Archive for January, 2008

What Is Crohns Disease?

Posted in Crohn's Disease on January 31st, 2008

Crohn’s disease is a condition that is not totally understood. There seems to be no cause anyone can pinpoint, and there is no cure that has been found as of yet. It is an ailment that is often mistaken for other conditions, and by the time the proper diagnosis is made, it can be at a very troubling stage. Though this is something that is most commonly detected and diagnosed in teenagers, it can happen during any time in adulthood. It is very rare for a child to have Crohn’s.

The basic problem with Crohn’s lies in the digestive system. Though most sufferers find their condition is location in the intestines, some have been known to be in other parts. It is thought to be an auto-immune disease, which means the body is attacking itself for an unknown reason. Inflammation often occurs that leads to a variety of problems. These problems can be helped with medications, diet changes, stress relief, herbal remedies, and other lifestyle changes. Some people believe stress may cause Crohn’s, but that has not been proven, although stress can make a pre-existing condition worse. There are some indications it might be genetic, but even that appears to be randomly occurring.

Some of the symptoms of Crohn’s are often mistaken for Irritable Bowel Syndrome or other digestive disturbances. It is often missed, and not diagnosed properly right away. Sufferers can have diarrhea, vomiting, cramping in the stomach and intestines, blood in the stool, psoriasis, weakness, weight loss, and fatigue. Not all patients have the same symptoms, and the severity will vary from person to person. It is possible for symptoms to go into remission, but as this is a chronic condition the patient should expect flare-ups to reoccur.

In severe cases, the inflammation can cause blockages in the intestines, and can lead to tears and ulcers that will bleed out through the rectum. When the intestines are unable to function, or the food moves through too quickly due to diarrhea, the patient can loss weight rapidly, and may not be able to function in day to day life. When this happens, surgery is usually opted for. Approximately 75 percent of all those with Crohn’s will face surgery at least once in their lifetime. An operation will not be a cure, but it may improve life quality and might also signal the beginning of remission.

When you think of what is Crohn’s disease, you might better think about what Crohn’s disease means for you. This condition is vastly different from patient to patient, and no course of treatment will be the same. If you have parents who have Crohn’s, you may be at risk for it, and you should know what to look for. Though there is no cure, many treatments can help a person life a normal life. Any person with this condition, or the related condition Colitis, should make sure they keep an open line of communication with their doctor, and to keep up with treatment options so that they may feel as good as they possibly can.

Grab your free copy of Sharon Dobson’s brand new Crohn’s Disease Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to understand information to help to you discover exactly what is crohn’s disease, plus ideas and useful tips on what to do if you want to start following crohn’s disease diets, plus other natural remedies.

 

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Searching for the Cure for Crohns Disease

Posted in Crohn's Disease on January 24th, 2008

If you have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, one of the first things you probably asked your doctor was what could be done. Your doctor probably told you right away that the cure for Crohn‘s disease has not yet been found, but research is ongoing. There are many things you can do to help symptoms, but you will have to live with this chronic condition for the rest of your life, or until a cure can be found. Some patients opt to participate in clinical trials to speed up the process of finding not only the cure, but perhaps the cause as well.

Some of the most common clinical trials out there are ones for new medications. Drug companies are coming up with new drugs that might help with symptoms, or ones that might even prove to be a cure. These need to be tried out on humans to gauge effectiveness, and also to find out about the side effects. You might be taking something that can help you, or you may find that you are feeling even more miserable. Many trials include half the patients taking the real drug, and others will be taking a placebo. Due to FDA regulations, you must be aware of the potential risks before you sign up.

Before you sign up for a trial, you should talk through the implications with your doctor. You may not be a good candidate for a trial, and if that is what your doctor says make sure you listen. However, your doctor might think you are a good match, and if this is the case, there are some questions you have to ask yourself and things you have to find out about the trials.

Will you be staying elsewhere or at home? What are the risks? Will you be compensated? Can your family do without you for the duration of the trial if need be? What are your options if something were to go wrong? Once you have all of the answers to these questions, you will have a better idea if you want to continue or not.

Before you make a final decision and have weighed all of your options, you might want to go online to read what others have said about clinical trails. Many have found great relief with some of the drugs they have tried, and have been happy to be included. They feel that they are doing something for themselves and for everyone else. Others haven’t had such positive experiences.

