Everyone experiences flares differently.
These include the location and amount of inflammation in the digestive system and whether there are complications.
For that reason, it’s important to get a confirmed diagnosis.
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These other conditions can include:
Mild vs.
Severe Symptoms
Crohns disease includes categories of mild, moderate, or severe disease.
How these different levels are decided can vary, but sometimes a clinical scale may be used.
The severity of the condition can help determine what treatments are needed.
Severity may also depend on complications, including those inside or outside the digestive system.
A flare happens when your symptoms return or worsen.
Most people with Crohn’s experience periods when symptoms are active.
Knowing your baseline symptoms during remission may help you detect when your disease is becoming more active.
There is no specific test to diagnose a flare-up.
Keep a journal to monitor and track your symptoms and a food diary to identify any food triggers.
This may help to reduce the chance of a flare.
Some flare triggers can include:
Flares may also indicate your current treatment is no longer working.
Your healthcare provider may perform tests to confirm this is the reason and adjust your medications.
Knowing where the pain is located is helpful in discussing it with your healthcare providers.
Males
People of any age, sex, or gender can develop Crohns disease.
However, there may be differences in how the disease affects people assigned to males or females at birth.
Females
People whomenstruatemay have a flare-up before or during their period.
This may be because of a change in hormone levels.
Penetrative intercourse may also be painful for some people who have vaginas.
However, this is not yet well understood.
Males
Sexual function in men is related to Crohns disease activity.
People who have a prostate and have IBD may be more likely to developprostate cancer.
Bone lossosteopeniaandosteoporosisis more common in men who have IBD than in the general population.
One study done in Germany showed that 56% of males with IBD had bone loss.
Crohns disease may cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
A lack of zinc, in particular, could lead toinfertilityin males.
These may include:
When to Seek Urgent Care
You may experience severe symptoms during a flare.
Symptoms can affect daily activities, social life, relationships, and mental well-being.
Stress, anxiety, and depression can also affect quality of life.
It’s important to treat Crohn’s disease as best as possible to keep inflammation under control.
That’s not necessarily an easy or quick thing to do.
Sometimes, it means working with several different types of healthcare providers.
Summary
Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in the small and large intestines.
Even with treatment, most people with Crohn’s disease will experience periods when symptoms are active.
Understanding your baseline symptoms during remission may help you better detect when a flare-up may be starting.
Keeping track of your symptoms and triggers while maintaining a healthy lifestyle may help reduce the frequency of flare-ups.
Work with your healthcare provider to establish the best treatment plan for you.
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