crohn’s

Unbeknownst to most people, our intestines are full of bacteria. Most of our Western culture has demonized bacteria, blaming them for causing infections and inconvenience. However, we as a species would not be able to survive without them, as they help to break down the food we eat into molecules your body recognizes. Intestinal ecosystem ...click here to read more

The human digestive system is an important part of the body. It breaks down the food we eat, absorbs nutrients, and is even home to many helpful bacteria. There are many conditions where the digestive system has become compromised in some way, limiting its function. One such condition is called Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel ...click here to read more

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week runs from December 1 through December 7, so we present articles relating to these inflammatory bowel diseases including the differences and similarities of Crohn’s disease vs. ulcerative colitis, the impact of these chronic conditions on sleep and depression. Although there is currently no cure for neither Crohn’s disease nor colitis, ...click here to read more

Crohn’s disease patients show signs of mild cognitive impairment. Cognitive responsiveness was found to be 10 percent slower in Crohn’s disease patients, and this impairment was associated with symptom severity and active inflammation. The results go hand in hand with the claims by many patients who report memory lapses and difficulty concentrating. The study also ...click here to read more

Chronic inflammation in Crohn’s disease is associated with abdominal tumors (peritoneal mesothelioma). The researchers examined data from nearly 3,800 participants with malignant mesothelioma (MM), of which 500 had peritoneal mesothelioma (PM), to look for a possible link with Crohn’s disease. Three of the patients were found to have Crohn’s disease, but only one of them ...click here to read more

Smoking after Crohn’s disease surgery increases the risk of relapse. More than half of Crohn’s disease patients will undergo surgery to remove affected areas of the bowel. Surgery is not a cure for Crohn’s disease, and relapses are quite common. The study involved 240 Crohn’s disease patients who were followed for three years after bowel ...click here to read more

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease – both inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) – relapse risk varies during pregnancy, according to research. The study revealed that women with active IBD near the time of conception have a higher risk of a relapse during pregnancy. Furthermore, women with ulcerative colitis have a higher risk of IBD relapse, compared ...click here to read more

Crohn’s disease and diverticulitis are conditions that affect the gastrointestinal system, and although they may present themselves similarly, they are two very unique conditions. Crohn’s disease is part of the group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Prior to the 20th century, before the rise of hygiene and urbanization, inflammatory bowel disease was ...click here to read more

Psoriasis increases the risk of Crohn’s disease in women. Research revealed that women with psoriasis have a fourfold risk of developing Crohn’s disease, based on data from two large cohort studies. On the other hand, psoriasis did not increase the risk of ulcerative colitis in either cohort. Reversing the association, an alternative study found a ...click here to read more

The findings of a Denmark-based study revealed that patients with Crohn’s disease have a greater overall risk for colon cancer compared to the general public, but the same was not true for those with ulcerative colitis. The researchers looked at 1,437 patients with ulcerative colitis and 774 with Crohn’s disease between 1978 and 2002. Follow-up ...click here to read more

Based on the findings of a recent study, researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine suggest that the psoriasis drug Stelara may also be effective against Crohn’s disease. This drug, which is used to treat the skin condition psoriasis, is marketed by Johnson & Johnson. As per Dr. Bruce Sands, professor ...click here to read more

According to a research study conducted at the Price Institute of Surgical Research, in Louisville, Kentucky, and published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, U.S. states that report the highest rates of Crohn’s disease (CD) also have high smoking rates. For the study, the researchers incorporated a linear regression analysis of national data. After analyzing ...click here to read more

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis progression and development have been found to be linked to “creeping fat.” Researcher Charalabos Pothoulakis said, “A well-appreciated feature of IBD [inflammatory bowel disease], especially longstanding Crohn’s disease, is intra-abdominal fat, also known as ‘creeping fat,’ which wraps around the intestine. However, it’s not clear whether this fat is protective ...click here to read more

Crohn’s disease (CD) causes vitamin D deficiency, so inflammation may be reduced by raising vitamin D levels. Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine found that vitamin D absorption in Crohn’s disease patients is reduced, which results in a deficiency. The only way to determine vitamin D absorption in Crohn’s disease is with a vitamin ...click here to read more