In the end, the final decision is yours, and you should not feel guilty if you don’t want to do it. There are many good reasons not to do so. If you do choose to go through one or more clinical trials, you may be involved in something that might finally be considered the cure for Crohn‘s disease. Even if a cure is not found, you may have helped with a mediation that brings relief to many. That will always be a good feeling.

Grab your free copy of Sharon Dobson’s brand new Crohn’s Disease Newsletter - Overflowing with ideas for easy to implement natural treatments for Crohn’s disease, plus information on why research trials offer hope in the search for a the cure for crohn‘s disease.

 

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Is Something Triggering Your Crohns Symptoms?

Posted in Crohn's Disease on January 17th, 2008

Someone living with Crohn’s disease might enjoy long periods of remission, only to find that they are suddenly experiencing a flare up. The Crohn’s symptoms that each person will have will vary from person to person, but they all mean the same thing. Inflammation is the root problem with Crohn’s disease, and this can be anywhere in the digestive system, but usually occurs in the intestines. Symptoms indicate that inflammation is ongoing, and treatment might be necessary. There is no known cause for this condition, and some of the triggers that people say bring on flare-ups are highly debated.

Some believe that bacteria build up in the system is one of the triggers for Crohn’s flare-ups. There is always a certain amount of bacteria in the system, and this is something that everyone has. It’s thought that certain foods might trigger an overabundance of bacteria and that leads to the inflammation getting worse. This then triggers symptoms to appear. Many believe one troubling bacterium is found in milk and milk products. Though eliminating milk might eliminate the trigger, Crohn’s flare-ups will probably continue after the initial reaction. There are other foods that some consider triggers as well.

Stress can also be a trigger for Crohn’s flare-ups in some people. There has been no evidence that stress can cause this condition, but it might indeed be a trigger. Stress is known to weaken the immune system, and since Crohn’s is considered to be an autoimmune problem, you can see where this might lead to a problem. You should make sure you are living as stress free as possible and that you do all you can to learn how to reduce stress in your life. This can be accomplished by getting rid of your most stressful activities, if possible, and finding time in your day to take up things like Yoga and breathing techniques to reduce some of the stress you are feeling day to day.

There are other triggers that are being researched, and might very well be behind flare-ups of Crohn’s inflammation. Some say that even though antibiotics are needed to treat Crohn’s, they can also cause inflammation, citing NSAIDs (i.e. ibuprofen) as example. Many believe that smoking is also a trigger. This is yet another good reason to quit. This is one of the most promising things you can eliminate when it comes to possible environmental trigger for flare-ups.

Though defined triggers for Crohn’s symptoms have yet to be discovered, there is some promising research that says there may be a defective gene that can cause Crohn’s in some people. The Mayo Clinic reports that though this is something that they are researching, they have no found a way to counteract this, but they do hope it will prove to be an arm of research that helps with establishing a cure in the future. Though the science behind triggers is not perfect, it may indeed lead to more helpful treatments in the future leading to easier management of crohn’s symptoms.

Grab your free copy of Sharon Dobson’s brand new Crohn’s Disease Newsletter - Overflowing with ideas for easy to implement natural cures for Crohn’s disease, plus information covering ways to recognize your crohn’s symptom triggers.

 

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Botanical Crohns Treatments

Posted in Crohn's Disease on January 10th, 2008

A diagnosis of Crohn’s disease is often met with mixed feelings. Though a patient may be happy to finally know what is going on with their body, they may feel sad that they are going to have to deal with it for the rest of their lives. Knowing what is wrong is half of the battle though, as this means that effective treatments to lessen the symptoms of Crohn’s can begin. There are drugs you can try, as well as surgical procedures in some cases. However, there are some who want to try acupuncture, and they may do so in conjunction with some botanical Crohns treatments.

Medications may not provide the total answer when it comes to treating and preventing crohn’s disease. This happens because each case of Crohn’s is different, and each person will react to the medications in a different way. Some sufferers have more severe symptoms, while others have periods of relief at random times with no help what-so-ever. When you have more severe symptoms, you may want to try botanicals and herbs as a way to alleviate what medications cannot touch, and others with less severe issues might want to by-pass the medications completely if they are able to do so.

The problem with botanical Crohns treatments is that they are hit and miss, and they can cause problems you may not have considered. It is never recommended that you start such a treatment without telling your doctor.

