What Is Crohn’s Disease

What is Crohn’s disease? Just a few months ago, we observed World Inflammatory Towel Disease (IBD) Day. It has been estimated that around

It requires more than just making this condition more visible: Consciousness is only the starting point, while scientific advances, medical institutions and social policy are beginning to offer new treatments and hopes to the affected population.

What is Crohn’s disease?

For those who have never heard of Crohn’s disease, it is certainly one of the most complex and poorly understood of these diseases.

• It is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the rectum.
• It frequently affects the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine.
• Its origin and triggers are not known. However, it relates to genetic changes that affect immune system function that trigger an inflammatory response in response to the presence of certain factors.

Factors related to Crohn’s disease

This disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body and causes inflammation and damage to healthy tissues in the digestive system.

In addition, inflammation that can become permanent if left untreated can thicken the intestinal walls and affect gastrointestinal function.

In addition, some of the factors that can affect appearance:

• Genetics and family history : You are up to 10 times more likely to suffer from this disease if a close family member also has it.

• Environmental factors : Tobacco use and toxins from pollution have been linked to this disorder.
• Viruses and bacteria : Excessive growth of viruses and bacteria in the digestive system activates these mechanisms in the immune system.
• Food : If your body has problems or is unable to digest certain foods.
• Age : Although it can occur at any age, it is typically diagnosed in people aged 15 to 35 years.

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease

The symptoms of this disease can vary from patient to patient, depending on which part of the digestive tract it affects.

They can range from mild to severe, and while they are occasionally permanent, they can also appear and disappear during stressful periods.

A person may suffer from Crohn’s disease if they notice:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Feeling tired
• Lost appetite
• The need to defecate, even when already empty

• Watery diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by bleeding
• Weight loss
• Fever

A specialist should evaluate all of these symptoms. They may also be related to other digestive problems.

In some cases, symptoms may also include:

• Constipation
• Inflammation and joint pain
• Ulcer
• Rectal bleeding
• Red and sore bumps under the skin
• Cutaneous wounds

Test and diagnosis

In addition, an assessment of your symptoms by a doctor, a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease using tests is accompanied as follows:

• Opaque enema or esophagogastroduodenal transit
• Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy

• Computer Tomography (CT) of the abdomen
• Endoscopy at capsule
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the abdomen
• Enteroscopy

Treatment of Crohn’s disease

Although Crohn’s disease can lead to surgery to remove the diseased part of the bowel in many cases, most patients are able to cope with the consumption of certain drugs and changes in their lifestyle.

Medicine

Pharmacological treatments include anti-diarrhea and anti-inflammatory drugs. Fiber supplements can also help reduce the severity of the symptoms.

In addition, paracetamol can reduce mild pain. You should avoid Aspirin, Ibuprofen or Naproxen as they may worsen your symptoms.

Broom

A balanced, low-calorie diet that contains the most important nutrient groups can improve patients’ quality of life.

In general, doctors recommend:

• Avoid consuming processed, fried and refined foods
• Increase your water intake
• Avoid excessive consumption of foods rich in fiber
• Limit your consumption of dairy products if you are lactose intolerant
• Reduce your consumption of foods that cause flatulence

How can you work with Janssen’s initiative to support your control of Crohn’s disease?

Janssen’s campaign works to raise awareness of these intimate and harsh realities through statement videos made by real patients in collaboration with ACCU Spain, the Confederation of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Furthermore, this pharmaceutical company, which is a leader in immunological innovations, seeks to strengthen its commitment in the form of initiatives that improve the quality of life of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

By promoting such initiatives, you also help institutions find more financial means to facilitate early diagnosis and help patients cope a little better with their social and psychological challenges.

Do your part of the work, share this information and give hope to the thousands of people suffering in silence from this chronic and painful illness, while supporting science to create a better life for them.