Crohn’s disease is a painful inflammatory condition that affects between 400,000 and 600,000 individuals in North America alone. It is caused by a combination of factors — bacterial, environmental, immunological, and genetic. In Crohn’s disease, the affected persons immune system attacks the intestines. It was previously thought of as an autoimmune disease, but recent research has reclassified it as a state of immune deficiency.
There are no known ways to get rid of Crohn’s disease, but there are a variety of treatment options. The treatments look to control the condition and prevent relapse of the severe symptoms.
Crohn’s disease is equally found in both women and men and can occur at any age. Smokers are twice as likely to get the disease. Many of the symptoms of Crohn’s disease are gastrointestinal in nature, but the entire body can be affected.
Here are 20 common symptoms of Crohn’s disease…
1. Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain may be one of the first symptoms of Crohn’s disease. As the intestines become inflamed and irritated, the bowels send pain signals to the brain. This inflammation and irritation can affect how food moves through the digestive tract which causes pain from the cramping of the muscles in the digestive system, says Dr. Axe.
“Muscles within the intestinal walls are prone to spasms when they become inflamed, which causes contractions that contribute to Crohn’s disease symptoms ranging from light discomfort to severe pain,” writes the source.
