Crohn's Disease is a chronic disease which causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The colon or small intestine are the most commonly affected areas. Symptoms of Crohn's Disease may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in your stool, weight loss and decreased appetite. The method of treatment may vary depending on the severity of the disease and overall health of the patient.
Diet and Lifestyle Changes
Closely monitoring your diet and eliminating stress from your life may help to control your symptoms. Certain foods may trigger signs and symptoms. Keep a food journal of the daily foods that you eat so that you could better pinpoint which foods may aggravate your condition. Stress does not cause Crohn's Disease, but may aggravate symptoms. Relaxation therapies including yoga and meditation, and biofeedback may help reduce stress levels. Exercise is also a great way to reduce stress.
Medications
Anti-inflammatory drugs are often the first step in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, reports the Mayo Clinic. Some common medications that may be used include corticosteroids, anti-inflammatories, immune system suppressors, antibiotics and antidiarrheals.
Corticosteroids work by reducing inflammation. They are used on a short term basis until a patient is in remission. Anti-inflammatories such as Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) decrease inflammation within the colon, but are not always successful. They also carry the risk of side effects including nausea, vomiting, headache and heartburn. According to the Mayo Clinic, immune system receptors also reduce inflammation, but they target your immune system rather than directly treating inflammation.
Antibiotics may help to heal the colon and decrease the amount of harmful intestinal bacteria in the colon. Anti-diarrheal drugs may be used in order to relieve symptoms during a flare-up of the disease.
Your physician may use one, or a combination of drugs depending on your individual situation.
Surgery
If diet and lifestyle changes, drug therapy or other treatments don't relieve your signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove a damaged portion of your digestive tract or to close fistulas or remove scar tissue, states the Mayo Clinic. Surgery does not eliminate the disease but may provide long-term relief. It is not uncommon to require more than one surgical procedure when living with Crohn's Disease.
