Crohns Disease: Facts and Figures

Written By: Rachael Kaine

Understanding Crohns Disease

Though many people have heard of this condition, the exact specifications and symptoms may not be clear to everyone involved. Crohns disease is a condition that impacts the GI tract, its health and its function. The intestinal walls may become inflamed, resulting in stomach pain, cramps, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and a general feeling of being unwell. More than half a million Americans are impacted by this disease, for which there is no known cure. There are ways to treat it and manage the condition, but there is not definitive cure as of right now. This condition is distressing to those that experience it, but it is possible to live a normal life with some vigilance and a carefully constructed care plan.

Who Gets Crohns Disease?

Typically, this condition is diagnosed before the age of 30, but it can set in at any stage of life. More common in males than females, Crohns disease symptoms can vary in severity, but are almost always enough to disrupt your routine. This means feeling ill or in pain after eating specific foods, having to take frequent bathroom breaks throughout the day during a flare up, or even being unable to leave the home during the worst of things. People of all ages strive to be in good health, but with Crohns disease, this is not always possible.

Crohns disease treatment plans are created on an individual basis, although there are specific things that have been shown to work across the board. Medication types can be used to dull the symptoms, making it easier to get through the flare ups. In addition to this, stronger medications may cause the disease to go into “remission” - though it is still present, the symptoms are managed and often go away for months at a time. In case of the body becoming resistant to treatment methods over time, it is important for individuals to keep working closely with their medical teams in order to keep things covered.

If you’re having Crohn’s disease symptoms, you should be sure to get tested for the condition. There are a variety of tests that can be performed to accurately diagnose the problem including blood work, fecal tests, a colonoscopy, and CT scans. Each of these tests will approach the problem from a slightly different angle, but will give specialists (and you) a good idea of exactly what you’re dealing with, which is a step in the right direction.