestinal problems than others, while some have more bowel-related issues. Patients exhibiting symptoms may be diagnosed with Crohn's or a similar illness known as ulcerative colitis, depending on the severity of the problem. Those who have Crohn's experience severe stomach pains and frequent occurrences of loose stool or diarrhea.
Cures
As of yet, there have been no breakthroughs in finding a cure for Crohn's disease. Other types of bowel problems can be treated by removing parts of the bowel or the intestines; however, in Crohn's patients, this treatment is not successful. Sufferers may go through life experiencing episode after episode of bowel problems, while others go back and forth between active Crohn's disease and remission. Each case is different, but with proper management, patients can lead active lives.
Managment with Medication
Several different types of medication may be prescribed to an individual diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The most common type of medication is anti-inflammatory drugs such as sulfasalazine. Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the swelling of the bowels, making the life of a Crohn's sufferer more manageable. As the condition worsens, steroids may be added to the treatment regimen. Steroid doses are started high and gradually reduced as symptoms decrease. In some cases, physicians may prescribe a combination of these drugs in addition to vitamins and antibiotics. Vitamins are prescribed to help replace vital nutrients that are not absorbed due to frequent bouts of diarrhea.
Management with Diet
Crohn's sufferers cannot enjoy the same foods as everyone else. For these men and women, eating something that disagrees with their stomach could lead to serious pain and embarrassment if they cannot control their bowels. Anyone diagnosed with the illness should work with a full team of doctors and nutritionists to come up with a diet plan that doesn't exacerbate the problem. Each person with Crohn's has different foods that aggravate her condition, and these foods may change over time. Crohn's sufferers should avoid eating foods that are high in fiber content as well as those that are hard to digest like nuts and berries.
Warning
It may take several months and several different diet and medication combinations to get the illness under control, and in the end, all symptoms may not go away. One of the most important things a Crohn's sufferer has to face is that he will be dealing with some form of the illness for the remainder of his life. He should not allow the illness to put a damper on life's experiences.
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