Also called: Regional enteritis, Regional ileitis Show
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SummaryWhat is Crohn's disease?Crohn's disease is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in your digestive tract. It can affect any part of your digestive tract, which runs from your mouth to your anus. But it usually affects your small intestine and the beginning of your large intestine. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis and microscopic colitis are other common types of IBD. What causes Crohn's disease?The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Researchers think that an autoimmune reaction may be one cause. An autoimmune reaction happens when your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body. Genetics may also play a role, since Crohn's disease can run in families. Stress and eating certain foods don't cause the disease, but they can make your symptoms worse. Who is at risk for Crohn's disease?There are certain factors which can raise your risk of Crohn's disease:
What are the symptoms of Crohn's disease?The symptoms of Crohn's disease can vary, depending where and how severe your inflammation is. The most common symptoms include:
Some other possible symptoms are:
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:
How is Crohn's disease diagnosed?Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis:
What are the treatments for Crohn's disease?There is no cure for Crohn's disease, but treatments can decrease the inflammation in your intestines, relieve symptoms, and prevent complications. Treatments include medicines, bowel rest, and surgery. No single treatment works for everyone. You and your health care provider can work together to figure out which treatment is best for you:
Changing your diet can help reduce symptoms. Your provider may recommend that you make changes to your diet, such as:
Some people also need go on special diet, such as a low-fiber diet. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Start Here
What medications make Crohn's disease worse?Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—These include aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen. They can lead to bowel inflammation—making symptoms worse.
What should Crohn's patients avoid?Crohn's disease: Foods to avoid. Whole grains. The high amounts of fiber in foods like whole-grain bread, whole-wheat pasta, popcorn and bran can cause a lot of traffic through the gastrointestinal tract. ... . Beans. ... . High-fiber fruits and vegetables. ... . Nuts and seeds. ... . Alcohol and caffeine. ... . Sweeteners. ... . Dairy. ... . Spicy foods.. What can trigger a Crohn's flareSummary. People with Crohn's disease experience flare-ups, during which symptoms like diarrhea, cramping, fever, fatigue, and joint pain are active. Flares can be triggered by factors like dietary changes, new medications, antibiotic use, stress, or infections. Sometimes, the cause of the flare-up is unknown.
What painkillers can I take with Crohn's disease?For mild pain, your doctor may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) — but not other common pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve).
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