Managing Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that results in an overactive immune system of the gut that results in destruction and inflammation of the lining of the intestines. As far as the exact cause of Crohn's disease, nobody really knows what exactly that is, but one theory is that there is some abnormal immune response in the gut that leads to an overactive inflammatory burden in the lining of the intestines that results in increased migration of white cells to the gut. We get concerned when patients have diarrhea lasting for more than three weeks, if the diarrhea's associated with abdominal pain and rectal bleeding. We're also concerned if the patient starts losing weight for an unknown reason or if they have a loss of appetite. Those type of symptoms should alert the patient that something is wrong, and they should seek the care of a healthcare provider. When a patient presents with these symptoms, there are important questions that a patient should ask their healthcare provider. Number one should be: what appropriate tests are needed in order to be able to identify the disease? Number two: what treatments are available if I do become diagnosed with Crohn's disease? The third question that most patients tend to ask are related to nutrition: is there a specific diet that I should be following to help manage my symptoms? During a flare, there are certain foods that most patients will find offending, and some of these include things like raw fiber, fruits that have a lot of peel, as well as dairy products. It's important for a patient to keep a food journal to identify what their triggers may be as far as exacerbating their underlying symptoms. There are a few things that patients can do to help minimize their symptoms when they're flaring. Number one, most importantly, is to seek medical counseling and make sure that you're on the appropriate medical therapy. Diet certainly plays a large role in helping to minimize symptoms. We also know that stress can exacerbate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, and it's important for a patient to do their best to hold a stress-free lifestyle. Despite our best medical treatments, still over 60% of our patients with Crohn's disease will end up having to have surgery at some point in their lifetime. The most common indication for patients to undergo surgery is due to an obstruction related to a stricture. A stricture is a result of long-standing inflammation, which results in scarring, and unfortunately medications cannot treat the underlying scarring and surgery may be required to correct these areas. As far as a cure for the disease, we hope that that is on the horizon, and through groups including the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, we anticipate that in the future we will be able to find a cure for Crohn's.