Inflammatory bowel disease, a group of chronic conditions that cause prolonged and painful inflammation of the digestive system, is an emerging health concern in the United States, as well as worldwide, especially in more developed countries. Its most common type, Crohn's disease, may affect over half a million Americans alone, many suffering without a diagnosis and an understanding of the reason their health is deteriorating.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that attacks the lining of the digestive tract, which, if not recognized and treated in time, is very likely to cause moderate to severe physical problems that reach far beyond the intestines and the digestive system, and could potentially become a life-threatening condition. Understanding its Crohn’s disease symptoms is crucial for those impacted by this disorder, along with loved ones concerned about the well-being of a Crohn's disease patient.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CROHN'S DISEASE SYMPTOMS?

We are often eager to enjoy a vast variety of foods, usually not giving a second thought to how they affect our health and, specifically, the digestive system. Stomach aches, bowel problems, and other, uncomfortable symptoms may come and go without us ever seriously considering the need to alter our daily diet. It usually takes a prolonged time of serious discomfort for us to entertain the idea that something might be wrong.

Crohn's disease symptoms are known to stay in remission and cause no physical problems for certain periods of time, just to be triggered and flare up again, leading to severe discomfort, usually unexpectedly.

Since inflammation of the lining can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, symptoms may vary. The most typical signs observed are:

• frequent diarrhea, often containing pus or blood

• abdominal pain, bloating, and/or a feeling of fullness and heaviness

• rectal bleeding and pain

• unintended weight loss and no appetite

• nausea and vomiting

• fatigue, extreme sleepiness, and an overall sense of malaise and depression, mostly due to nutrient deficiencies

• lack of vitality of skin, nails, and hair, often paired with considerable amount of hair loss

While some of these symptoms may appear in healthy individuals as a result of a temporary digestive problem, frequent and prolonged bouts characterized by these signs are always a cause for concern and a reason to visit your primary care physician. Without prompt attention, you could develop more serious conditions, some of which that may turn into real medical emergencies, such as:

• anal fissure: a tear in the anal tract, leaking bloody discharge in the rectum

• obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract

• bowel perforation

• swelling and obvious distension of the abdomen

• sudden, severe abdominal pain

• fever

An early diagnosis can become life-saving: it will ensure that the disease progression is caught in time, leading to a more easily manageable condition that doesn't have to steal your work, physical activities, or other recreational time.

HOW IS CROHN'S DISEASE DIAGNOSED?

Diagnosing Crohn's disease may often prove to be a complicated task, given the complexity of symptoms, the varying degree of their severity, and the fact that the signs may not manifest the same way for all patients. It is likely that several different types of tests are needed, after considering your symptoms, their frequency, and seriousness. These examinations may include:

• laboratory tests, showing internal bleeding, inflammation, infection, anemia, and nutritional deficiencies

• imaging technologies, such as X-ray, CT-scan, colonoscopy, and endoscopy

After careful consideration, a highly trained integrative functional medicine physician can determine the presence of Crohn's disease, its location in the digestive tract, and its state of progression. As a patient suffering from chronic inflammatory bowel disease, it is imperative to develop a close, trusting, and reliable relationship with your integrative functional medicine physician to prevent the worsening of your condition and even to restore the standard functions of the digestive system.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH Dr. Payal Bhandari?

As one of the nation’s top integrative functional medicine physicians, Dr. Bhandari will examine all areas of your lifestyle to be manage your inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

While science still has not discovered the exact cause of Crohn's disease, with the help of various scientifically proven allopathic and complementary medicinal methods Dr. Bhandari has been able to help thousands of patients with IBD go into remission for extended periods of time. The goal of treatment, therefore, will always be:

• to control the inflammatory processes, most often with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs

• to balance the immune system, by aiding its health with proper nutrition

• to correct any nutritional deficiencies developed, with creating a proper diet and adding appropriate supplementation

• to relieve all bothersome symptoms, usually with the help of natural therapies, herbal remedies, mindfulness-based stress relief, and other alternative approaches.