What is crohns disease, lets see what the experts have to say

Crohn's Disease is a digestive system disease. It is also known as an autoimmune disease because it occurs when your immune system attacks your gastrointestinal tract.

Now based on those two statements alone, any rational person should be able to assume that this is a curable disease. Curable because you can choose what you put into your mouth and thereby choose what will not make it into your intestinal tract.

And if that is the case, why are millions of people still suffering from the appalling effects of Crohn's Disease? Well, lets see what the experts have to say.

Most doctors will tell you that the actual cause of Crohn's Disease is unknown and that there is no cure, as they continue to prescribe pill after deadly pill to treat the rashes, sore throats, diarrhea, severe muscle pain, weakness, cramps, vomiting and headaches. Yet most people who obediently swallow these pills and explanations, rarely get better and some have even reported getting sicker over time. So what, exactly, do we know about Crohn's Disease?

The Intestinal Tract

We know that the intestinal tract has well over 400 different species of bacteria. They begin to develop in the human body with the first sip of our mother's milk. Some are helpful, some are harmful, and some are both, yet indispensable to a healthy digestive system.

All of these bacteria exist in the intestine of a healthy person in peace and harmony. Each doing the job it was programmed to do as long as they are in balance. Crohn's Disease occurs when this balance is disturbed. So what could possibly disturb this not-so-delicate balance? An overabundance of any one specific bacteria is usually the culprit.

One of our most beloved comfort-food groups, carbohydrates, play an enormous role in feeding certain bacteria in our digestive tract. Carbohydrates that are not fully digested and absorbed will remain in our stomachs and become food for the bacteria living there. These microbes digest this unused food using fermentation. By definition, fermentation is the conversion of carbohydrates into alcohols or acids under anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic simply means airless.

The problem arises from the waste products of this process. Fermentation in the stomach produces gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. It also produces lactic acid and acetic acid as well as other toxins as by-products. These are all irritants to the human body. Evidence shows that feeding some of the benign and helpful bacteria in this way may cause them to mutate into the more harmful types.

As the well-fed bacteria continues to multiply, the fermentation process increases and so does your bodily discomfort. As the situation worsens, natural enzymes in the stomach that aid in food digestion are destroyed by the bacteria, which greatly aids the bacteria in its quest to grow as large as it possibly can.

As this condition begins to spiral out of control, the brain sends a signal to your white blood cells to lock and load. But by the time the cavalry arrives, the protective layer of mucus surrounding the small intestine is gone and the small intestine is laid bare. The last defense between what we eat and our bloodstream has been breached.

The chronic pain has set in. The diarrhea has started. And the disease has begun.

The Cure
So now, in acute pain and weak because you can't keep anything down, nor anything in, you see your doctor and he tells you that you have Crohn's Disease and there is no cure. As he dutifully prescribes you six different medications for your myriad of symptoms, you accept this diagnosis and begin trying to rearrange the rest of your life near a bathroom.

Chrones disease symptoms, causes and treatment

Chrones disease is a disorder in which the bowel system becomes inflamed and damage is often done as a result. The exact reasoning is unclear as to why, but the body's immune system seems to react abundantly to a portion of the digestive tract that is actually quite healthy. As the area is pumped with white blood cells in preparation to fight a nonexistent enemy, it becomes inflamed. This inflammation allows the tissue to become damaged as stool passes through the digestive system.

There are several courses of treatment available for chrones disease, which typically fall into one of two categories: medication therapy or surgery. Of course, surgery is self-explanatory - when an area becomes damaged excessively, it may be necessary to remove the portion of bowel to prevent a blockage or to remove an existing blockage. However, medication therapy is used considerably more.

Anti-inflammatory drugs are often used to reduce the swelling of the tissue in the digestive system. Unfortunately, many of these have horrendous side effects, such as vomiting and severe headaches. Sulfasalazine, Mesalamine, and Corticosteroids are examples of medication often used to control inflammation in the bowels.

The immune system overreacting is the cause for the inflammation of the bowel walls. For this reason, some doctors will use a course of treatment that involves repressing the immune system to stop the problem before it starts. However, this does not come without side effects. Whenever you suppress the immune system, you open your body up to be attacked. Even a common cold could be a problem with no immune system to fight it off. Some of these medications also cause high blood pressure, liver damage, and other complications.

Another option is the use of antibiotics. These are used to lessen inflammation and to eliminate any infection that arises. Also common are medications that simply treat symptoms of chrones disease. Laxatives or anti-diarrhea medications are often used to provide some relief. Similarly, pain relievers are sometimes effective in controlling stomach cramping. Because chrones disease patients often have nutritional deficiencies from not being able to properly absorb food, they may also need vitamins and other supplements.

While some of the treatments for chrones disease come with complications and side effects, many patients prefer to live with those consequences as opposed to having the disorder disrupt their lives. The important thing is for patients to remember there is treatment available and they do not have to suffer forever.