An early diagnosis of ‘Crohn’s’ helps prevent need for surgery
Silence worsens disease in patients
KUWAIT CITY, May 14: Silence is the main reason for the worsening of Crohn’s Disease in a patient which is on the rise in Kuwait over the past few years, says Dr Ahmad Al Fadli, Consultant of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit at Mubarak Hospital.
Al Fadli was talking to the Arab Times ahead of a Crohn’s disease awareness campaign soon to be launched in Kuwait.
Explaining the disease, Dr Fadli said it is an inflammatory bowel disease, “which is a general term for gastronomical illnesses that cause inflammation and swelling in the digestive tract.”
The disease has no known causes, although it is suspected that infection by certain bacteria, such as strains of mycobacterium, is responsible for it. The disease is not contagious.
On Crohn’s symptoms, Dr Fadli named cramps, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and diarrhea. For some of the more severe cases, patients can suffer from passing of the blood in stool, paleness, fever, pain in the joints, as well as problems in the skin.
Many people are too embarrassed to talk about trouble with their bowel movements, and so keep it to themselves, Fadli noted. “That could be the reason they never recover from this disease.”
Further, he said that there is no permanent cure to the disease, and it lasts a lifetime; however, early diagnosis can reduce the intensity and frequency of the symptoms, and could give the patient an opportunity for a normal life.
“By keeping their suffering untold, patients can go into severe progression of the disease, as well as emotional pressure of having to figure it out on their own. By consulting a medical professional, patients can get the required guidance to keep their lives as uninterrupted and as painless as possible.”
Early diagnosis of the disease can help prevent the need for surgery. The later the disease is caught,
more chances of repeated setbacks and surgery, thereby leading to frequent hospitalization and increase in healthcare costs.
Treatment for Crohn’s disease involves a number of lifestyle changes, as well as some help through medication. Amongst the first changes to be made would be reducing, and preferably cessation of, smoking, healthy diets which do not include too much fiber or too much fat, and smaller but more frequent meals.
Each patient requires an individualized treatment program, so do not delay the visit to a doctor, Fadli advised.
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/RSS/tabid/69/smid/414/ArticleID/183231/Default.aspx
Silence worsens disease in patients
KUWAIT CITY, May 14: Silence is the main reason for the worsening of Crohn’s Disease in a patient which is on the rise in Kuwait over the past few years, says Dr Ahmad Al Fadli, Consultant of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit at Mubarak Hospital.
Al Fadli was talking to the Arab Times ahead of a Crohn’s disease awareness campaign soon to be launched in Kuwait.
Explaining the disease, Dr Fadli said it is an inflammatory bowel disease, “which is a general term for gastronomical illnesses that cause inflammation and swelling in the digestive tract.”
The disease has no known causes, although it is suspected that infection by certain bacteria, such as strains of mycobacterium, is responsible for it. The disease is not contagious.
On Crohn’s symptoms, Dr Fadli named cramps, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and diarrhea. For some of the more severe cases, patients can suffer from passing of the blood in stool, paleness, fever, pain in the joints, as well as problems in the skin.
Many people are too embarrassed to talk about trouble with their bowel movements, and so keep it to themselves, Fadli noted. “That could be the reason they never recover from this disease.”
Further, he said that there is no permanent cure to the disease, and it lasts a lifetime; however, early diagnosis can reduce the intensity and frequency of the symptoms, and could give the patient an opportunity for a normal life.
“By keeping their suffering untold, patients can go into severe progression of the disease, as well as emotional pressure of having to figure it out on their own. By consulting a medical professional, patients can get the required guidance to keep their lives as uninterrupted and as painless as possible.”
Early diagnosis of the disease can help prevent the need for surgery. The later the disease is caught,
more chances of repeated setbacks and surgery, thereby leading to frequent hospitalization and increase in healthcare costs.
Treatment for Crohn’s disease involves a number of lifestyle changes, as well as some help through medication. Amongst the first changes to be made would be reducing, and preferably cessation of, smoking, healthy diets which do not include too much fiber or too much fat, and smaller but more frequent meals.
Each patient requires an individualized treatment program, so do not delay the visit to a doctor, Fadli advised.
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/RSS/tabid/69/smid/414/ArticleID/183231/Default.aspx
