Did you know.....
Crohn’s disease may affect as many as 700,000 Americans. Men and Women are equally likely to be affected, and while the disease can occur at any age, Crohn's is more prevalent among adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 and 35.
The causes of Crohn’s Disease are not well understood. Diet and stress may aggravate Crohn’s Disease, but they do not cause the disease on their own. Recent research suggests hereditary, genetics, and/or environmental factors contribute to the development of Crohn’s Disease.
The GI tract normally contains harmless bacteria, many of which aid in digestion. The immune system usually attacks and kills foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms. Under normal circumstances, the harmless bacteria in the intestines are protected from such an attack. In people with IBD, these bacteria are mistaken for harmful invaders and the immune system mounts a response. Cells travel out of the blood to the intestines and produce inflammation (a normal immune system response). However, the inflammation does not subside, leading to chronic inflammation, ulceration, thickening of the intestinal wall, and eventually causing patient symptoms.
Crohn’s tends to run in families, so if you or a close relative have the disease, your family members have a significantly increased chance of developing Crohn’s. Studies have shown that 5% to 20% of affected individuals have a first – degree relative (parents, child, or sibling) with one of the diseases. The risk is greater with Crohn’s disease than ulcerative colitis. The risk is also substantially higher when both parents have IBD. The disease is most common among people of eastern European backgrounds, including Jews of European descent. In recent years, an increasing number of cases have been reported among African American populations.
The environment in which you live also appears to play a role. Crohn’s is more common in developed countries rather than undeveloped countries, in urban rather than rural areas, and in northern rather than southern climates.
www.active.com/donate/lasvegasDC14/KiasJourney
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Monday, September 15, 2014
Did You Know....
Did you know ........
Crohn's disease was named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, who first described the disease in 1932 along with colleagues Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon D. Oppenheimer, Crohn’s disease belongs to a group of conditions known as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract.
When reading about inflammatory bowel diseases, it is important to know that Crohn’s disease is not the same thing as ulcerative colitis, another type of IBD. The symptoms of these two illnesses are quite similar, but the areas affected in the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) are different.
Crohn’s most commonly affects the end of the small bowel (the ileum) and the beginning of the colon, but it may affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon, also called the large intestine.
Crohn’s disease can also affect the entire thickness of the bowel wall, while ulcerative colitis only involves the innermost lining of the colon. Finally, in Crohn’s disease, the inflammation of the intestine can “skip”-- leaving normal areas in between patches of diseased intestine. In ulcerative colitis this does not occur.
There is five types of Crohn's Disease.
Depending on which part of your GI tract is affected by Crohn's affect the symptoms and complications experienced.
The following are five types of Crohn's disease, together with their presenting symptoms:
Ileocolitis
The most common form of Crohn's, ileocolitis affects the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and the large intestine (the colon). Symptoms include diarrhea and cramping or pain in the right lower part or middle of the abdomen. This type is often accompanied by significant weight loss.
Ileitis
This type affects only the ileum. Symptoms are the same as ileocolitis. In severe cases, complications may include fistulas or inflammatory abscess in right lower quadrant of abdomen.
Gastroduodenal Crohn's disease
This type affects the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine(the duodenum). Symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting.
Jejunoileitis
This type is characterized by patchy areas of inflammation in the upper half of the small intestine (the jejunum). Symptoms include mild to intense abdominal pain and cramps following meals, as well as diarrhea. In severe cases or after prolonged periods, fistulas may form.
Crohn's (granulomatous) colitis
This type affects the colon only. Symptoms include diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and disease around the anus (abscess, fistulas, ulcers). Skin lesions and joint pains are more common in this form of Crohn's than in others
Crohn's disease was named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, who first described the disease in 1932 along with colleagues Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon D. Oppenheimer, Crohn’s disease belongs to a group of conditions known as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract.
When reading about inflammatory bowel diseases, it is important to know that Crohn’s disease is not the same thing as ulcerative colitis, another type of IBD. The symptoms of these two illnesses are quite similar, but the areas affected in the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) are different.
Crohn’s most commonly affects the end of the small bowel (the ileum) and the beginning of the colon, but it may affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon, also called the large intestine.
Crohn’s disease can also affect the entire thickness of the bowel wall, while ulcerative colitis only involves the innermost lining of the colon. Finally, in Crohn’s disease, the inflammation of the intestine can “skip”-- leaving normal areas in between patches of diseased intestine. In ulcerative colitis this does not occur.
There is five types of Crohn's Disease.
Depending on which part of your GI tract is affected by Crohn's affect the symptoms and complications experienced.
The following are five types of Crohn's disease, together with their presenting symptoms:
Ileocolitis
The most common form of Crohn's, ileocolitis affects the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and the large intestine (the colon). Symptoms include diarrhea and cramping or pain in the right lower part or middle of the abdomen. This type is often accompanied by significant weight loss.
