Crohns disease who is at risk

This may double your risk of developing Crohn's disease. Certain medicines , such as antibiotics , birth-control pills , and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

These may slightly increase your chance of developing Crohn's. A high-fat diet. This may also slightly increase your risk of Crohn's.

What are the symptoms of Crohn's disease? The most common symptoms include Diarrhea Cramping and pain in your abdomen Weight loss Some other possible symptoms are Anemia , a condition in which you have fewer red blood cells than normal Eye redness or pain Fatigue Fever Joint pain or soreness Nausea or loss of appetite Skin changes that involve red, tender bumps under the skin Stress and eating certain foods such as carbonated drinks and high-fiber foods may make some people's symptoms worse.

What other problems can Crohn's disease cause? Crohn's disease can cause other problems, including Intestinal obstruction , a blockage in the intestine Fistulas , abnormal connections between two parts inside of the body Abscesses , pus-filled pockets of infection Anal fissures, small tears in your anus that may cause itching, pain, or bleeding Ulcers, open sores in your mouth, intestines, anus, or perineum Malnutrition , when your body does not get the right amount of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs Inflammation in other areas of your body, such as your joints, eyes, and skin How is Crohn's disease diagnosed?

Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis: A medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms A family history A physical exam, including Checking for bloating in your abdomen Listening to sounds within your abdomen using a stethoscope Tapping on your abdomen to check for tenderness and pain and to see if your liver or spleen is abnormal or enlarged Various tests, including Blood and stool tests A colonoscopy An upper GI endoscopy, a procedure in which your provider uses a scope to look inside your mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small intestine Diagnostic imaging tests, such as a CT scan or an upper GI series.

An upper GI series uses a special liquid called barium and x-rays. Drinking the barium will make your upper GI tract more visible on an x-ray. What are the treatments for Crohn's disease? You and your health care provider can work together to figure out which treatment is best for you: Medicines for Crohn's include various medicines that decrease the inflammation. Some of these medicines do this by reducing the activity of your immune system.

Medicines can also help with symptoms or complications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-diarrheal medicines. If your Crohn's causes an infection, you may need antibiotics. Bowel rest involves drinking only certain liquids or not eating or drinking anything. This allows your intestines to rest. You may need to do this if your Crohn's disease symptoms are severe. You get your nutrients through drinking a liquid, a feeding tube, or an intravenous IV tube.

You may need to do bowel rest in the hospital, or you may be able to do it at home. IBD and IBS both affect the digestive system, and they can cause similar symptoms, such as diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. While IBD can cause lasting damage to the intestines, IBS does not cause inflammation or any visible signs of intestinal injury. They may then examine the abdomen to check for bloating and swelling. Doctors often need to order more tests to help with their diagnosis. These tests may include :.

However, a number of treatments can help:. These drugs can help reduce inflammation, limit the immune response, relieve symptoms, and treat infections. Doctors may also suggest dietary changes and nutritional supplements to help relieve or prevent symptoms. When complications occur or symptoms do not respond to medications, a person may require surgery. In general, treatment can be expensive.

People with more severe inflammation and complications tend to pay the most for treatment. Although it is a lifelong condition with no cure, successful treatment can help people achieve and maintain remission for years.

Keeping a food journal can help a person determine which foods soothe or trigger their symptoms. Read the article in Spanish. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause a variety of stool changes.

Learn about the symptoms and possible treatment options…. Image reference. Impact of inflammatory bowel disease in Canada. It has been suggested that children growing up in relatively sterile envrionments - without adequate exposure to microbes - do not prepare their immune system for handling microorganisms.

They then develop an abnormal immune response that attacks their organs later in life when exposed to harmful microorganisms. Research evidence that supports this hypothesis show that Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are less likely to occur in individuals who:.

Recent studies have also shown that susceptibility to IBD may be due to early-life exposures that change the composition of the intestinal microbiome, including loss of friendly microorganisms that could benefit the immune system. It has been suggested that the use of antibiotics , which can alter the gut microbiome even long after antibiotics have been discontinued.

Research has shown that IBD is more likely to develop in those who were exposed to antibiotics within the first year of life. IBD is also more likely to occur in those who were not breastfed as it strongly influences the diversity of the microbiome in children.

Dietary factors may have a strong influence on the intestinal microbiome. Studies suggest that a western diet, one with higher consumption of fats and refined sugars, and reduced consumption of dietary fibre, changes our gut's microbiome. Processed foods and fast food popular in western diet may also be contributors to developing IBD. The association between fast food consumption and IBD may be direct via exposure to fatty foods or food additives, or indirect via lifestyle factors such as reduced levels of physical activities.

Several other environmental determinates may influence the development of IBD among Canadians including:. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of developing Crohn's disease in adults. However, adults who quit smoking are at an increased risk of ulcerative colitis.

Oral contraceptives increase the risk of Crohn's disease, particularly among women who smoke. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin , may also trigger IBD. Appendicitis diagnosed before the age of ten years protects against ulcerative colitis. A lack of vitamin D from reduced sun exposure may increase the risk of developing IBD.

Vitamin D is important in regulating the immune system and its deficience has been associated with an increased risk of IBD. Air pollution may increase risk of developing Crohn's disease in children and young adults as it alters the intestinal microbiome.

A history of infectious gastroenteritis are more likely to be diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, especially among childhood-onset of IBD. Undestanding the biology behind IBD is critical in developing new strategies to improve quality of life for people living with the disease including: enhancing treatment approaches, exploring possibilities in curing the disease, and identifying avenues for prevention.