Crohn's Disease

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Overview

Crohn’s DiseaseCrohn's disease is a condition that causes swelling, or inflammation, in part of your digestive system.

Crohn’s Disease: How Do I Get to Remission?Remission is a stage of Crohn’s when your disease is no longer active.

The Costs of Crohn’s DiseaseThe costs of medical care for Crohn's disease can stack up during that time, so you should plan and prepare now.

The 5 Types of Crohn’s DiseaseThere are five main types of Crohn's disease, each with its own set of symptoms.

Crohn’s DiseaseCrohn's disease is a condition that causes swelling, or inflammation, in part of your digestive system.

Crohn’s Disease: How Do I Get to Remission?Remission is a stage of Crohn’s when your disease is no longer active.

The Costs of Crohn’s DiseaseThe costs of medical care for Crohn's disease can stack up during that time, so you should plan and prepare now.

The 5 Types of Crohn’s DiseaseThere are five main types of Crohn's disease, each with its own set of symptoms.

Small Bowel Crohn’s DiseaseMost commonly, people have Crohn's disease in their small bowel, also called your small intestine.

Crohn’s Disease and Oral Contraceptives: What to KnowResearch has shown that combination birth control pills aren’t kind to your gut. They could raise your risk of Crohn’s.

Crohn's Disease and PregnancyYou can have a healthy pregnancy and delivery even if you have Crohn’s disease.

How Race Might Affect Diagnosis and CareCrohn's disease is on the rise in people of color, yet it's often overlooked and underreported among minority communities.

Symptoms

Causes & Risks

What Causes Crohn’s Disease?Although there are many theories about what causes Crohn's disease, none of them have been proven.

Who Gets Crohn’s Disease?Scientists haven’t identified all causes of Crohn’s, but they’ve found certain groups of people who are at higher risk.

Gut Bacteria and Crohn’s DiseaseWhen the gut microbiome balance is disrupted, it can make you more prone to disease, including Crohn’s disease.

How Does Smoking Affect Crohn's Disease?Smoking doesn't cause Crohn's. But smoking can increase your risk of Crohn's, or make it more severe and harder to treat.

What Causes Crohn’s Disease?Although there are many theories about what causes Crohn's disease, none of them have been proven.

Who Gets Crohn’s Disease?Scientists haven’t identified all causes of Crohn’s, but they’ve found certain groups of people who are at higher risk.

Gut Bacteria and Crohn’s DiseaseWhen the gut microbiome balance is disrupted, it can make you more prone to disease, including Crohn’s disease.

How Does Smoking Affect Crohn's Disease?Smoking doesn't cause Crohn's. But smoking can increase your risk of Crohn's, or make it more severe and harder to treat.

Ankylosing Spondylitis and Crohn's: What's the Connection?If you have AS, you might be slightly more likely to get inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and vice versa.

Tests & Diagnosis

Treatment

Medications for Crohn’s DiseaseIf you have Crohn’s disease, the right medications may keep your condition under control.

Step-Up or Top-Down for Crohn’s Disease: Treatment OptionsThe medications used in the step-up and top-down methods are the same. You’ll just get them in a different order.

Antibiotics and Crohn’s Disease: Help or Hurt?Medical experts speculate that an overgrowth of bacteria is one of the causes of Crohn’s disease.

Hospital Care for Crohn’s: What You Should KnowIt may be hard to hear that Crohn’s can harm your GI tract to the point where you could need treatment at a hospital.

Medications for Crohn’s DiseaseIf you have Crohn’s disease, the right medications may keep your condition under control.

Step-Up or Top-Down for Crohn’s Disease: Treatment OptionsThe medications used in the step-up and top-down methods are the same. You’ll just get them in a different order.

Antibiotics and Crohn’s Disease: Help or Hurt?Medical experts speculate that an overgrowth of bacteria is one of the causes of Crohn’s disease.

Hospital Care for Crohn’s: What You Should KnowIt may be hard to hear that Crohn’s can harm your GI tract to the point where you could need treatment at a hospital.

Latest Crohn's ResearchCrohn's disease can be a frustrating cycle of diarrhea, belly cramps, and constipation.

Clinical Trials for Crohn’s DiseaseIf you have Crohn’s disease, a clinical trial could give you access to a new drug before it’s available to everyone else.

NSAIDs and Crohn's DiseaseIf you have Crohn’s, a doctor may have warned you at some point to avoid NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.

Tips for People Using Steroids for Crohn’s DiseaseThe goals of steroid therapy are to ease symptoms causing your pain and push your Crohn's disease into remission.

Crohn's Drugs That Target Your Immune System

Biologics for Crohn's Disease TreatmentBiologics work on your immune system. They target specific proteins in your body that cause inflammation, like from Crohn's.

IL Inhibitors for Crohn's Disease TreatmentMedications called interleukin (IL) inhibitors aren’t a cure. But they can lower inflammation and bring you relief from moderate to severe Crohn’s disease symptoms.

Treat Crohn's Disease with SkyriziSkyrizi is a medicine that improves the body's immune system by improving symptoms in people who do not get enough benefit.

Can Stem Cell Therapy Treat Crohn's Disease?Stem cells are a promising option because they divide to form new, healthy cells. Stem cells might work against Crohn's.

Vitamins for Crohn's DiseaseDuring Crohn’s flares, you may not be able to eat much healthy food. That means your body won’t be getting enough nutrition.

Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy: Can It Treat Crohn’s?If you’re interested in exploring gut-directed hypnotherapy to manage Crohn’s disease, you’re not alone.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Crohn’s DiseaseHyperbaric oxygen therapy can reduce inflammation. Some experts believe the therapy can reduce inflammation from Crohn’s.

Surgery for Crohn’s DiseaseUp to three-quarters of people with Crohn’s need surgery at some point, even when they take medicine and eat right.

Strictureplasty for Crohn's DiseaseA strictureplasty for Crohn’s disease is a surgery that doctors can do to widen narrowed sections of your small intestine.

Resection Surgery for Crohn's DiseaseResection surgery removes the parts of your intestine that Crohn's disease has damaged.

Laparoscopic Total Abdominal ColectomyA laparoscopic total abdominal colectomy is an operation that removes the large intestine.

How to Prepare for Crohn's SurgeryIf you plan to have Crohn’s disease surgery, you’ll need to take some steps to make sure the procedure goes well.

Recovery After Crohn’s Surgery: What to ExpectFollowing Crohn’s surgery, you will likely be able to recover well. Here’s what you can expect after the operation.

Crohn's Surgery: Handling Long-Term EffectsCrohn’s surgeries carry risks of complications. Major long-term complications aren't common, but you should know the signs.

Living With

What to Expect if You Have Crohn's DiseaseDepending on the way Crohn’s affects you and your ability to manage it, you may have some challenges.

Tips for Self-Care With Crohn's DiseaseTo treat Crohn’s, your doctor will recommend what meds to take and if you might need surgery. But you play a big role, too.

Crohn's Disease: Diet and NutritionFoods don’t cause Crohn's disease, but they can make it feel worse. So it’s important to pay attention to what you eat.

Creating a Crohn's Disease Diet PlanIf you have Crohn's disease, you probably have found that certain foods trigger your intestinal symptoms, especially when the disease flares.

What to Expect if You Have Crohn's DiseaseDepending on the way Crohn’s affects you and your ability to manage it, you may have some challenges.

Tips for Self-Care With Crohn's DiseaseTo treat Crohn’s, your doctor will recommend what meds to take and if you might need surgery. But you play a big role, too.

Crohn's Disease: Diet and NutritionFoods don’t cause Crohn's disease, but they can make it feel worse. So it’s important to pay attention to what you eat.

Creating a Crohn's Disease Diet PlanIf you have Crohn's disease, you probably have found that certain foods trigger your intestinal symptoms, especially when the disease flares.

What Is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet?The Specific Carbohydrate Diet is a restrictive, grain-free diet plan designed for people with conditions such as Crohn's.

Enteral Diet for Crohn's DiseaseCrohn’s can make it hard for your gut to absorb enough nutrients. Your doctor may recommend enteral nutrition therapy.

How to Keep a Healthy Weight With Crohn’s DiseaseCrohn's disease can make it hard to keep your weight healthy and get the nutrients you need. But it's possible.

Crohn's and Your RelationshipsCrohn’s is a disease that may affect your relationships, including with family, friends, intimate partners, and co-workers.

How to Manage Crohn's Disease and Family LifeCrohn's has a big impact on you. Your friends, family, and co-workers might be concerned about you and your condition.

Don’t Let Crohn’s Ruin Your Sex LifeCrohn’s can change the way you feel about your body and intimacy. You can still have an active, satisfying love life.

Crohn’s Is Not Your FaultOne thing that experts do know is that Crohn’s disease is not something anyone is to blame for.

Are Depression and Crohn's Disease Linked?Evidence suggests poor mental health has negative effects on your Crohn's disease.

Crohn’s Disease and Anxiety: What’s the Link?Anxiety is common among the general population, and even more common among people with Crohn’s disease.

Complications

Crohn's Disease ComplicationsComplications of Crohn's disease may or may not be related to the inflammation within the intestine.

Conditions That Can Go Along with Crohn's DiseaseCrohn's disease mainly affects the gut, but also has the potential to cause inflammation elsewhere in the body.

Anal Fissures and Hemorrhoids in Crohn’s DiseaseLife can be challenging with Crohn's. Besides the disease itself, there are other complications: hemorrhoids and anal fissures.

What Is Perianal Crohn’s Disease?No matter where you have Crohn’s, you can get perianal Crohn’s. This is when the condition causes damage around the anus.

Crohn's Disease ComplicationsComplications of Crohn's disease may or may not be related to the inflammation within the intestine.

Conditions That Can Go Along with Crohn's DiseaseCrohn's disease mainly affects the gut, but also has the potential to cause inflammation elsewhere in the body.

Anal Fissures and Hemorrhoids in Crohn’s DiseaseLife can be challenging with Crohn's. Besides the disease itself, there are other complications: hemorrhoids and anal fissures.

What Is Perianal Crohn’s Disease?No matter where you have Crohn’s, you can get perianal Crohn’s. This is when the condition causes damage around the anus.

Micronutrient Deficiencies and Crohn’s DiseaseWith Crohn’s, you may have a hard time getting nutrients. More than half of people with IBD don’t get enough micronutrients.

Crohn’s Disease and AnemiaWith Crohn’s, you might feel tired or lethargic. While these are symptoms of Crohn’s, they might mean you also have anemia.

Liver Problems and Crohn’s DiseasePeople with Crohn’s disease may also be at higher risk of liver problems. They can occur at any stage of your illness.

Arthritis and Crohn’s DiseaseIf you have Cohn’s disease, you have a higher risk of arthritis. Experts believe this has to do with your genetics.

Crohn's and Colon CancerIf you have Crohn’s disease, you may need to get checked more often for early signs of colon cancer.

Support & Resources

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