• Live Radio
  • Videos
  • About
  • Contact
  • Despite Media
Ghana Election 2020
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Politics
  • Showbiz
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • VIDEOS
  • Media
    • Videos
    • Audio
    • Live Radio
    • Photos
  • Election 2020
Local News
 
 
 
Home News Health 201112

Crohn's Disease: An Expert Explains Signs, Treatments and More

06-Dec-2011
/ Health, News
Email
Print
Comments 0
(0)
Comments
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
 

How does Crohn�s disease start? Is it the same thing as ulcerative colitis? Do I have to change my diet permanently? If you or someone you know were recently diagnosed with Crohn�s, you have a lot of questions. We talked to a top gastroenterologist to get the answers about this inflammatory bowel disease. Plus, test your Crohn�s IQ with our quiz...

If you frequently suffer from chronic diarrhea, stomach cramping, nausea and fatigue, you may think you are just prone to tummy troubles. But you could have Crohn�s disease, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

�Crohn�s disease can attack any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, but usually affects the small intestine and/or colon,� says Armen Simonian, M.D., head of gastroenterology at Capital Health Systems in Trenton, N.J., and chairman of the Department of Medicine.

�The disease can be mistaken for gut or parasitic infections, stomach flu, food poisoning, gluten allergy, irritable bowel syndrome, and even lupus or appendicitis,� he says.

Also, because Crohn�s is a systemic disease, it can manifest anywhere in the body, causing skin conditions, joint problems, eye diseases, arthritis and even gallstones, says Simonian.

Fortunately, with today�s treatments, which include anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, corticosteroids, biologics, or immune suppressants and surgery, �some women have remissions that last years or the rest of their lives, although it�s more common for remissions to last months or a few years,� he says.

In this exclusive Lifescript interview, Simonian discusses the causes and complications of Crohn�s disease and its impact on women.

Is Crohn�s disease inherited?
Scientists believe you may inherit a genetic predisposition to the disease. In fact, about 20% of my patients have a close relative with Crohn�s.

If you have a relative with Crohn�s disease, you�re 10 times more likely to develop the disease. If a sibling has it, your risk jumps to 30%. If both parents have inflammatory bowel disease, your risk is 35%. Jewish people of European descent also have a greater risk.

How long does it take to diagnose Crohn�s disease?
In the past, most women had symptoms for two years before getting diagnosed because they went back and forth to their family physician and never saw a gastroenterologist.

Since symptoms of Crohn�s disease � chronic diarrhea, stomach cramping and nausea � are present in hundreds of conditions, it�s easy to understand why it isn�t more quickly diagnosed.

Today, with greater awareness of Crohn�s disease among family physicians and the public, and better access to diagnostic tests, like colonoscopy and CT [computerized axial tomography] scans, most women are diagnosed within six months.

How do physicians diagnose Crohn�s disease?
We use several tests and procedures, including endoscopy, colonoscopy, X-rays, CT scan and a biopsy to confirm results.

Colonoscopy is the best approach to monitor Crohn�s because it provides direct visualization of the intestines, so we can detect polyps and growths before they cause trouble.

Isn�t there an easier way than colonoscopy to monitor Crohn�s?
Unfortunately not. While the pill camera, or capsule endoscopy, is less invasive (you swallow a vitamin-sized pill embedded with a tiny video camera that takes 60,000 photos in six hours while traveling down your intestinal tract), it isn�t as effective at detecting polyps and abnormal growths as colonoscopy.

Also, because many patients with Crohn�s have narrowed intestines and stricture, the pill could get stuck and require an emergency procedure to remove it.

Over the past few years, colonoscopies have become much more comfortable. The worst part is preparation, which entails fasting and drinking an electrolyte-based solution to purge [the bowels].

Besides genetics, does anything cause or trigger Crohn�s?
There�s no specific trigger for Crohn�s, but certain environmental factors can predispose you to the disease. And some factors can protect you from the disease.

For example, if you were breast-fed as a baby, you�re less likely to get Crohn's. You�re also less susceptible if you eat lots of fruits and vegetables and less refined sugars.

On the flipside, oral contraceptives slightly increase the risk of Crohn�s, although it�s not clear why.

