Crohn's Disease

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Crohn’s disease is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. The swelling can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea.

It is related closely to another chronic inflammatory condition that involves only the colon called ulcerative colitis. Together, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are frequently referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease have no medical cure. Once the diseases begin, they tend to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse).

Crohn’s disease affects men and women equally and seems to run in some families. About 20 percent of people with Crohn’s disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. Crohn’s disease can occur in people of all age groups, but it is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. People of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease, and African Americans are at decreased risk for developing Crohn’s disease.

Sources:
MedlineNet: http://www.medicinenet.com/crohns_disease/article.htm
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC):
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/

1. Gastroduodenal Crohn's disease, which affects the stomach and the duodenum (the highest, or beginning, portion of the small intestine), is often misdiagnosed as ulcer disease. The correct diagnosis frequently is not made until various ulcer treatments have failed, or until Crohn's disease is identified farther down the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of gastroduodenal CD include loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, pain in the upper middle of the abdomen, and vomiting.
    
2. Jejunoileitis is Crohn's disease of the jejunum (the longest portion of the small intestine), which is located between the duodenum and the ileum. Symptoms include mild to intense abdominal pain and cramps after meals, diarrhea, and malnutrition caused by malabsorption of nutrients. (The majority of nutrients are absorbed in the jejunum.) Fistulas (abnormal openings in the intestinal tract) may form. These can link a diseased area of the small intestine to another area of the intestine or another organ, such as the bladder. Fistulas may increase the risk of developing infections outside of the GI tract.
    
3. Ileitis Crohn's disease of the ileum, the last portion of the small intestine. - Ileitis affects the ileum (the lowest, or last, part of the small intestine). Symptoms include diarrhea and cramping or pain in the right lower quadrant and periumbilical (around the bellybutton) area, especially after meals. Malabsorption of vitamin B12 can lead to tingling in the fingers or toes (peripheral neuropathy). Folate deficiency can hinder the development of red blood cells, putting the patient at higher risk of developing anemia. Fistulas can develop, as can inflammatory masses.
    
4. Ileocolitis Crohn's disease of the ileum and the first portion of the colon, which usually involves the ileocecal valve as well. - Ileocolitis is the most common type of Crohn's disease. It affects the ileum (the lowest part of the small intestine) and the colon (the large intestine). Often, the diseased area of the colon is continuous with the diseased ileum, and therefore involves the ileocecal valve between the ileum and the colon. In some cases, however, areas of the colon not contiguous with the ileum are involved. Symptoms of ileocolitis are essentially the same as those present in ileitis. Weight loss is also common.
    
5. Crohn's Colitis (Granulomatous Colitis ) affects the colon. It is distinguished from ulcerative colitis in two ways. First, there are often areas of healthy tissue between areas of diseased tissue; ulcerative colitis is always continuous. Second, while ulcerative colitis always affects the rectum and areas of the colon beyond the rectum, Crohn's colitis can spare the rectum, appearing only in the colon.

Researchers have not yet identified the cause of Crohn's disease, so it is described as an "idiopathic" disease. It is known that inflammation is part of the body's immune response, and an immune response is usually triggered by something. But to date no specific "trigger" has been found to cause the inflammatory response seen in Crohn's disease. 

There is some evidence that Crohn's disease has a genetic component. While there is no simple correlation from the parent to offspring, the disease tends to "run" in families. As many as 20 to 25 percent of patients with Crohn's disease have a relative with CD or ulcerative colitis. There is also a higher incidence among certain ethnic groups. 

In addition, some possible environmental factors have been linked to initial episodes or relapses. Crohn's disease appears to be a disease that primarily affects those living in Western, industrialized societies. Whether this is due to some condition of the environment in which people live or their diet has not been determined.

Sources:
eHealthMD: http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/crohnsdisease/CD_causes.html
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC):
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/

What are the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease?

The main symptoms of Crohn’s disease are belly pain and diarrhea (sometimes with blood). Some people may have diarrhea 10 to 20 times a day. Losing weight without trying is another common sign. Less common symptoms include mouth sores, bowel blockages, anal tears (fissures), and openings (fistulas) between organs.

Infections, hormonal changes, smoking, and stress can cause  symptoms to flare up. One may have only mild symptoms or go for long periods of time without any symptoms. A few people have ongoing, severe symptoms. 

It’s important to be aware of signs that Crohn’s disease may be getting worse: 

• You feel faint or have a fast and weak pulse.
• You have severe belly pain.
• You have a fever or shaking chills.
• You are vomiting again and again.

