By: Brent Landon and Nick GrotegutBy: Brent Landon and Nick Grotegut

What is Crohn’s?What is Crohn’s?

• Crohn’s disease is a disease that causes Crohn’s disease is a disease that causes swelling, or inflammation, and irritation swelling, or inflammation, and irritation of any part of the digestive tract. of any part of the digestive tract. Swelling can cause pain and can make Swelling can cause pain and can make the intestine/bowel empty frequently the intestine/bowel empty frequently resulting in diarrhea. Inflammation may resulting in diarrhea. Inflammation may produce scar tissue that builds up and produce scar tissue that builds up and cause stricture. A stricture is a narrowed cause stricture. A stricture is a narrowed passageway that slows movement of passageway that slows movement of food, causing pain or cramps.food, causing pain or cramps.

Who gets Crohn’s?Who gets Crohn’s?

It most commonly affects men and It most commonly affects men and women between the ages of 13 and 30. women between the ages of 13 and 30. Men and women who smoke are more Men and women who smoke are more likely to get Crohn’s than a nonsmoker. likely to get Crohn’s than a nonsmoker. It seems to run in the family. People It seems to run in the family. People with Crohn’s may have a biological with Crohn’s may have a biological relative with some form of IBD. People relative with some form of IBD. People of the Jewish heritage have an increased of the Jewish heritage have an increased risk of getting Crohn’s, and African risk of getting Crohn’s, and African Americans have a decreased risk.Americans have a decreased risk.

What causes Crohn’s?What causes Crohn’s?

The causes of Crohn’s disease is The causes of Crohn’s disease is unknown, but researchers believe it is the unknown, but researchers believe it is the result of an abnormal reaction by the result of an abnormal reaction by the body’s immune system. Researchers body’s immune system. Researchers have found that high levels of protein have found that high levels of protein produced by the immune system, called produced by the immune system, called tumor necrosis factor (TNF), are present in tumor necrosis factor (TNF), are present in the people with Crohn’s disease. the people with Crohn’s disease. However, they are not sure if TNF is a However, they are not sure if TNF is a cause or result of Crohn’s disease.cause or result of Crohn’s disease.

What are Symptoms of Crohn’s?What are Symptoms of Crohn’s?

Abdominal pain often in the lower right Abdominal pain often in the lower right areaarea

DiarrheaDiarrhea Rectal bleedingRectal bleeding Weight lossWeight loss FeversFevers Bleeding may lead to anemiaBleeding may lead to anemia The range and severity of symptoms The range and severity of symptoms

varies.varies.

How is Crohn’s Diagnosed?How is Crohn’s Diagnosed?

Blood testsBlood tests Stool testsStool tests Flexible sigmoidoscopy and Flexible sigmoidoscopy and

colonoscopycolonoscopy Computerized tomography (CT) scanComputerized tomography (CT) scan Upper GI seriesUpper GI series Lower GI seriesLower GI series

What are the Complications of What are the Complications of Crohn’s?Crohn’s?

Intestinal blockageIntestinal blockageUlcersUlcersFistulasFistulasRestless leg syndromeRestless leg syndromeAnemiaAnemiaArthritisArthritisSkin problemsSkin problemsKidney stonesKidney stonesGallstonesGallstones

What are Treatments for Crohn’s?What are Treatments for Crohn’s?

Treatment may include medications, surgery, or Treatment may include medications, surgery, or nutrition supplementation.nutrition supplementation.

Medications: anti-inflammation medications, Medications: anti-inflammation medications, cortisone or steroids, immune system cortisone or steroids, immune system suppressors, biological therapies (use natural suppressors, biological therapies (use natural body’s immune system to heal itself), antibiotics, body’s immune system to heal itself), antibiotics, anti-diarrheal medications, and fluid replacements.anti-diarrheal medications, and fluid replacements.

Surgery: proctocolectomy, ileostomy, intestinal Surgery: proctocolectomy, ileostomy, intestinal resection surgery.resection surgery.

Exercise with Crohn’sExercise with Crohn’sImproves overall healthImproves overall healthFaster surgery recoveryFaster surgery recoveryRebuilds weakened musclesRebuilds weakened musclesPrevents calcium/ Protein lossPrevents calcium/ Protein lossIncrease staminaIncrease staminaPrevent blood clotsPrevent blood clotsIncrease flexibilityIncrease flexibilityStimulate endorphinsStimulate endorphinsControls stressControls stressPrevent feelings of depression Prevent feelings of depression

MealsMeals

Dinner- Grilled Turkey BreastDinner- Grilled Turkey Breast

Lunch- Butternut Squash SoupLunch- Butternut Squash Soup

Breakfast- Whole grain cerealBreakfast- Whole grain cereal                  Lactose free milkLactose free milkSnack- CelerySnack- CeleryDesert- Raspberry RingDesert- Raspberry Ring

How does Crohn’s affect your diet?How does Crohn’s affect your diet?

Well, first off from our online sources we have Well, first off from our online sources we have learned that basically it comes down to the persons learned that basically it comes down to the persons own needs. The food that they can ingest is different own needs. The food that they can ingest is different for each and every individual. for each and every individual.

Certain things you can’t eat are popcorn, nuts, or any Certain things you can’t eat are popcorn, nuts, or any dairy products (if lactose intolerant)dairy products (if lactose intolerant)

Foods you liked before might activate the affects of Foods you liked before might activate the affects of Crohn’s and create havoc in your digestive tract.Crohn’s and create havoc in your digestive tract.

Technology and Crohn’s

According to our friend (Elliott Stock) technology helps because he can talk to other people with Crohn’s over the internet.

This helps to subdue a possible depression that can be caused by the diagnosis of this disease.

Sources

• Works Cited • Deem, Mrs. Personal interview. 1 May 2012.• http://www.webmd.com/ ibd-crohns-disease/ crohns-

disease/ creating-a-crohns-disease-diet-plan. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2012. <http://www.webmd.com/ ibd-crohns-disease/ crohns-disease/ creating-a-crohns-disease-diet-plan>.

• Lee, Katherine. “How Exercise Benefits Crohn’s Disease.” http://www.everydayhealth.com/ health-report/ crohns-disease/ exercise-benefits-crohns.aspx. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2012. <http://www.everydayhealth.com/ health-report/ crohns-disease/ exercise-benefits-crohns.aspx>.

Sources cont.

• National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ ddiseases/ pubs/ crohns/ #treatment. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ ddiseases/ pubs/ crohns/ #treatment>.

• Stock, Elliott. Personal interview. 27 Apr. 2012.• University of Michigan Health System Crohn’s and Colitis

Program. IBD 102- What is Crohn’s Disease? www.youtube.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ZuHpxAj8imQ>.

Sources cont..

• “Your Life and Crohn’s Disease (diet and nutrition- recipes).” http://www.livingwithcrohnsdisease.com/ livingwithcrohnsdisease/ life_with_crohns/ recipes.html. Janssen Biotech, Inc., 21 Apr. 2011. Web. 1 May 2012. <http://www.livingwithcrohnsdisease.com/ livingwithcrohnsdisease/ life_with_crohns/ recipes.html>.