Ileitis
This type affects only the ileum. Symptoms are the same as ileocolitis. In severe cases, complications may include fistulas or inflammatory abscess in right lower quadrant of abdomen.
Gastroduodenal Crohn's disease
This type affects the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine(the duodenum). Symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting.
Jejunoileitis
This type is characterized by patchy areas of inflammation in the upper half of the small intestine (the jejunum). Symptoms include mild to intense abdominal pain and cramps following meals, as well as diarrhea. In severe cases or after prolonged periods, fistulas may form.
Crohn's (granulomatous) colitis
This type affects the colon only. Symptoms include diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and disease around the anus (abscess, fistulas, ulcers). Skin lesions and joint pains are more common in this form of Crohn's than in others
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Saturday, August 16, 2014
SUPPORT ME IN FINDING A CURE FOR CROHN'S DISEASE
I am embarking on a fantastic journey and I need your help! I
will be walk the 13.1 mile race at the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Half
Marathon on Sunday, November 16, 2014, to raise funds and awareness for
research leading to improved treatment options and a cure for Crohn's
disease and ulcerative colitis.
Over 1.4 million Americans have Crohn's and colitis, commonly referred to as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD. Many more suffer in silence due to potential embarrassment and alienation. Crohn's disease and colitis may occur in people of all ages, but it is primarily a disease of adolescents and young adults, affecting mainly those between 15 and 35.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the age of 26, after years poking, prodding and testing. My journey to find a way to cope with the pain and various symptoms /aliments associated the Crohn's Disease has been a trying one. Since being diagnosed I have been a advocate of spreading awareness of Crohn's Disease and doing all I can to help find a cure that will help me and others like me.
Together, we can make a difference! As a member of Team Challenge, I have a coach, a training program, and teammates to support me. I have committed to a tough training schedule, and I've committed to raise $5,000 in donations for The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. I am motivated! I am committed! I will do it!
Please help support me by visiting my webpage at www.active.com/donate/lasvegasDC14/KiasJourney to donate or mail your donations directly to me at 2900 Saint Clair Drive, #509, Temple Hills, MD 20748 (Made out to CCFA). A minimum of 83 cents per dollar raised by the CCFA goes directly to research and patient support, and your contribution is 100% tax deductible. If your employer matches charitable contributions, please include matching forms with your donation. Of course, your good wishes and positive vibes to sustain me in my training and as I cross the finish line will also be graciously accepted.
Feel free to contact me if you need help making a donation or if you just want to make sure I am pounding the pavement (literally). I could use the encouragement! I am trying to reach my fundraising goal by October 31, 2014 but will continue to take donations up to and even the after the race if I haven't met my goal. I can't thank you enough in advance for supporting this cause!
With my sincere thanks,
Kia
KiasJourney@gmail.com
www.active.com/donate/lasvegasDC14/KiasJourney
www.ccteamchallenge.org
Over 1.4 million Americans have Crohn's and colitis, commonly referred to as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD. Many more suffer in silence due to potential embarrassment and alienation. Crohn's disease and colitis may occur in people of all ages, but it is primarily a disease of adolescents and young adults, affecting mainly those between 15 and 35.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the age of 26, after years poking, prodding and testing. My journey to find a way to cope with the pain and various symptoms /aliments associated the Crohn's Disease has been a trying one. Since being diagnosed I have been a advocate of spreading awareness of Crohn's Disease and doing all I can to help find a cure that will help me and others like me.
Together, we can make a difference! As a member of Team Challenge, I have a coach, a training program, and teammates to support me. I have committed to a tough training schedule, and I've committed to raise $5,000 in donations for The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. I am motivated! I am committed! I will do it!
Please help support me by visiting my webpage at www.active.com/donate/lasvegasDC14/KiasJourney to donate or mail your donations directly to me at 2900 Saint Clair Drive, #509, Temple Hills, MD 20748 (Made out to CCFA). A minimum of 83 cents per dollar raised by the CCFA goes directly to research and patient support, and your contribution is 100% tax deductible. If your employer matches charitable contributions, please include matching forms with your donation. Of course, your good wishes and positive vibes to sustain me in my training and as I cross the finish line will also be graciously accepted.
Feel free to contact me if you need help making a donation or if you just want to make sure I am pounding the pavement (literally). I could use the encouragement! I am trying to reach my fundraising goal by October 31, 2014 but will continue to take donations up to and even the after the race if I haven't met my goal. I can't thank you enough in advance for supporting this cause!
With my sincere thanks,
Kia
KiasJourney@gmail.com
www.active.com/donate/lasvegasDC14/KiasJourney
www.ccteamchallenge.org
Monday, July 7, 2014
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