Breakthrough Crohn’s Disease Guide

Constipation is a symptom of Crohn’s disease but it’s not as common as diarrhea.  It often occurs during a flare up, and is characterized by having a bowel movement less than three times within a week.  Constipation can be very uncomfortable and cause bloating, straining and the feeling of a full bowel.

Constipation is quite common, and is something the average person experiences regardless if they suffer from an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or other digestive condition.  Constipation results when the colon absorbs too much water from the waste material or the colon’s muscle contracts slowly or is sluggish.  This causes stool to dramatically slow down on its journey through the colon.  The outcome of constipation is often dry, hard, pebble-like stool that is difficult to pass.

What causes constipation in Crohn’s sufferers?

Causes of constipation may differ depending on the person.  For instance, while constipation may be a result from a poor diet in one person, it could be the result of taking medication in another.  Therefore, in order to treat constipation, a Crohn’s sufferer should first learn about the most common causes of constipation and then assess their condition.

Poor Diet – A diet low in fiber and water consumption can lead to constipation.  Eating too many dairy products such as milk and cheese, and foods high in starch such as potatoes, white pasta, white bread, and rice, can trigger constipation.

Medication – If you are taking medications to treat other Crohn’s symptoms, or another condition, one of the side effects of these drugs could be constipation.  Furthermore, taking too many laxatives can actually have the opposite effect and result in constipation.

Stricture – Sometimes the cause of constipation in Crohn’s disease is due to a slight obstruction in the small intestine called a stricture.  A stricture is an abnormal narrowing that occurs in a natural passage in the body, in the case of Crohn’s the small or large intestine.  Strictures result from ulcerations and scar tissue.  The obstruction in the intestine slows down digestion and creates problems – constipation.

How can you relieve constipation?

Up your insoluble fiber intake – There are two different types of fiber: soluble and insoluble.  Although both sources of fiber should be apart of your diet, if you are constipated, insoluble fiber is more beneficial to you because it helps to move food through your intestines.  It is this fiber that encourages regular bowel movements.  Excellent sources of insoluble fiber include dark green leafy vegetables, fruit skins, corn bran, and whole-wheat products.

When there is enough fiber in your diet, stools should be soft and passed without problem.  If you have a problem naturally increasing your fiber intake, talk to your doctor about fiber supplements.

Drink plenty of water – Most people don’t drink enough water and this can lead to chronic dehydration and cause constipation.  You need to make sure you are well hydrated by drinking the recommended eight, 8oz. glasses of water daily, and avoid caffeinated drinks that lead to dehydration.

Exercise – Exercise improves your overall health, reduces the risk of constipation and can even prevent it.  By improving your body’s circulation and increasing your energy, you are providing your body with the power it needs to digest food.

Drugs – if your constipation is severe (lasts for more than 2 weeks) it’s time to consult your doctor about taking laxatives.  Although these meds are available without prescription, it’s a good idea to seek the opinion of your doctor first.  You should never abuse laxatives, as this will only cause further complications with your colon.

When you prevent and effectively treat constipation, you will avoid ugly complications that can arise from chronic constipation such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures.

To prevent Crohn’s disease flare-ups and the associated symptoms naturally, please take a look at  Gastronic Dr. and DigestAssist - a natural solutions for acute and chronic digestive problems.

Medical research has shown that Crohn’s disease sufferers can greatly improve their overall health by including more omega-3 fatty acids in their diet.  Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients the body requires but cannot produce itself.  They are found in fish and certain plant oils.  Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids, particularly those found in fish oil, have anti-inflammatory properties that can have a therapeutic effect on Crohn’s disease.

There are three major types of omega-3 fatty acids:

1. Eicosapentaenoic (EPA)
2. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
3. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)

When eaten, ALA is converted into EPA and DHA, the two fatty acids that are primarily used by the body for different process such as improving cardiovascular function, lowering blood pressure and brain function.  Moreover, as was previously mentioned, the EPA and DHA have anti-inflammatory properties.

When it comes to treating Crohn’s disease with omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil supplements have been used as an alternative or complimentary treatment in a number of medical studies over the course of several years. The results of these studies have varied. 

For instance, some researchers have discovered that while fish oil may help reduce preexisting inflammation, it does not actually help prevent inflammation from occurring.  Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acids only appear to be a beneficial treatment for those who suffer from mild to moderate cases of Crohn’s disease.

In addition, studies have found that due to the positive influence fish oil has on intestinal cell growth, fish oil supplements may eventually increase the intestinal mucosal surface area.  This would result in the increase of nutrient absorption, and improve a person’s overall nutrition.

The studies that have been conducted on the anti-inflammatory effect of fish oil show a promising future.  More research must be done before it can be determined just how effective fish oil is in treating chronic inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease.

