Crohn's disease is a condition that affects your digestive tract and can cause symptoms that drastically impact your everyday life. These include frequent abdominal pain and recurring diarrhea, and if you are experiencing these effects, whether they represent Crohn's disease or another condition, you should see your Lehighton, PA, gastroenterologist for help. Learn more about Crohn's disease by reaching out to your local experts of Lehigh Gastroenterology Associates, Dr. Ahmed Hasan, Dr. Andrew Schwartz, and Dr. Mahreema Jawairia.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic condition that manifests as an inflammation of your digestive tract, which is caused by your own body's immune system. It can affect any part of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract but it is more often found in the lower small intestine.
Symptoms
Not everyone experiences the more severe symptoms of the condition, for some these are mild and come and go. For others, they can be debilitating.
Typical symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue, among others.
Crohn's disease can also lead to more severe complications over time.
Prevention
The precise cause of the condition is not yet known but experts suspect a variety of environmental factors contribute to the disease, although not all of them are under your control, some of them are.
A family history makes the condition more likely, so does an overactive immune system, and a patient's age.
Avoiding smoking, managing your stress, and improving your diet can improve your overall health as well as lessen the symptoms of Crohn's disease.
Diagnosis
A good step in prevention however is visiting your gastroenterologist if you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms, and more so if you have a history of Crohn's disease.
Diagnosis takes into account these symptoms, a physical exam, and a variety of tests performed by your doctor. Tests such as an endoscopy, colonoscopy, biopsy, and other imaging exams.
Crohn's Disease Treatment in Lehighton, PA
There is no cure for the disease but the goal of treatment will be about improving your quality of life. This is done through medication, a specialized diet, and other therapies. Surgery may be prescribed if other strategies are proving ineffective or to repair damaged areas of your GI tract.
So if you are looking for help in managing Crohn's disease in or around the area of Lehighton, PA, then schedule a consultation today. Make an appointment with Dr. Hasan, Dr. Schwartz, and Dr. Jawairia of Lehigh Gastroenterology Associates by dialing (610) 379-0443.