Causes of Crohn’s Disease

What seems like a simple case of diarrhea or abdominal pain may be caused by more than just the food you ate the night before. These two common symptoms could point to a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders, one of which is Crohn’s disease.

Causes of Crohn’s Disease

The real cause of Crohn’s disease is still as unknown as is the cure to cancer. Physicians have hypothesized however, that this bowel disorder is brought about by the patient’s immune system acting out abnormally. In normal conditions, the immune system acts to protect the human body from potentially harmful foreign invasions and ‘bad bacteria’ that may cause damage to the body. In the case of Crohn’s disease however, our immune system is said to attack the ‘good’ bacteria in our bodies, the bacteria that everybody has in his/her GI tract for normal digestion to happen. When this occurs, white blood cells from the immune system accumulate in the walls of your intestines, resulting in inflammation, swelling, and eventually, damage to your GI tract.

Crohn’s diseases may be due to genetics for some patients who are simply genetically pre-disposed to develop this bowel disorder. In other words, this means that some people are just ‘destined’ to develop this disease because of the genes they were born with. Crohn’s disease has also been linked to a patient’s diet of milk and animal protein as well as regular consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Crohn’s Disease Causes a Number of Symptoms

Crohn’s disease is a bowel disorder that causes inflammation and irritation in nearly any part of the gastrointestinal tract, which covers everything from the patient’s mouth to his/her anus. Though any portion of the GI tract may be inflamed, the affected part is typically the end part of your small intestine (called the ileum).

Common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are diarrhea and abdominal pain, as well as continuous vomiting, sudden weight loss, rectal bleeding, tiredness, fever, and skin rashes. In serious cases, you may become anemic due to the amount of blood lost through rectal bleeding. Intestinal blockage may occur due to the thickened intestinal wall brought about by swelling and accumulated scar tissue. In addition to ulcers, fistulas (or tunnels) may result as well in areas surrounding your rectum and anus. These tunnels often become infected and may require surgery in very severe cases.

Crohn’s disease affects both men and women of all ages, though it usually appears in patients between ages 13 and 30. It runs in the family, so if a family member has Crohn’s then you are more likely to develop the condition because you share some of the same genetics. People who smoke are more likely of contracting this disorder than non-smokers, which is another reason to ultimately put that cigarette down and give your body a rest.

Address These Causes with Your Physician

If you have even an inkling that you might be suffering from the symptoms of Crohn’s disease, then it is advised to go see your doctor as soon as possible. Your bloody diarrhea and feeling of fatigue is probably due to more than just a rough week at work. When diagnosed and treated earlier, a physician can help you alleviate symptoms caused by your disorder and help you get back to normal.

Never try to treat your condition by yourself. Do not buy antibiotics and medicines, even if these products state that they can help relieve you of abdominal discomfort and watery stool. Every case of Crohn’s disease is different in some way, depending on you and your individual attributes.

Getting a doctor’s diagnosis is always the safest and best way of getting yourself treated. Follow your physician’s advice religiously, take the medication he/she may prescribe, and avoid foods that may cause further inflammation to occur. You will soon be on your way to recovery.