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Crohn´s Chronic Disease

explanatory Essay
1018 words
1018 words
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Crohn’s Disease along with Ulcerative Colitis are two of the major forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Crohn's disease also known as regional enteritis is a chronic disease. The disease affects different parts of the digestive system where ulcers develop, usually towards the end of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. However it can develop from the mouth to the anus as they are a part of the digestive tract. The disease affects approximately 2 million Americans (Harvard). Crohn’s Disease may complicate the bodies ability to digest food causing further problems. The disease has more occurrences in North America and Europe usually in the Northern areas and is rarely found in South America or Africa. More women on average tend to have Crohn’s disease. This disease also affects young people with the average age of the diagnoses taking place from 15 to 30 years old. The majority of cases start between 15 and 24 and before 30 years. Chances are higher for people of Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish backgrounds. Smoking increases the chances of the disease as well as having a family member that has been diagnosed with the disease. Symptoms of the disease may include but are not limited to, abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation, feeling faint along with having a fast and weak pulse. This can also be accompanied by loss of appetite and weight loss. A doctor may feel a lump usually on the right side of the abdomen. Hormonal changes along with smoking and infections may cause symptoms to flare. Less common symptoms may include anal tears or fissures, fistulas, sores in the mouth. However, tears and fissures are the more damaging affects of the disease and may cause problems with other or... ... middle of paper ... ... a patient will be left with what is known as short gut syndrome in which the digestive tract is too short to properly absorb nutrients from all the removing and reconnecting of the intestinal tract. When there is too much damage to the intestinal tract in severe cases a patient could also end up with ileostomy in which there is a hole made on the patients abdomen for waste to go through. There is research being done with Crohn’s that is testing whether or not bone marrow transplants would be effective in treating the disease. The use of immune system suppressors is also being questioned and researched and may be more problematic than they are a solution. The effects of Crohn’s disease can be debilitating to a persons life luckily it is a condition that with the right doctor and medicine can be controlled as we continue the research to make it a curable disease.

In this essay, the author

  • Explains that crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two of the major forms of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Explains that crohn's disease affects approximately 2 million americans and is more prevalent in north america and europe.
  • Explains the symptoms of the disease, including abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss. hormonal changes, smoking and infections may cause symptoms to flare.
  • Explains that since crohn's is a chronic illness people suffering from it will go through times when the disease flares up and periods of remission where they don't feel any symptoms.
  • Explains that crohn's is hard to track as the technology to look inside the small intestine has gotten better over the years. diarrhea occurs when the cells in the affected areas of the intestinales secrete larger than average amounts of salt and water.
  • Explains that the patient may develop sores in the mouth that are similar to canker-sores. the reduction of appetite and weight loss coincide with the problems caused by disease due to the bodies inability to properly digest food.
  • Explains that medications are the main form of treatment for crohn's disease. anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system modifiers, biologic therapies, anti-diarrhea medicine, and corticosteroids help lead a normal life.
  • Explains that corticosteroids are a powerful anti-inflammatory drug that helps reduce the swelling all over the body. they have many side effects such as night sweats, puffy face, excessive facial hair, hyperactivity and insomnia.
  • Explains that immuno system modifiers are a major medication given to patients suffering from crohn's disease. they help reduce inflammation and don't target the patient instead targeting the immune system.
  • Explains that the disease makes the colon absorb more salt and water than necessary which causes diarrhea. antibiotics can be used to help a patient suffering from fistulas due tot he disease and to clean the intestine of bad bacterias.
  • Explains that therapies for crohn's disease are necessary since it is chronic. biologic therapies like cimiza and remecade neutralize tumor necrosis alpha.
  • Explains that many patients who suffer from crohn's take alternative or complementary therapy to reduce the intake of drugs. alternative therapies include acupuncture, lifestyle changes and homeopathy.
  • Explains that surgery can help a patient live symptom free for years, but the surgeries are only temporary as the disease is chronic and the symptoms will flare up again on the reconnected tissue.
  • Explains that research is being done with crohn's that is testing whether or not bone marrow transplants would be effective in treating the disease. the use of immune system suppressors is also being questioned.
  • Explains that crohn's disease is a condition that can be controlled with the right doctor and medicine.
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