Sources: 
WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/crohns-disease/tc/crohns-disease-topic-overview   
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC):
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/

What treatments are available for Crohn’s Disease?

Treatment may include drugs, nutrition supplements, surgery, or a combination of these options. The goals of treatment are to control inflammation, correct nutritional deficiencies, and relieve symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. 

Someone with Crohn’s disease may need medical care for a long time, with regular doctor visits to monitor the condition: 

Drug Therapy: 

Anti-Inflammation Drugs. Most people are first treated with drugs containing mesalamine, a substance that helps control inflammation. Sulfasalazine is the most commonly used of these drugs.  

Cortisone or Steroids. Cortisone drugs and steroids—called corticosteriods—provide very effective results. Prednisone is a common generic name of one of the drugs in this group of medications.  

Immune System Suppressors. Drugs that suppress the immune system are also used to treat Crohn’s disease. Most commonly prescribed are 6-mercaptopurine or a related drug, azathioprine.  

Infliximab (Remicade). This drug is the first of a group of medications that blocks the body’s inflammation response. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn’s disease that does not respond to standard therapies. 

Antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine caused by stricture, fistulas, or prior surgery. For this common problem, the doctor may prescribe one or more of the following antibiotics: ampicillin, sulfonamide, cephalosporin, tetracycline, or metronidazole. 

Anti-Diarrheal and Fluid Replacements. Diarrhea and crampy abdominal pain are often relieved when the inflammation subsides, but additional medication may also be necessary. Several antidiarrheal agents could be used, including diphenoxylate, loperamide, and codeine. Patients who are dehydrated because of diarrhea will be treated with fluids and electrolytes. 

Nutrition Supplementation: 

The doctor may recommend nutritional supplements, especially for children whose growth has been slowed. Special high-calorie liquid formulas are sometimes used for this purpose. A small number of patients may need to be fed intravenously for a brief time through a small tube inserted into the vein of the arm. This procedure can help patients who need extra nutrition temporarily, those whose intestines need to rest, or those whose intestines cannot absorb enough nutrition from food. There are no known foods that cause Crohn’s disease. However, when people are suffering a flare in disease, foods such as bulky grains, hot spices, alcohol, and milk products may increase diarrhea and cramping. 

Surgery: 

Two-thirds to three-quarters of patients with Crohn’s disease will require surgery at some point in their lives. Surgery becomes necessary when medications can no longer control symptoms. Surgery is used either to relieve symptoms that do not respond to medical therapy or to correct complications such as blockage, perforation, abscess, or bleeding in the intestine. Surgery to remove part of the intestine can help people with Crohn’s disease, but it is not a cure. Surgery does not eliminate the disease, and it is not uncommon for people with Crohn’s Disease to have more than one operation, as inflammation tends to return to the area next to where the diseased intestine was removed.

Sources:

eHealthMD: http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/crohnsdisease/CD_treatment.html 
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC):
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/

HerbaCall Crohn’s Disease Testimonials:

• Christine Edis says, "For many years I had suffered with Crohn's Disease (which is an inflammatory bowel disease). I had daily stomach pains, painful bowel movements, wind, a swollen, bloated stomach, nausea and low energy. I tried many products and diet changes and followed exactly what my specialist suggested, but nothing really worked. My prescribed medication did ease the symptoms a bit, but I still had on-going problems. Within two weeks of being on the Herbalife program I felt a dramatic decline in all my symptoms, far less pains, and a lot more energy. I began on the Ultimate Program, and found that the Herbal Aloe Concentrate and Flora fibre in particular have helped me with my problems."
   
• Sheila Flint tells Herbacall, "I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease about 1 year ago and told there was no cure and I would be on cortisone and other steroid drugs at flare up times, but constant cortisone and sulfa (Salazpipine) tablets. I decided not to go down this path, so I put myself onto Herbal Aloe, Herbalifeline and Flora fibre as well as the Nutritional Programme. I went onto triple doses of these and in three short months I had completely reversed the bowel problem and I have been given a complete bill of good health from the specialist."
   
• Tim Ohms said proudly, "I have been combating Acute Chronic Crohn's Disease (the worst kind of Crohn's ). It attacks suddenly and without warning for acute patients. Chronic means that I'll have it the rest of my life. I am finally starting to question that...But After taking just Formula 1, 2, and 3 (Basic Nutrition) 48 hours later ALL MY ATTACKS AND TRIGGERS FOR THE ATTACKS WENT DOWN BY AT LEAST 60TO 70 %!!! I am now able to have my life back. I owe my Life to the person who introduced me to Herbalife!"
   
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