Pathophysiology of Crohn’s Disease

Pathophysiology of Crohn’s Disease

Institutional Affiliation

Student’s name

Pathophysiology of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a human chronic disease normally associated with the human digestive system. The disease is inflammatory; that is, the affected body organs are inflamed, and normally the disease effects are observed in the lining of the digestive system tract. The disease is termed chronic as it threatens or can cause serious health complications that may lead to death. The disease is further characterized by specific inflammation of the bowel. Due to inflammatory effects on the bowel, the disease is also referred to as inflammatory bowel disease.

Research studies reveal that the exact cause of the disease is yet to be known. Scientific researches portray poor diet and psychological to be the main suspects as causative agents of the disease (Petagna et al., 2020). General weakness of the individual immune system is the main contributing factor to the start of inflammation in the digestive tracts. A weak immune system makes it difficult for the cells, particularly the white blood cells, to fight the invading bacteria or virus and thus easily contract the inflammation effects. Crohn’s disease is also associated with hereditary genes. The disease is common to members whose family members initially had a history of the disease. As per clinical experts, heredity matters influence increases the chances of disease contraction.

Crohn’s disease is not associated with any age bracket; the disease can occur at any age. The health statistic describes the disease to be mostly associated with the young generations. In the concept of ethnicity, Crohn’s disease can be present in any ethnic group though the scientific research studies portray that whites are most susceptible to contracting the disease. As initially described, Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease; hence smoking cigarette puts an individual at a high risk of developing inflammations in the digestive tract. Cigarette smoking may not be an immediate cause but increases the risk of developing the disease. Clinical specialists also describe the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as diclofenac sodium, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium as risk factors for the disease.

Having described the risk factors of Crohn’s disease, it is also important to understand the health complications related to the disease. The main complication caused by Crohn’s disease is bowel obstruction. The disease affects the general thickness of the intestinal walls. Inflammations, as well as irritations caused by the disease, increase the narrowing of the intestines. The overall result of the narrowing of the intestines is the blocking of the digestive contents or, rather, the food materials being digested.

Increased bowel inflammation may lead to chronic conditions causing sore developments in the bowel. The developed sires are ulcers (Svolos et al., 2019). Ulcers may develop in any part of the digestive system tract. Increased ulcers or rather chronic ulcer conditions may lead to the development of fistulas. Fistula is the abnormal connection between the different body parts, thus malfunctioning the affected parts. Perianal fistulas (occurring at the anal parts) are the most common fistulas. Fistulas, therefore, can occur between the intestines and the skin or even between the intestines and any other body organ.

Crohn’s disease at chronic levels may lead to increased blood clots in the arteries and veins. Blood clots in the body may reduce blood flow or rather circulation in the body leading to serious health conditions to an individual’s health. Increased inflammation in the intestines may lead to colon cancer development. Colon cancer is one of the most life-threatening cancer in human cancer diseases. Anal complications may also develop in severe conditions. Tearing of the tissues in the anal parts is termed an anal fissure. The condition is normally associated with painful bowel movements and can easily lead to anal fistulas (perianal fistula).

Other body complications related to Crohn’s disease include skin disorders, liver disease, anemia, osteoporosis and arthritis. Skin disorders are due to abnormal skin functioning due to fistula conditions. Malnutrition may develop in individuals with Crohn’s disease. This is because the abdominal pains caused by the intestine inflammations make it difficult to eat or, rather, difficult to absorb nutrients by the walls of the affected intestines. Main symptoms of the disease become only when the condition of the affected individual becomes severe. Symptoms vary from mild to severe (Tomazoni & Benvegnu 2018). Fever, fatigue, abdominal pains, blood in stool, mouth sores, reduced weight and loss of appetite, kidney stones, anaemia, eye inflammation, poor growth among young children, and skin inflammation.

Clinical specialists describe that prevention of Crohn’s disease is normally challenging. Effcts of Crohn’s disease can only be prevented from worsening, thus reducing the effects on the affected individual’s general health. Regular body checkups form the major way of preventing the disease. The early diagnosis of the disease is better as an individual can get better medical attention from the disease specialists. Change in the lifestyle activities that promote good health also aids in the prevention of the disease. Lifestyle changes such as avoiding cigarette smoking can be helpful, especially to the affected individuals. A proper and balanced diet at all times is also advised. Reduction of fried diets and an increase in vegetable consumption reduces chances of the Crohn’s disease.

Another measure in preventing Crohn’s disease considers the addition of mineral supplements, especially for individuals with vitamin D deficiencies. The measure is majorly recommended for young children. Reduction in dairy product consumption is an essential measure in the prevention of the disease. Dairy products worsen Crohn’s disease symptoms, especially abdominal pains and diarrhea (Torres et al., 2020). Dairy products for lactose intolerant individuals reduce the digestive activity of the digestive system. For example, digestion of sugar in the milk, or lactose, may not occur properly.

Proper medication for the affected casualties is the major form of treatment. Medication includes all the medical methods that aim to suppress individuals’ immune systems that result in the discovered symptom. Increased frequency of medication reduces the effects of the discovered symptom. Proper treatment over time reduces the effects of inflammation of the affected body organs.

Medical surgeries for the affected individuals are another form of treatment. Medical surgeries are meant to remove the affected parts or the diseased body parts. Surgeries do not mean to cure the disease but aid in returning the affected body parts to their normal and the best possible quality of their functioning. The measure of treatment only becomes necessary when the medications are no longer in a position to control or rather suppress the symptoms. Finally, as initially discussed, proper nutrition and a balanced diet reduce the symptoms that affect individual health. A balanced diet normally replaces the lost nutrients and increases the energy during the metabolic reactions in the human body.

REFERENCES

Petagna, L., Antonelli, A., Ganini, C., Bellato, V., Campanelli, M., Divizia, A., … & Sica, G. S. (2020). Pathophysiology of Crohn’s disease inflammation and recurrence. Biology direct, 15(1), 1-10.

Svolos, V., Hansen, R., Nichols, B., Quince, C., Ijaz, U. Z., Papadopoulou, R. T., … & Gerasimidis, K. (2019). Treatment of active Crohn’s disease with an ordinary food-based diet that replicates exclusive enteral nutrition. Gastroenterology, 156(5), 1354-1367.

Tomazoni, E. I., & Benvegnú, D. M. (2018). Symptoms of anxiety and depression, and quality of life of patients with Crohn’s disease. Arquivos de Gastroenterologia, 55, 148-153.

Torres, J., Bonovas, S., Doherty, G., Kucharzik, T., Gisbert, J. P., Raine, T., … & Fiorino, G. (2020). ECCO guidelines on therapeutics in Crohn’s disease: medical treatment. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, 14(1), 4-22.