What Are The Symptoms Of Crohn’s Disease?

Gut health is not something most people really enjoy talking about.  At one point, the digestive system was considered a relatively simple body system. It consisted of one long tube for our food to pass through, be absorbed, and then exit the body.  Over time, we realized that our digestive system is a little more complex than just one long tube. That long tube has many disorders and diseases that can be attached to it and cause many issues.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s Disease is something many of us have heard of,  but are not exactly sure what it is. It is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It can cause inflammation in your digestive tract, which in turn can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, and malnutrition. 

The inflammation of the digestive tract from Crohn’s affects people differently. It often spreads to many layers of the bowels and can be very painful, and can also lead to life-threatening complications. 

Symptoms of Crohn’s

When it comes to Crohn’s Disease, it can affect any part of your intestine, including the small or large intestine.  It can affect small portions, or it can involve continuous segments. Some people have it confined to just the colon (the large intestine)..

The symptoms of Crohn’s can vary from person to person also. Some experience mild symptoms while others have more severe ones. They usually come on gradually, but sometimes the onset can be sudden and without warning. Some patients are lucky and have periods with no symptoms and signs of the disease.

When the disease is active, the signs and symptoms can include:

• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Abdominal Pain
• Abdominal Cramping
• Blood in Stool
• Mouth Sores
• Reduced Appetite
• Weight Loss
• Pain or drainage near the anus

If you are suffering from a severe cause of Crohn’s Disease, you may also experience:

• Inflammation of eyes, skin, and joints
• Inflammation of the liver
• Kidney Stones
• Iron Deficiency- anemia
• Delayed growth

Treatments

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should see a health care provider. There is currently no known cure for Crohn’s Disease and no single treatment option that everyone can use.  Your doctor or health care provider can talk to you and discuss ways to keep your Crohn’s manageable and under control. While some individuals choose medication,  others look for a more holistic approach. This can include lifestyle changes, nutritional supplementation and diet change,  as ways to help  your body heal from the inside out.  At The Gut Authority, we believe in letting your body heal itself; this can lead to you being healthier and living an improved life. You may be given a special diet designed just for you that you can use to help control your symptoms. We believe that if we can help you identify the factors which may have contribute to the cause of your symptoms , then you can help your self by changing those factors going forward.

Causes of Crohn’s Disease

The exact cause of Crohn’s Disease remains a mystery. Diet and stress were once considered factors, but many doctors now believe those just aggravate Crohn’s and do not actually cause it. Heredity and malfunctioning immune systems can also play a role in Crohn’s development.  Many holistic practitioners see Crohn’s disease as an autoimmune condition. Autoimmune conditions arise when one or more or a combination of the following are present: 1. Nutritional deficiencies      2. Food Allergies or Food Sensitivities        3. Toxicity or Chemical Sensitivities          4.Microbial Imbalances.

For More Information

If you are looking for more information on Crohn’s Disease and factors which may be triggering your condition, please give us a call at The Gut Authority. We see clients with various gut issues and help guide them to more optimal results with our plans. We are located in Daphne, Alabama, but we serve clients  in Alabama , Southern Mississippi, and the Panhandle of Florida. We would love to talk to you over the phone, discuss an appointment with you and get you on the way to being a healthier you.