Crohn’s disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the gastrointestinal tract and can cause inflammation in other areas of the body.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a group of intestinal disorders that cause inflammation of the digestive tract. The most notable of these conditions include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

In the United States, the latest research suggests that 0.7% of Americans, or nearly 1 in 100, have IBD. Of those show have received an IBD diagnosis, just over a million are living with Crohn’s disease.

The key difference between the two is that ulcerative colitis involves only the colon, while Crohn’s involves the entire digestive tract, from the mouth all the way to the anus, leaving people with Crohn’s susceptible to experiencing far more diverse physical and emotional complications.

Common symptoms of Crohn’s are digestive complications, abdominal pain, and weight loss. In severe cases, the disease can become life threatening. People with Crohn’s usually have flare-ups of disease activity followed by a period of remission. Remissions can be short or last for many years.

There’s no cure for Crohn’s disease, but there are several lifestyle adjustments and treatments that can improve quality of life and increase the chances for a longer remission.

Crohn’s mainly affects the digestive tract. The most common area of disease activity involves your small intestine and the beginning of your large intestine.

However, inflammation can also affect other parts of the intestines, causing swelling and thickening. Eventually, thick scar tissue can narrow the passage or block the bowel entirely. If that happens, you may need surgery to remove part of the bowel.

Ulcers can also develop anywhere in the digestive tract, including deep in the bowel wall.

Fistulas, or abnormal passageways, can open between one part of the bowel and another or between the bowel and the bladder, anus, vagina, or skin. This can allow bowel contents to bypass part of your intestines. It may lead to malabsorption of nutrients. Fistulas that lead to the skin can allow bowel drainage to accumulate on your skin.

As many as 50% of people with Crohn’s develop fistulas. Fistulas increase the risks of infection and abscess.

People with Crohn’s can also develop anal fissures or small tears in the lining of the anal canal. Fissures can cause cracking, bleeding, pain, and itchiness.

Chronic diarrhea, combined with poor absorption of nutrients, can lead to vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition.

Crohn’s disease increases the risk of developing kidney stones, gallstones, fever, and liver disease. Flare-ups can cause canker sores in the mouth, which tend to clear up along with gastrointestinal symptoms.

People with Crohn’s are also at increased risk of developing colon cancer.

Poor absorption of iron can cause anemia. Untreated iron deficiency anemia can lead to heart problems such as fast or irregular heartbeat. Over time, you may develop an enlarged heart or heart failure. During pregnancy, iron deficiency is associated with premature birth and low birth weight. In children, anemia can delay growth and development.

Having IBD also increases the chance of developing a blood clot in a deep vein (deep vein thrombosis) or a clot that blocks a lung artery (pulmonary embolism). This risk may be even greater when you’re hospitalized.

While the primary cause of Crohn’s is not emotional, flare-ups may occur in times that are more emotionally challenging. Research shows that mood disorders such as depression and anxiety can be triggers.

Coping with a serious chronic illness can present challenges, so it’s important to monitor stress and emotional levels.

Crohn’s disease doesn’t generally weaken bones, but a person with the condition can have related issues, with or without inflammation.

About one-third of people with IBD experience arthralgia. These aches and pains in the joints do not involve inflammation or damage to the joint.

Arthritis can also affect people with IBD. The prevalence varies based on the research but may be as high as 46%. Inflammation causes this type of joint pain. Arthritis can lead to reduced flexibility and permanent joint damage.

Doctors may not be able to tell at first if your arthritis is associated with Crohn’s. When it is, symptoms usually improve when your intestinal symptoms do. If your Crohn’s treatment involves corticosteroids, you may be at increased risk of bone fractures, joint pain and swelling, and osteoporosis.

The eye is the third most common organ IBD affects in people living with the condition. Recent estimates suggest that 4–12% of people with IBD experience vision issues.

The most common is inflammation of the uvea (uveitis), which is the middle layer of the eye wall. This can cause:

  • pain
  • light sensitivity
  • blurry vision
  • redness

Symptoms usually get better when Crohn’s is managed well.

People with Crohn’s have a higher chance of developing erythema nodosum or pyoderma gangrenosum on the ankles, shins, or arms.

Erythema nodosum is when painful, red nodules appear in the subcutaneous (deepest) layer of the skin. This often occurs on the shins. Pyoderma gangrenosum is when you develop pus and deep ulcerations on the skin. Both tend to clear up along with other symptoms of a Crohn’s flare-up.

What is the life expectancy of a person with Crohn’s disease?

A 2020 study indicated that the life expectancy of people living with IBD has grown over the years. However, it remains shorter than that of people without conditions such as Crohn’s.

The study revealed that women with IBD may live 6.6–8.1 years less than women without the condition, while men with IBD may live 5.0–6.1 years less compared to men without the condition. The researchers believe that the long-term impact of living with chronic pain may be a factor.

What triggers Crohn’s disease flare-ups?

Many factors may trigger Crohn’s disease flare-ups, including stress, environmental pollutants or smoking, infections, dietary patterns, and certain medications.

Is Crohn’s disease fatal?

Although Crohn’s disease itself is not fatal, it can greatly affect your quality of life and can lead to potentially fatal complications in some cases. To minimize the chance of these complications, follow your treatment plan and schedule regular medical checkups with your doctor.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are both types of IBD, but while ulcerative colitis only affects the colon, Crohn’s can occur anywhere in the digestive tract.

Common symptoms include digestion issues, abdominal pain, and weight loss. There’s currently no cure for Crohn’s, but treatments and lifestyle changes can help improve quality of life and increase the chances of longer remission periods.

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