One of the biggest problems is that the herbs used can mix with medications you are taking. These can react when mixed and can be dangerous. You should never mix anything, even items labeled as natural, with your medications without talking to a doctor before you begin.

If you have discussed this with your doctor and they have cleared you to try botanical Crohns treatments, there are a few different ones you can try. One popular remedy is peppermint. You will probably have already tried this remedy and not realized the significance of it.

Think about eating out and the restaurants that offer you a peppermint candy after your meal. Why do they do this? It’s because peppermint settles the stomach. However, it’s not as simple as eating candy. Taking enteric-coated peppermint capsules will allow the peppermint to bypass the stomach and be released directly in the intestines where it can get to work quickly. Or try drinking peppermint tea.

Chamomile is another natural remedy you can try, and this usually comes in the form of tea.

Two other common herbs you can try are aloe vera, usually in the form of juice, and also slippery elm bark. You may also find green tea to be helpful, plus cranesbill, licorice, and witch hazel. Be sure to talk to your doctor first.

Many people can avoid serious problems by making sure they ask advice. Your doctor should always be your main source of information when it comes to your health. Not all herbs are regulated, and the quality of such products can easily be called into question. Remember that not all treatments are instant, and you may have to try these botanical crohns treatments for a few weeks or more before you notice any difference, and you can then decide if you want to continue to use them.

You can sign up for your free copy of Sharon Dobson’s up to the minute Crohn’s Disease Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement ideas to help you identify if botanical crohns treatments are right for you. Plus you’ll also discover more information on Crohn’s disease symptoms and related complications.

When You Like One Of Our Blog Posts Please Buy Us A Herbal Tea To Fund Further Research.

Crohns Disease and Treatment Options

Posted in Crohn's Disease on January 3rd, 2008

Most people who are diagnosed with Crohn’s disease will find out between the ages of 15 and 25. It is less common, but older adults can be diagnosed as well. The problem with Crohn’s is that it is often found only after a process of elimination. This chronic condition is different for everyone, and there can be long periods of remission for many patients. When the condition flares up, however, many patients need to know about Crohn’s disease and treatment options. There are times when things will settle down on their own, but more commonly intervention is required.

The symptoms of Crohn’s can come and go. There are times when you might have to take medications. These medications are often aimed reducing the inflammation along the digestive tract that occurs with Crohn’s.

When the inflammation is under control, many of the symptoms can be greatly reduced. If an infection were to occur, antibiotics are given to help get rid of it. Sometimes other medications can help, and there may be times when the doctor will ask a patient to take vitamin supplements when nutritional intake and absorption is impaired.

There are specific treatment options that help when diarrhea and cramping is present. A patient might not be getting what they need because the intestines are not absorbing nutrition from foods. There are some that believe there are foods that make the symptoms of Crohn’s worse, and by getting these foods out of the diet the patient can feel better. Because nutritional deficiencies are very common for people with Crohn’s, it is always a good idea to talk to your doctor first before you start removing foods from your diet. They may want to give you supplements to make up for what you might be losing.

There are times when the treatment needed is surgical. A doctor will try to avoid surgery by treating a patient with medications and recommending lifestyle alterations, but that is not always going to be enough.

When fissures form in the intestines, there can be bleeding from the rectum. That might requires surgery. Fistulas can form when there is an abscess in the intestine. These are tunnel-like openings that go out into the body to attach to other organs or other parts of the body. These can spread infection, and many times an operation is required to close them and repair the damage caused.

Make sure you weigh all of your options when you are talking to your doctor about your Crohn s disease and treatment. There are other routes you can try that might help in the long run such as stress relief and some herbal remedies.

Open communication is very important, and it is also a great idea to feel totally comfortable with your doctor. You want to have the freedom to ask questions, and to discuss your crohn s disease and treatments that might be best for you in your particular case. It’s also important to have a doctor to refer to during periods of remission. If you receive adequate care while in remission, you can help lengthen the time between flare ups.

You can sign up for your free copy of Sharon Dobson’s up to the minute Crohn’s Disease Newsletter - Overflowing with plenty of crohn’s disease and treatment options to help you overcome symptoms. Plus you’ll also discover more information on Crohn’s disease symptoms and related complications.

When You Like One Of Our Blog Posts Please Buy Us A Herbal Tea To Fund Further Research.

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