Crohn’s Disease is one of the many inflammatory bowel
diseases (IBD) that can wreak havoc on the digestive tract. From what modern
medicine has discerned about the disease we know for sure that there is no
cure. However, with ongoing research and expanding medical knowledge there is
hope that a cure will be found in the future.
Crohn’s was just another digestive tract problem until Dr.
Burrill B. Crohn and his team pinpointed the condition and named it. Their
research found that Crohn’s Disease affected the layers of the intestinal
lining. They also discovered that if exacerbated, the disease could actually
eat through the wall of the intestines themselves. This can lead to serious
complications. However, if discovered early and treated most people will never
reach this stage.
Crohn’s disease generally rears its ugly head in between the
ages of 15 and 30. This doesn’t mean that the disease cannot manifest in those
who fall either under or over this age range. The group with the highest
prevalence rate of Crohn’s appear to be Jews of Northern European descent – or
Ashkenazi Jews – but remember, Crohn’s disease affects people all over the
world.
It is believed that Crohn’s disease has its roots in
autoimmune functioning. This means that the body actually turns on itself and
begins to attack tissue that is not threatening. This aggressive response by
the body takes the digestive tract out of homeostasis and can cause a host of
digestive problems.
Crohn’s Disease operates in a seemingly cyclical manner.
This means that a person with Crohn’s isn’t always suffering. There are periods
where the symptoms are active and other times of complete remission. Some
people may not have a bout with Crohn’s for months or years. However, this
being said, the symptoms can come out of left field and hit like a runaway
train. So, it is important for those with Crohn’s to be vigilant and take
proper care of their health.
It is also fairly difficult to diagnose Crohn’s Disease
because each of the IBD’s share common symptoms. In order to procure a correct
diagnosis a doctor must usually go through a variety of steps. Oftentimes,
people with Crohn’s Disease are misdiagnosed at first with another
gastrointestinal disorder.
Even with all the current research, scientists are not sure
what in fact causes Crohn’s. There are a few different schools of thought on
the subject. As previously discussed, the leading theory is that Crohn’s
Disease is autoimmune in nature. However, it is also likely also passed on through
genetic information. Another theory provided is that Crohn’s is caused by
infections in the intestinal lining. The most likely theory is that the origin
of Crohn’s disease is a shotgun of all these theories. Each brings a piece of
the puzzle to the table and the disease works from there.
There are also many more resources and lots of information
about controlling and treating Crohn’s Disease symptoms here Breakthrough Crohn's Disease Guide.
