Learning About Crohn's Disease
Most people often misspell the term Crohns. Medical scientist often name diseases and
conditions after the people who discovered them. In this case, a doctor named Crohn identified
and described the disease in 1932, so scientist coined the disease Crohn's disease. This disease is
"a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines". Other names for this disease include colitis,
terminal ileitis, ileitis and regional enteritis.
Most often, Crohn's disease is closely linked with ulcerative colitis, which is another
inflammatory condition of the lower intestinal tract. Because they are so similar, ulcerative colitis
and Crohn's disease are often simply referred to as IBD, or inflammatory bowel disease. While
there is no cure for these two conditions, people diagnosed with either often live healthy, normal
and active lifestyles. Millions of people in the United States and around the world live with either
condition. It strikes at just about any age between the teens and the 50s, and affects both men and
women, though more women suffer from irritable bowel syndrome conditions than men.
Doctors don't know exactly what causes Crohn's disease, though some suspect that bacterium is
to blame. The condition is not contagious and while many realize that diet may affect the
condition, it is not the cause of it. The disease affects mostly the small and large intestine, the
colon, and Crohns symptoms may come and go throughout the years. The use of antidiarrhea and
or laxatives may provide intermittent relief to many sufferers, as does a well-balanced and
nutritious diet that contains enough amounts of fiber. Staying hydrated is an important issue with
those who suffer from any intestinal condition, as many valuable fluids and electrolytes may be
lost when suffering from diarrhea. So care must be taken to ensure that you are drinking at least
64 ounces of water a day.
The immune system plays a large role in developing Crohn's disease. Researchers also believe
the normal activation of cells and proteins that normally protect the body against bacteria and
inflammation may kick into high gear. This causes an overabundance of these same components
within the body system even though there are no real invaders for them to fight. They cause
chronic inflammation and can even cause ulcers within the inner lining tissues of the intestines. It
has been determined that Crohn's disease is genetic with first-degree relatives, such as brothers,
sisters and children as well as parents. Signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease are typically abdominal pain, diarrhea and some weight
loss. Keep in mind that these symptoms also mirror other conditions. Sufferers may also
experience night sweats, fever, rectal pain and bleeding. Every person may show different
symptoms and severity of those symptoms, which is why it is so important for people to pay
attention to their own body and know when something is wrong. If conditions last more than a
few days, play it safe and schedule a visit to your doctor. Crohn's disease is not curable, but it is
treatable.
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