Crohn’s disease results in inflammation of your digestive tract, presenting as abdominal pain, malnutrition, and weight loss. The exact cause and cure for Crohn’s disease remain a mystery, but the symptoms can help diagnose you. You can find a Houston, TX gastroenterologist, Vikram S Jayanty, M.D., who will extensively evaluate your symptoms before setting up treatment. Your doctor will recommend measures you can take to avoid further complications and therapy treatments that can ease your symptoms.
How Will You Know You are Developing Crohn’s Disease?
Your symptoms may range from mild to severe depending on how the disease develops in your body. You will likely start with no symptoms until the disease develops and you start showing active symptoms. Such symptoms may include diarrhea, fever, pain near your anus, abdominal cramping, blood in your stool, reduced appetite, mouth sores, and weight loss. A severe form of the disease may lead to symptoms that include inflammation of your skin and liver, kidney stones, anemia, and delayed growth for children. You should consult your doctor if you notice continuous bowel movement changes.
What Increases Your Risk for Crohn’s Disease?
Several factors may be responsible for increasing your likelihood of developing this disease. Firstly, while you can develop the disease at any age, you will be more likely to catch it at a young age, before thirty years. Secondly, your family history poses a higher risk for you, especially if one of them has the disease. You may likely develop it if you have a direct relative reporting Crohn’s disease. Lastly, cigarette smoking may increase your risk of developing the disease. Your doctor may recommend that you stop. Otherwise, you may need surgery and may also develop further complications. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications may not cause the disease, they may result in bowel inflammation that can worsen Crohn’s disease.
Are There Complications to Crohn’s Disease?
The disease may likely increase complications for certain diseases and disorders in your body. The complications may include the following.
Ulcers
Inflammation from Crohn’s disease may become chronic and result in open sores, known as ulcers. You may develop ulcers in your digestive tract and even in your genital area in the perineum.
Bowel Obstruction
The disease will interfere with the thickness of your intestinal walls and cause your bowel to start scarring and narrowing. You may likely have a blockage which will need surgery to widen your bowels again.
Colon Cancer
You may develop colon cancer if Crohn’s disease affects your colon. Your doctor will recommend a colonoscopy to check for colon cancer and recommend more frequent tests.
You can visit Vikram S Jayanty, M.D. at Houston, TX, if you are showing symptoms that may indicate Crohn’s disease so you can get treatment. Your doctor will help you review your symptoms, from their onset to how you feel. You will also learn what puts you at risk of complications with Crohn’s disease. You can call the facility today to schedule your appointment.
