What is Crohn’s disease, exactly? This inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes inflammation of the lining of your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. It’s estimated that 1.4 million Americans suffer from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (collectively known as inflammatory bowel diseases or IBD).

Crohn’s disease can seriously get in the way of everyday life with the possibility of it being both painful and debilitating. Sometimes, it even leads to life-threatening complications.

Crohn’s Disease Symptoms, Risk Factors & Causes

Although there is not one definitive, agreed-upon cause of Crohn’s disease− and each inpidual case is different− a poor diet and high amounts of unmanaged stress are common among people with IBD and other digestive disorders.

Other possible causes include heredity and toxin, virus or bacteria exposure. Crohn’s disease is more prevalent in people who have family members with the disease, and also seems to affect people with weakened immune systems most often, since this can be related to autoimmune reactions (when the body mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissue in order to try and protect itself from threats).

Common risk factors for Crohn’s and IBD include:

Young-middle age: Crohn’s disease can occur at any age, but the majority of people are diagnosed before the age of 30.

Eating a poor diet: Processed foods, spicy foods, fried foods, dairy products, sugar, alcohol and/or caffeine can all contribute to inflammation and Crohn’s disease.

High amounts of stress: Stress has been shown to make IBD (and also IBS) symptoms worse and trigger flare-ups. Stress changes digestion and immune function in a negative way, lowering immunity, raising inflammation, altering hormones and changing the way muscles in the GI tract operate.

Having a family history of IBS: As many as one in five people with Crohn’s also have a family member with the disease.

Smoking

Long term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications: these ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox), diclofenac sodium (Voltaren, Solaraze) and others.

Being of Caucasian, Eastern European (Ashkenazi) or Jewish descent

Taking oral contraceptives long-term or antibiotics frequently

Crohn’s Disease Symptoms:

Although Crohn’s most drastically impacts the lining of the GI tract, the inflammation associated with IBD often also spreads to other parts of the digestive system, and even causes widespread symptoms throughout the body.

The most common signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:

Diarrhea and loose stools

Intestinal cramping and abdominal pains

Fever

Fatigue, or periods of very low energy

Nausea and vomiting

Blood in the stool, or producing stool that is darker than normal

Mouth cores, canker sores and ulcers

Reduced appetite and weight loss

Perianal disease (inflammation near the anus)

Irritation and inflammation of skin, eyes and joints, liver or bile ducts

Some children who develop Crohn’s at a young age also experience delayed growth, delayed puberty/sexual development

Note: There are many ways you can prevent and control Crohn’s flare-ups, so despite how you might feel the disease is at least partially within your control. Dietary and lifestyle changes are critical for healing Crohn’s naturally.

Adoption of a therapeutic Crohn’s disease diet, proper supplementation, stress management and avoidance of NSAIDs or antibiotics are some of the best natural ways to send Crohn’s into remission (hopefully for good)./.

( Annie Price )