While the causes of Crohn's disease are
unknown, researchers have several ideas as to what the culprit may be. One of
the aspects the researchers are looking into are the fungus and bacteria which
live within our digestive tract.
The causes of Crohn's disease are not known
as of yet. Diet and stress were believed to be responsible. However, we now
know that these can aggravate the disease, but they do not cause it. Researcher
have suggested that a malfunctioning immune system, genetics, and environment
may be factors in the development of the disease.
A main characteristic of Crohn’s disease is
chronic inflammation within the body. Inflammation is a normal immune system
response to outside invaders such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Some
researchers believe that Crohn’s disease may start as a normal response to an
outside invader. Then the immune system fails to shut off the attack, resulting
in chronic inflammation mainly within the digestive tract.
Another theory is that the immune system
mistakes the normal bacteria of the intestinal tract for invading
microorganisms and responds by attacking them instead. When your immune system
attacks normal parts of your body, it is called an autoimmune disorder. It has also been theorised that the immune
system may be mistaking food for an invading organism and attacking what you
eat.
Evidence suggests that genetics plays a large
role in the development of Crohn’s disease.
According to studies, 5-20% of people with
Crohn’s disease have a first-degree relative (parent, child, or sibling) with
the disease. A specific gene mutation that increases the risk of Crohn’s has
also been identified.
Crohn’s disease is more common in people of
Northern European and Anglo-Saxon descent and is many times more common in Jewish
people of European descent than it is the rest of the population. Crohn’s
occurs much less in central and southern Europe and less still in South America,
Asia, and Africa. It is now beginning to occur more frequently in blacks and Latin
Americans living in North America. This and other evidence strongly suggests
that genetics alone is not always responsible for the cause of the illness.
Environment
Crohn’s is more common in industrialised
nations and in urban areas. People who live in northern climates seem to have a
greater risk of developing the disease. This suggests that environmental
factors such as pollution, stress, diet, and lifestyle may play a role.
The following
factors may increase your risk of developing Crohn’s disease.
Smoking
Smoking seems to contribute to the
development of Crohn’s. If you have Crohn’s and smoke, your symptoms are likely
to be more severe, and you are more likely to require surgery.
Age
Crohn’s can occur at any age, but most people
who develop the disease are diagnosed before age 30.
Until the
researchers and scientists come up with a known conclusion of what exactly
causes or starts the development of the illness we cannot find a known
cure. There are many people out there
that say they have found a cure for themselves which is actually not the case
as they have found a method of putting themselves into remission. Some have found an illegal way and others
found a legal way. For myself it is a
combination of drugs from my gastroenterologist doctor at the hospital which
had been a trial as very few doctors are known to use the combination of
allopurinol and 6-mercercaptopurine due to the risks and not finding the
correct dose of both medicines.
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