Over-the-counter and prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil, aspirin, naproxen and prescription NSAIDs like Celebrex and Motrin also increase the risk � possibly because they weaken intestines and make them more vulnerable to inflammation.

You�re also at higher risk if you smoke, because nicotine inflames and irritates the intestines.

Source: Lifescript

 

 
 

 

Comments ( 0 ): Post Your Comments >>

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
Featured Video
Previous Post

Is Exercise Weakening Your Bones?

Next Post

Ovarian Cancer: 12 Key Questions To Ask Your Doctor

 
 

More Stories

Over 3,170 Adentan Lives Touched By Kozie Healthcare Initiative
Heart Diseases, Stroke Leading Causes Of Death — Study
Wish4life Foundation/Stanbic Partner For Construction Of Children’s Cancer Research Centre
Equity Health Insurance partners Redbridge School of Healthcare Management for a transformative study tour
Do You Use Plastic Containers To Microwave Your Food? - VIDEO
Midway Hospital Unveils Ultra-Modern Dialysis Center, Theater And Labor Ward To Enhance Healthcare Delivery
Ghana Health Service Warns Of The Rapid Spread of Apollo Across All 16 Regions
Akosua Manu Commits To Enhancing Healthcare In Adentan
Change Condoms After Each Sexual Round To Prevent Stis - Health Director Advises Youth
Next Post

Ovarian Cancer: 12 Key Questions To Ask Your Doctor

  Local News

  • General News
  • Social
  • Health
  • Education
  • Religion
  • Technology
  • Crime & Justice
  • Travel/Tourism
  • Science/Environment


 
 

 

Other Health Stories

  • Over 3,170 Adentan Lives Touched By Kozie Healthcare Initiative

  • Heart Diseases, Stroke Leading Causes Of Death — Study

  • Wish4life Foundation/Stanbic Partner For Construction Of Children’s Cancer Research Centre

  • Equity Health Insurance partners Redbridge School of Healthcare Management for a transformative study tour

  • Do You Use Plastic Containers To Microwave Your Food? - VIDEO

  • Midway Hospital Unveils Ultra-Modern Dialysis Center, Theater And Labor Ward To Enhance Healthcare Delivery

  • Ghana Health Service Warns Of The Rapid Spread of Apollo Across All 16 Regions

  • Akosua Manu Commits To Enhancing Healthcare In Adentan

  • Change Condoms After Each Sexual Round To Prevent Stis - Health Director Advises Youth

  • Breast Milk Is Not A Cure For ‘Apollo’, It Will Rather Worsen It – Senior Optometrist

 

 
 

Popular Videos

#MeManNti with ADAKABRI FRIMPONG MANSO on NEAT 100.9 FM FRIDAY 22/09/23)

#MeManNti with ADAKABRI FRIMPONG MANSO on NEAT 100.9 FM FRIDAY 22/09/23)

YE KO FIE with OLA MICHAEL on NEAT 100.9 FM FRIDAY 22/09/23)

Peace Power Sports (22/09/2023)

Peace Power Sports (22/09/2023)

The REAL NEWS With Akrobeto 22/09/23

Peace FM Online and Despite Media

peacefmonline.com offers its reading audience with a comprehensive online source for up-to-the-minute news about politics, business, entertainment and other issues in Ghana

Follow us on social media:

Category

  • Home
  • Local News
  • Politics
  • Showbiz
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Trivia
  • Foreign
  • Audio
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Elections
Decision Time
Ghana Election 2020 2016 Elections
Services
Live Radio Audio on Demand Ghana Elections Advertise with Us
Useful Links
Despite Media About Us Contact Us Feedback Form Terms and Conditions Privacy
Our Brands
Despite Media UTV Peace FM Okay FM Hello FM Neat FM Peacefmonline
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2020 Peacefmonline.com - An online portal owned and managed by Despite Media

  • Home
  • Local News
  • Politics
  • Showbiz
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Articles
  • Trivia
  • Foreign
  • Live Radio
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Audio
  • Election 2020

© 2020 Peacefmonline.com - An online portal owned and managed by Despite Media