Many
commercials nowadays talk about possible side effects of their new prescription
drug, but what really caught my interest was when the group together Crohn’s
Disease and Colitis disease. Most people hear it so quick that they think it is
only one complete disease, this is not true.
Photo credit: Jay W. Marks, MD - Medicine.net
Crohn’s
Disease was named after the doctor who discovered the disease – Dr. Burrill B.
Crohn. He first described this disease in the early 1930s that belonged to a
group of diseases known now as the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). From the
name, we can gather that this disease deals with the gastrointestinal tract.
But, what most people confuse is that it is the same as Ulcerative Colitis, it
is not. Although similar, Crohn’s Disease affects the end of the small bowel
(ileum) and the beginning of the colon. It is not limited to that area; the
disease can also affect the mouth all the way to the anus, whereas Ulcerative
Colitis only can affect the large intestine. One
significant example of Crohn’s disease is it can compromise the overall
thickness of the intestines, while Colitis is limited to the innermost lining
of the colon.
Photo credit: Person Education, Inc. 2013
Crohn’s
disease affects a significan amount of americans – about 700,000 in both men
and women equally. This disease can begin to show its symptoms at any age because
it is a hereditary disease, but can be “flushed out” early with stress or aggravates
such as:
- Puberty
- Exercise
- Poor diet
- Environmental factors
But
what truly causes this disease is the body’s overreaction to the bacteria that
normally aid in digestion. Normally the bacteria that break down nutrients are
protected, but in patients with IBD, the body mounts attacks on these bacteria,
and sends white blood cells to the intestines. What causes the IBD is the
failure of the white blood cells to exit the intestines and produce the
inflammation that doesn’t subside, causing the inflaming of the intestine to
remain – chronic inflammation, ulceration, and eventually causing the symptoms
(vomiting, diarrhea, pale skin, cold sweats, nausea, weak muscles, and overall
body shut down). History of Crohn's Disease
How
to treat Crohn’s Disease:
Consult
your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about the drugs or procedures
that entail when diagnosed with this disease. These treatments include, but are
not limited to:
- Anti-diarrheal medicine (Imodium for ex.)
- Amino salicylates, antibiotics, and other anti-inflammatory medicine
- Corticosteroids
- Immunomodular medicine/biologics
- Possible intestinal removal
- And finally when in remission: your doctor will prescribe a specific set of drugs to keep the inflammation at bay, along with a strict dietary plan to prevent any irritation.
you can see the full list of specific medications HERE
References:
