Some Crohn’s disease symptoms can make it stressful to function normally in a social or professional setting, which means you may try to skip certain situations to avoid feeling embarrassed. However, you can take steps to reduce inflammation in your digestive system and maintain remission of your condition.
“Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disease that requires a holistic approach to treatment, including medical therapies, diet and behavioral health management,” said Uni Wong, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and gastroenterologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). “The Inflammatory Bowel Disease program at UMMC takes a multidisciplinary approach, where gastroenterologists, surgeons, clinical pharmacists, dietitians and behavioral health specialists work together to deliver care to patients. Providing guidance where lifestyle is concerned is an important piece of the puzzle.”
Understanding Crohn’s Disease
When you have Crohn’s disease, you experience chronic inflammation of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This inflammation can occur in any area of the GI tract, but it typically occurs in the small bowel and the colon.
There is no known specific cause for Crohn’s disease, but studies indicate that environmental, genetic and hereditary factors increase your likelihood for developing the condition. Specifically, if you have a family member with Crohn’s disease, are of eastern European descent, are African American or have an overactive immune system, you may be at increased risk.
Because Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition, you experience symptoms intermittently throughout life. When you experience symptoms, you are going through a disease flare. These flares are marked by symptoms such as:
- Constipation, which can result in bowel obstruction
- Ongoing diarrhea
- Rectal bleeding
- Severe abdominal cramping and pain
- Urgent need to have a bowel movement
Living with Crohn’s disease can also cause:
- Delays in development and growth in children
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Narrowing of the intestine
- Tears in the lining of your anus
- Weight loss
When the symptoms subside, your disease is considered to be in remission.
Flare-Inducing Factors
When you have Crohn’s disease, a variety of factors can trigger a flare-up. Many of these are related to behaviors. For example, missing medications prescribed by your gastroenterologist can cause your Crohn’s disease to worsen.
“Medications currently used to treat Crohn’s disease are focused on the immune system,” Dr. Wong said.
Taking certain medications, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics, can also pose problems for the condition.
Additional behavior- and lifestyle-related factors that can cause your Crohn’s disease to flare up include:
- Changes in diet
- Too much stress
- Smoking or excessive exposure to secondhand smoke
Healthy Habits to Reduce Flares
Being mindful about your lifestyle choices can help you minimize your chances of experiencing flares of Crohn’s disease. Working closely with your gastroenterologist is an important first step.
“Our goal as inflammatory bowel disease specialists is to help patients feel better and reduce inflammation on the inside,” Dr. Wong said. “We encourage our patients to stay on medical therapies recommended for them and to maintain close follow-ups with us to stay up to date with important monitoring and tests.”
Maintaining close contact with your doctor is especially important when you are experiencing vulnerable life events, such as pregnancy and breastfeeding, or if you are elderly or have comorbid conditions.
Additionally, Dr. Wong recommends these best practices:
- Exercise regularly. Physical activity can help improve symptoms of Crohn’s disease and reduce stress. There are many ways to fit exercise into your life.
- Get plenty of sleep. To enhance your rest, practice good sleep hygiene, such as going to bed at the same time every night and keeping electronics out of the bedroom.
- Limit intake of processed foods. Instead, focus on a Mediterranean diet filled with fresh fish, produce and whole grains, which has been shown to help improve symptoms of Crohn’s disease. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet is another dietary option to discuss with your doctor.
- Manage stress. Take time for yourself and engage in calming activities, such as deep breathing exercises, guided relaxation and spending time in nature.
- Stay hydrated. Water is the beverage of choice when you are living with Crohn’s disease, as drinks like juice and sodas may have inflammatory effects on the body.
