Understanding Crohn's disease!

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive tract that can affect any part of it, from the mouth to the anus. The inflammation caused by Crohn's disease can affect different areas of the digestive tract in other people, but most cases are found in the last part of the small intestine, the ileum. This inflammation often spreads to the deeper layers of the intestine.

The exact aetiology of what causes the inflammation (Crohn's disease) has yet to be identified. Still, on the other hand, the prevailing opinion is that this chronic inflammation is linked to a complex interaction between genetic predisposition and several environmental factors.

Suppose we accept the biological explanation of man. In that case that only a tiny percentage is brought about by hereditary predisposition, we see that another path opens up, which can and does give a complete meaning. The quality of life, the lifestyle that everyone chooses to live, now becomes the key to their health.

On the other hand, the environmental factors I mentioned above, such as viruses or bacteria, smoking, taking medications, adding preservatives to food, adding antibiotics to meat, dietary habits, and stress, become the leading causes for the body to be affected and react by creating inflammation and many other symptoms.

Even the immune system has every reason not to be at its best performance, and as we know, in many cases, the immune system can start to attack healthy cells by itself. So we have an autoimmune response that leads to Crohn's disease. That is, the immune system attacks the mucosa, the inner surface of the digestive system, this causes inflammation, and chronic inflammation can lead to ulcers and bleeding.

The main symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases are abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The course and evolution of these symptoms are unpredictable, and they show aggravations and recessions, or they may even go away automatically. For this reason, it would be reasonable when such symptoms start to appear to see a doctor directly.

Crohn's disease can cause a syndrome of malabsorption of nutrients (vitamins, trace elements), weight loss and diarrhoea. When it is located in the ileum, it can cause malabsorption of vitamin B12, leading to anaemia. If, by the way, you feel dizzy and it is thought that you have a low hematocrit, it would be good to do some further tests for Crohn's disease as we say better safe than sorry.

The incidence of Crohn's disease is higher in industrialized countries, urban areas, and higher socioeconomic classes. This tells us that the vital factor is reliance on a diet. The intestine is the second brain of the body. When it does not receive the right food, it cannot provide the rest of the body with the nutritional values that will be converted into energy, so the body will not be provided with the corresponding amount of energy it needs. So he will reach the point of under-functioning, and the under-functioning is the one that gives rise to problems, inflammations and autoimmune.

Symptoms

Crohn's disease is a chronic condition that usually lasts a lifetime. Symptoms vary depending on the location and type of inflammation, and the most common symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain. Pain in the abdomen or below the navel is usually worse after large meals. Choose small and not complex combinations.

• Bloody diarrhoea due to wounds

• Vomiting, upset stomach at best.

• Weight loss. The loss of appetite often leads to anorexia which is combined with the pain that food creates in the stomach. Avoidance is not food. Choose small portions and rich in nutrition. You no longer eat for the enjoyment of food but for the maintenance of the body. In this way, you can ease the situation and improve your health.

Crohn's disease, in addition to feeling tired and weak, can even affect the joints or vision over time. Mouth sores, joint pain, and inflammation of the eyes that can cause pain or difficulty seeing have been observed in patients.

Treatment can only be done through diet and by a specialist nutritionist. The patient should be able to make the nutritional changes needed to reverse this disease. Unfortunately, there is still no medical treatment that will cure the disease.