If you feel ill with fever, flu-like symptoms or respiratory illness, please call us to reschedule your appointment. Please Do Not Bring Children Under age 16 to Appointments.
If you feel ill with fever, flu-like symptoms or respiratory illness, please call us to reschedule your appointment. Please Do Not Bring Children Under age 16 to Appointments.
Gastroenterology Condition
Equal numbers of men and women appear to develop the disease and having a first degree relative with the disease may make it ten to fifteen times more likely to develop it, even though it is not considered an “inherited” disease in the traditional sense.
Smokers with Crohn’s disease tend to develop more severe issues with the disease, putting them at increased risk for requiring surgery.
Crohn’s disease is best described as an inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract causing pain and diarrhea.
Without treatment, Crohn's disease can develop into blockages, fistulas (small tunnels through tissue) and scar tissue.
Crohn’s disease typically affects the end of the small bowel and the beginning of the colon. However, it may affect any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus and can affect the superficial and deep layers of the intestinal wall. It is most commonly diagnosed in people ages 20 to 30, and those with a family history of inflammatory bowel disease have a 20% higher chance of developing it.
Although there have been many studies about Crohn’s disease, its exact cause remains unknown. Many scientists think that it may be caused by a combination of various risk factors, including:
Patients experiencing any of these symptoms should see their gastroenterologist for immediate evaluation.
Any one or combination of these may point to multiple gastrointestinal (GI) issues. Your GI specialist can evaluate your condition using appropriate testing and provide an accurate diagnosis.
Symptoms vary and often overlap with those of other conditions. These may include:
Patients experiencing these symptoms should see their gastroenterologist for immediate evaluation.
Exams, lab tests, and image analysis may be necessary to achieve an accurate diagnosis of Crohn’s disease.
A combination of exams, lab tests, and image analysis may be necessary to achieve an accurate diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, to be assured it is not another condition, and to determine exactly where the digestive system is damaged.
The process begins with a full medical history and physical evaluation to discover more about the patient’s health history. If a patient’s symptoms indicate potential for Crohn’s disease, the doctor will request lab testing. A series of lab tests will look for signs of infection, inflammation, internal bleeding, and low levels of protein and minerals. Lab testing for Crohn’s may include the following test types:
Image testing for Crohn’s disease may include the following:
There is no standard treatment for Crohn’s so treatment remains flexible.
If testing reveals a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, the physician will work with the patient to create a plan that includes the most effective IBD treatment options. There is no standard treatment for Crohn’s. No single treatment course will apply to every patient and remain successful, so treatment remains flexible and dependent upon the current symptoms.
The Treatment Process May Include:
Medication
Used to suppress the body’s inflammatory response, medications can relieve common symptoms and allow internal tissues to heal.
Diet and Nutritional Changes
Maintaining good, overall nutritional habits will help to reduce symptoms, replace lost nutrients, and promote healing. Proper nourishment is essential to patients with Crohn’s disease as this condition often causes a reduction in appetite and can reduce the body’s ability to absorb protein, fat, carbohydrates, water, vitamins, and minerals. The physician will work with the patient to determine meal plans and track progress throughout treatment.
Surgery
While proper diet and medication can alleviate symptoms, surgery may still be necessary for some Crohn’s patients. Although surgery cannot completely cure the disease, it is able to conserve portions of the patient’s GI tract to help them find the highest quality of life possible.
At Granite Peaks Gastroenterology, we have offices in Salt Lake and Utah Counties to conveniently serve you and assist with your symptom and treatment management.
Granite Peaks Gastroenterology serves the communities along the Wasatch Front. Our Board Certified Doctors and Certified PA GI Specialists include:
Certified Gastroenterology Locations
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