Health Tip: Understanding Crohn's Disease Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers to form along the gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms may range from mild to severe; some severe cases may require surgery.
Here's more information about Crohn's disease, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:
* Symptoms often include stomach cramps, diarrhea and bloody stools.
* Additional signs may include fatigue, nausea and joint pain.
* For mild forms, antibiotics and drugs called salicylates may help. Steroids are generally prescribed for people with more severe disease.
* Crohn's cannot be cured, but many people who are treated have no symptoms for long periods.
Health Tip: Controlling Crohn's Disease Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the digestive tract, resulting in symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhea.
While there is no cure, a combination of medication, nutritional supplements and surgery can help control symptoms.
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse offers this list of treatment options:
* Most people with Crohn's are initially treated with mesalamine, a substance that helps control inflammation of the digestive tract.
* Other medications are available if mesalamine doesn't prove effective or cannot be tolerated, including Remicade (infliximab) or a class of drugs called corticosteroids.
* Medications that suppress the immune system.
* Fluid replacement treatments and anti-diarrhea medications.
* Eating a healthy, balanced diet, and avoiding foods that trigger symptoms.
* Nutritional supplements.
* Surgery may well be required to alleviate blockages, or treat other complications including intestinal perforations, abscesses or bleeding.
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers to form along the gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms may range from mild to severe; some severe cases may require surgery.
Here's more information about Crohn's disease, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:
* Symptoms often include stomach cramps, diarrhea and bloody stools.
* Additional signs may include fatigue, nausea and joint pain.
* For mild forms, antibiotics and drugs called salicylates may help. Steroids are generally prescribed for people with more severe disease.
* Crohn's cannot be cured, but many people who are treated have no symptoms for long periods.
Health Tip: Controlling Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the digestive tract, resulting in symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhea.
While there is no cure, a combination of medication, nutritional supplements and surgery can help control symptoms.
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse offers this list of treatment options:
* Most people with Crohn's are initially treated with mesalamine, a substance that helps control inflammation of the digestive tract.
* Other medications are available if mesalamine doesn't prove effective or cannot be tolerated, including Remicade (infliximab) or a class of drugs called corticosteroids.
* Medications that suppress the immune system.
* Fluid replacement treatments and anti-diarrhea medications.
* Eating a healthy, balanced diet, and avoiding foods that trigger symptoms.
* Nutritional supplements.
* Surgery may well be required to alleviate blockages, or treat other complications including intestinal perforations, abscesses or bleeding.