Crohnsdisease is a throw in of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
It is an immune-mediated condition that affects many body systems, especially the digestive system.
It is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and alternates between periods of active and inactive disease.
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There is currently no cure, but it is often manageable with medication and lifestyle changes.
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Symptoms of Crohns Disease
Thesymptoms of Crohns diseasemainly affect the digestive system.
However, there can also be signs of the disease outside the digestive tract, called extraintestinal manifestations.
What Causes Crohn’s Disease?
No single accepted theory explains thecause of Crohns disease(or other forms of IBD).
Environmental factors: Genetics dont tell the entire story of why some people develop Crohns disease and others dont.
Its thought that outside factors also play a role.
What exactly these things are is not settled science, but some are better studied than others.
However, not all family members dont always go on to develop a form of IBD.
This is because the causes of Crohns disease are partly genetic and partly due to environmental factors.
People with IBD may have a different makeup of microbes than whats considered normal.
What Causes Crohns to Flare Up?
What causes Crohn’s disease to flare is different from person to person.
The list of potential tests is long, however, not every test will be needed in everyone.
This procedure is done by inserting a thin, flexible tube into the rectum and up through the colon.
Instead, healthcare providers and patients work together to create a plan that will be the best fit.
Medication
Several different types of medications are approved to treat Crohns disease.
Sometimes more than one drug is prescribed, especially during a flare-up of the disease.
Medications include:
Surgery
Surgery is a valid treatment option for Crohns disease.
These include:
Lifestyle Changes
Multiple lifestyle changes might be used to help manage Crohns disease.
People work with their healthcare providers to understand which factors will be effective while also fitting into their lifestyle.
However, no one diet has been identified as being useful for everyone with the condition.
Ask for a referral to a dietitian who specializes in digestive conditions and can help people with IBD.
Can Crohns Go Into Remission?
Crohns can go into remission, though there are various definitions of remission.
They differ depending on the criteria used or the goals of the patient.
Clinical remission is when a person has few or no signs or symptoms of the disease.
However, a person can feel well but still have inflammation in their body.
This inflammation can cause complications months or years in the future.
Another 40% were in endoscopic remission.
As treatments for Crohns disease improve, more people can get effective care early in the disease course.
It may not always be possible to avoid flare-ups.
In the IBD space, this is called treat to target.
A person and their provider should together decide on how treatment can help reach milestones.
Multiple drugs across many different classes of medications are being studied for use in Crohns disease.
Lifestyle factors and mental health are now also taking a larger role in the discussion around disease management.
Diet, lifestyle, sexual health, and quality of life are being studied and discussed openly.
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