Crohn's.

While Crohn's and ulcerative colitis both come under the same category of gastrointestinal ailments, there is a marked difference between them. Both of them are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, and yet neither of them is a constant disease. This means that both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis occur in remissions and relapses. There are acute flare-ups of symptoms, followed by varying intervals of remissions. Moreover, in the period of remissions, it is completely possible to have a more or less normal living with Crohn's disease, with some adjustments in lifestyle.

Infact, most people who are living with Crohn's disease report that the period of remissions generally last longer and occur more frequently than the relapses or when the disease is acute. Flare-ups can occur randomly though, without any warning or pattern, just out of the blue! But, generally they happen immediately after a viral infection, such as common cold, or due to some severe stress which could be personal or professional. Symptoms in acuteness include diarrhea, fever, pain, nausea, along with chills and extreme fatigue.

Severity And Control Of The Disease

Each individual has his own unique pattern and treatment is done on the basis of the actual symptoms reported, rather than on the basis of the laboratory test results. The severity of the disease is measured by keeping a track of the symptoms in a chart. This includes the number of bowel movements in a day, fever, appetite level and also number of days in which the person has to modify his regular schedule due to diarrhea, fever, fatigue or pain. Besides that, the emotional responses of the person are also taken into account, whether he or she is angry, depressed or embarrassed



due to the disease.

It has been observed that malnutrition or compromised nutrition can prove to be a major threat to people living with Crohn's disease. Since this is a disease affecting the digestive tract of the body, any kind of undue stress on the digestive system can aggravate it and worsen the symptoms. And that could lead to a vicious cycle. Fever raises the body's metabolic rate and increases its need for calorie intake. On the other hand, diarrhea leads to dehydration and temporary lactose intolerance, which causes milk sugars to ferment in the colon, worsening the diarrhea. Besides, there is a general loss of appetite too.

Therefore, the best to manage a normal living with Crohn's is to take care of your nutrition. Make sure you consume a good amount of calories, in the form of proteins, minerals, vitamins and trace elements, to ensure there is no nutritional deficiency in the body. Also, try to put less stress on your digestive system, by taking shorter, more spaced-out meals. In addition, always remember to eat the last meal of the day at least 3 hours before sleeping. In addition, during flare-ups, dietary fibers should be avoided, like whole grains, fruits and raw vegetables. By making such minor changes in eating habits, it can be perfectly possible to manage an almost normal living with Crohn's disease.

Сrohns disease and symptoms.

The symptoms of ulcerative colitis may be mild, moderate or severe. Mild ulcerative colitis symptoms may be treated at home, while moderate symptoms typically require prescription medications to put the disease into remission. Severe symptoms of ulcerative colitis will require medications and possibly surgery to remove the affected portion/s of the colon.

The symptoms of ulcerative colitis typically present before the age of 30 and may include diarrhea, with blood or mucus present in the stool. Rectal bleeding is sometimes one of the ulcerative colitis symptoms, but without the presence of diarrhea, rectal bleeding may indicate another condition. A gastrointestinal physician can perform tests to determine the cause of rectal bleeding.

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis vary depending on the amount of the colon (large intestine) that is inflamed and the intensity of the inflammation. There are different types of ulcerative colitis and they are classified according to the portion of the colon that is inflamed. For example, it is referred to by physicians as ulcerative proctitis when only the rectum is inflamed and the only symptom in this case may be rectal bleeding. In more severe cases the symptoms of ulcerative colitis that is confined to the rectum may include rectal pain and bleeding, sudden need to empty the bowels or a painful urge to move the bowels without result.

When other portions of the colon are affected, ulcerative colitis symptoms typically include bloody diarrhea and cramps, as well as the symptoms experienced by those who only have inflammation in the rectum. If the left side of the colon is inflamed, the symptoms of ulcerative colitis may include weight loss and pain on the left side of the abdomen as well. If the inflammation affects the entire colon, it is referred to by physicians as pancolitis or universal ulcerative colitis; symptoms in this case are the same as in the other types of colitis but may include the additional symptoms of fatigue, fever and night sweats. In the most severe form of ulcerative colitis, symptoms may include dehydration, severe abdominal pain, continuous diarrhea, bleeding and even shock.