Everyone experiences a stomachache from time to time, especially as a reaction to certain foods. Imagine, however, that such aches and discomforts were a part of everyday life? What if digesting food became a painful process? Those who suffer from Crohn's disease must endure such pain in addition to diarrhea, weight loss, fever, and rectal bleeding so severe that it may even lead to anemia. No one really... Read more >
Crohn's disease causes severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It most often affects the small intestine, but can strike any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus. In addition to the pain caused by intestinal inflammation, Crohn's disease can cause diarrhea, stomach ulcers, malnutrition and other complications such as anemia. Unfortunately, a cure for Crohn's is not currently... Read more >
Initial Crohn's disease symptoms are difficult to distinguish from other intestinal problems. Abdominal pain often occurs, especially in the lower right portion of the abdomen. Often, the pain is first mistaken for appendicitis. Abdominal cramps, spasms and diarrhea may also occur. Malnutrition and loss of appetite are frequent symptoms; some may experience sudden weight loss. Not all people experience the same... Read more >
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which areas of the intestinal tract become inflamed causing sloughing and, in some instances, ulcers. While many other IBDs cause inflammation of the intestinal lining, Crohn's affects all layers of the intestine, not just the surface. Although usually affecting the portion of the small intestine known as the ileum the condition is not limited... Read more >
Although a faulty immune system is often blamed for the disease, studies of the role antibiotics play in treating Crohn's are starting to suggest that the immune system may be doing exactly what it's supposed to do: fighting infection. Research has shown the presence of a bacterium called Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis, or M-para, in the intestines of people with Crohn's. Using antibiotics that... Read more >
A formal Crohn's diet doesn't exist per se. Foods that aggravate symptoms in one person may have no effect on another. Learning which foods can or cannot be incorporated into a person's diet takes time and is a matter of trial and error. A dietician can help develop a Crohn's diet that is customized to help keep inflammation to a minimum. Keeping a food diary will help determine, over time, which foods provoke and... Read more >
Although the exact cause of the disease is unclear, its origins appear to have something to do with the body's immune system. Either the immune system reacts too aggressively to an infection, or mistakes the intestinal contents (both food products and naturally-occurring intestinal bacteria) as a threat. The immune system floods the area with white blood cells, resulting in painful inflammation. Certain... Read more >
Anti-TNF drugs target a substance in the bloodstream known as TNF-alpha (TNF is short for tumor necrosis factor). Overproduction of TNF-alpha has been linked to several inflammatory diseases, including Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-TNF drugs block tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity by binding it to cell membranes and blood cells. Infliximab: The First Anti-TNF Drug Approved for... Read more >
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