How
to Cope with Crohn's Disease Symptoms
Crohn’s is a debilitating
bowel disease that causes the lining of your digestive tract to
inflame. When this occurs, you will experience severe diarrhea and
abdominal pain. Crohn’s disease symptoms are similar to those
from another irritable bowel disease, ulcerative colitis. Both diseases
can be incapacitating, unbearably painful, and sometimes life threatening.
These are a few Crohn’s disease symptoms you should be aware
of:
- Diarrhea—although everyone experiences
loose stools on occasion, those who suffer from Crohn’s
disease can have dozens of bowel movements a day. This is because
the disease causes the cells in the intestine to secrete large
amounts of water and salt, and when the colon cannot absorb
this fluid it leads to diarrhea.
- Abdominal pain and cramping—when you
suffer from Crohn’s disease, the inflammation and ulceration
of your intestines will lead to scarring. These scar tissues
create an obstacle for normal bowel movements which can potentially
lead to cramping. This is usually more painful for those who
have a severe case of Crohn’s.
- Blood in your stool—of all the Crohn’s
disease symptoms, this one may be the most telling. Food passing
through your intestines can cause the walls to bleed, or your
bowels may bleed on their own.
- Ulcers—these may appear in your mouth,
but most commonly on the surface of your intestine. These ulcers
often penetrate deep into your colon, and worse, sometimes through
them.
Other Crohn’s disease symptoms include
loss of appetite, fever, and fatigue. If you’re experiencing
these symptoms, contact your physician right away. Although Crohn’s
disease isn’t curable, medications and various other measures
can help substantially reduce the severity of your symptoms.
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