Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. The majority of symptoms experienced by patients are, however, focused on the stomach and bowel. Patients typically experience abdominal pain, fatigue, altered bowel movements and weight loss. There is no known cure, but Crohn’s disease can be treated symptomatically to improve the quality of life for these patients.
Crohn’s disease Drugs
Crohn’s disease Symptoms
The symptoms of Crohn’s disease are quite broad and widespread. Abdominal pain is commonly experienced in patients, while patients can also expect to suffer from diarrhoea, bloating and inflamed lining of parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with Crohn’s disease often lose their appetite as they cannot keep down food, and this can result in weight loss over time. The inflammatory nature of Crohn’s disease can also manifest itself outside the gastrointestinal tract. It is not uncommon for patients to suffer from a rheumatological disease, gallstones, episcleritis and anemia. Neurological symptoms have also been linked such as depression, stroke and peripheral neuropathy.
Crohn’s disease Causes
There is no known direct cause of Crohn’s disease. However, certain risks factors – chiefly environmental factors – have been identified. Patients who smoke are considerably more likely to suffer from Crohn’s disease compared to patients who do not smoke. Other environmental factors such as stress, obesity and hormone contraception have also been implicated. There is, though, a genetic component to Crohn’s disease. Individuals are thirty times more likely to suffer from Crohn’s disease if either of their parents had the condition. Having a genetic predisposition does not mean that patients will always experience the disease, as environmental factors can serve as the trigger for the condition.
Crohn’s disease Diagnosis
Given the nonspecific nature of many of the symptoms experienced by patients with Crohn’s disease – such as diarrhea and abdominal pain – it is challenging to diagnose Crohn’s disease with certainty. Diagnostic personnel will note the prevailing symptoms experienced by patients, and they may perform a colonoscopy to verify its effects on the bowel. A blood test will also be taken to measure inflammatory factors. Even this combination of tests is not, however, precise in diagnosing Crohn’s disease. Often, many related conditions – such as ulcerative colitis – need to be ruled out, and this can take time. Other tests may be performed in this regard such as radiological tests and MRI.
Crohn’s disease Treatment
If a patient is diagnosed with Supraventricular tachycardia, then that patient may have a few different options for treatment.
- The first option is an ablation. An ablation is when a catheter is inserted into the heart in order to change the Supraventricular tachycardia and calm down the heart.
- The second option for a patient with Supraventricular tachycardia is prescription medication. Unfortunately, this treatment method may not be effective for every patient, because everyone reacts differently to prescription drugs. The first treatment that a doctor will try is medication, so if this fails, then other treatment options will be explored.
- The third treatment option is cardioversion. Cardioversion is when a dose of electric current is given to the heart in order to bring the heart back into a regular rhythm.