Before you talk to your doctor about taking fish oil supplements, you should first try the natural method of ingesting food rich in omega-3 fatty acids.  Good sources included the following:
• EPA and DHA - Cold water fish (IE halibut, herring, mackerel, salmon and sardines)
• ALA – canola oil, flaxseeds and oil, pumpkin seeds and oil, perilla seed oil, purslane, walnuts and oil.
• Enriched foods – It’s also not a bad idea to eat foods that have had omega-3 included in their ingredients such as omega-3 margarine and omega-3 eggs.

In order to ensure you are receiving the recommended amount of omega-3 in your diet to help treat your Crohn’s condition, you should eat two-three servings of fish each week (approximately 1,250 mg of EPA and DHA a day).  If you find it difficult to eat this amount of fish in a week, talk to your doctor about taking fish oil supplements.

Finally, although omega-3 fatty acids can help improve many of the symptoms in Crohn’s disease sufferers, remember that medical research is still being conducted to find out how beneficial fish oil supplements are for inflammatory bowel disease.  While it has shown many positive side effects, some patients in studies concerning the anti-inflammatory affects of fish oils encountered symptoms of halitosis (bad breath), belching, diarrhea and constipation.

If you are interested in finding out more about Omega-3’s and their benefits for crohn’s disease please click on the following link: 

 Crohn’s Disease Treatments

Unfortunately, a cure has yet to be found for Crohn’s Disease.  However, just because there isn’t a cure doesn’t mean there are limitations to treatments, or that medical researchers are not continuing their search to put an end to Crohn’s disease.

Currently, people suffering from Crhon’s treat their symptoms with prescribed or over-the-counter medications and controlled diets.  Regardless of the treatments people use, the vast majority of medical professionals have 4 primary goals that they seek to achieve when prescribing medications to their patients.  They are as follows:

1. Encourage remission
2. Maintain remission
3. Reduce negative side effects of treatments
4. Allow the person to go about a normal daily life

Let’s take a close look at the three common medications that are used to treat Crohn’s Disease, and see how they measure up to the above goals.

Prednisone
Prednisone is a steroid medication that is very similar to cortisol, which is a natural steroid produced by the body’s adrenal gland that works to reduce inflammation.  The purpose of this medication is to reduce the swelling in the digestive track which helps to prevent the symptoms of diarrhea and bleeding from occurring.

Common side effects associated with Prednisone include moodiness, acne, night sweats, headaches, increase in appetite, swollen cheeks, hair growth, weight gain, etc.  This medical treatment should not be used for the long term as it can cause bone density loss and cause steroid dependency.

Mercaptopurine
Mercaptopurine (also known as 6-mercaptopurine – 6-MP) is a medication that is specifically designed to weaken the immune system of the body by reducing the number of immune cells known as lymphocytes. Mercaptopurine is usually given in low doses to people who suffer from moderate to severe cases of Crohn’s disease.   It is estimated that 70% of people who are given Mercaptopurine as treatment benefit from the drug.

Some side effects of Mercaptopurine include unusual weakness or fatigue, yellow skin or eyes, darkening of skin, headache, diarrhea, skin itching or rash, loss of appetite, blood in urine or feces, lower back pain, etc.

Another drug that is similar to Mercaptopruine which is also used to treat Crohn’s is Azathioprine.

Infliximab
Infliximab is a fast active and effective drug treatment for those with a serious case of Crohn’s disease.  People who respond to infliximab treatments have experienced dramatic improvements of their condition.  In some cases, the medication induces rapid healing of ulcers and reduces inflammation of the intestines, often with only one infusion.

Infusion?  That’s right, Infliximab is injected directly in the vein and is an infusion treatment that lasts a minimum of 2 hours.  It is done by a health care professional usually in a clinic or hospital.

Side effects that you should watch for include cold symptoms, unusual bleeding, chest pain, skin rash or hives, trouble breathing, yellowing of the skin or eyes, stomach pain, nausea and/or vomiting, fatigue, etc.  Most side effects of Infiximab occur during an infusion, but sometimes allergic reactions to the medication does not occur until as late as 7 – 10 days after receiving the infusion.

Infliximab has also been known to effectively treat fistulas.

Not all medical treatments are ideal for everyone.  When on strong medications such as those described above, you should be closely monitored by a gastroenterologist to make sure you are responding well to the medication and that the side effects aren’t making your condition worse.  Make sure you fully read and understand the side effects of the medication(s) you take, and always notify your doctor if you experience any side effect.

If you’d rather go down the natural route to treat or want to supplement your prescribed meds have a look at the following natural remedies for Crohn’s Disease:

Gastronic Dr. and DigestAssist - a natural solution for acute and chronic digestive problems.