Approximately 700,000 individuals in the United States live with Crohn’s disease. It is still unknown what causes it, but researchers believe that it may be caused by an infection, that even after being cleared, triggers an immunological response.
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the gut. It is currently not curable. The symptoms may come and go, but once you’ve been diagnosed with the condition, you will need to effectively manage the symptoms for the rest of your life. Crohn’s disease symptoms that are left unmanaged can result in serious health consequences and a lot of unpleasant symptoms.
Crohn’s disease symptoms develop gradually. If you exhibit the first signs of Crohn’s disease, you should see a gastroenterologist as soon as possible. Crohn’s disease symptoms will only get worse with time. The sooner you learn to manage your symptoms and the condition, the easier it will be to live with the condition with the least amount of impact on your life.
Early Signs of Crohn’s Disease
With Crohn’s disease, your body attacks the healthy cells in the intestinal lining. It can be difficult to pinpoint the condition if you do not look out for the signs. Some of the earliest signs include:
- Appetite loss
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Exhaustion
- Joint pain
- Nausea
- Pain and redness in eyes
- Red bumps on the skin
These symptoms may seem unrelated or harmless on their own, and it is easy to ignore them. However, if you experience more than a few of them, it could be a sign of Crohn’s disease. Once the condition worsens, symptoms will include:
- Bloody stools
- Black, paste-like stools
- Diarrhea that doesn’t respond to medication
- Mouth sores
- Weight Loss
- Pain in or around the anus
- Anal drainage
- Bleeding rectum
- Inflammation of the liver
- Developmental delays in children
People with Crohn’s disease find their symptoms exacerbate after eating certain foods or periods of high stress. However, they may also experience periods of remission where their symptoms go away completely for several weeks, months, or even years at a time.
Crohn’s Disease Symptom Management
Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can be debilitating and prevent you from participating in and enjoying activities you love. A gastroenterologist can diagnose your condition and create a treatment plan for Crohn’s symptoms management. With a combination of a healthy diet and lifestyle, anti-inflammatory medication, and antibiotic medication, you can prevent Crohn’s disease from taking a heavy toll on your body.
Crohn’s disease can also increase your risk of getting colon cancer. For this reason, your gastroenterologist may recommend screenings for colon cancer.
Crohn’s Disease Diagnosis and Treatment in Ohio
If someone in your family was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, you may be at risk of developing the disease, as well.
The highly-experienced and compassionate gastroenterology team at North Shore Gastroenterology diagnoses and treats all types of disorders that affect the digestive system, including inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease.
If you are experiencing any unusual symptoms, call North Shore Gastroenterology at (440) 808-1212 or request an appointment now. Our friendly team looks forward to serving you in our offices in Westlake and Brooklyn, Ohio.