Prednisone A Crohns Cure

    Prednisone is a drug used quite often to treat
Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis. Part of a class of drugs known as corticosteroids,
prednisone is similar to cortisol which is produced by the adrenal gland. Once
hailed as a ‘miracle’ drug, this thought has been tempered by prednisone’s many
side effects which usually get worse over time or as the dosage is increased.
Prednisone works by reducing inflammation in the body and inflammation is the
main cause of pain for sufferers of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

    Long term usuage or high doses can lead to many side
effects including weight gain, mood swings, increased hair growth, bone density
loss, facial mooning, acne, night sweats, headaches, lower resistance to
infections, increased eye pressure, depression, and many more too numerous to
mention. Each of these can have profound psychological effects on patients who
have no choice but to take prednisone for their inflammatory bowel disease.

    Mood swings and depression are especially damaging to a
patient with inflammatory
bowel disease. Depression further alienates the patient who may already feel
very much alone due to the illness which may affect treatment or the patient’s
ability to get and remain on a treatment program. Mood swings can have
devastating effects such as increased anger taken out unknowingly upon friends
and loved ones at a time when a Crohn’s patient needs all the support available.

    Bone density loss can lead to brittle bones subject to
breaking more easily if not caught early or by using preventative measures such
as taking calcium with vitamin D supplements. If not detected early, drugs like
fosamax which help the body absorb calcium may be necessary. What young man or
woman wants to worry about bones breaking?

    Increased facial hair can have negative ramifications for women while acne can also damage the psyche in those who are prescribed prednisone. Prednisone users also must be wary of infections as the medication
lowers the body’s resistance. Vigilant monitoring is necessary or a seemingly
simple infection could lead to dire consequences.

    Other side effects affecting the skin include thinning of
the skin and the body bruising more easily. Many patients get large bruises on
their body and have no idea how it happened. Prednisone can also lead to an increase in the eye pressure which may cause eye damage. Drugs like trusopt can
help control eye pressure but this is just one more worry and drug to take for
the patient with
inflammatory bowel disease.

    Although prednisone may be necessary for many Crohn’s
disease patients, one must be especially wary of the many potential side effects
and the possible problems each brings to the table. For many, prednisone may be
the only drug to quiet a flare-up, but as the old saying goes, caveat emptor,
buyer beware.

Crohn's complications can be extremely serious , and possibly fatal, if left untreated.  Please learn the signs of Crohn's disease and what you can do to educate and protect yourself or a loved one.

Can a Diet Cure Crohns

p>     If you're dealing with Crohn's disease, you no doubt
realize exactly how inconvenient it can be. Not only is it an inconvenience,
however, it is often a problem that is life-changing for many individuals that
suffer from it. The pain that a person gets whenever they are dealing with a
bout of Crohn's disease
is really indescribable unless you have felt it yourself. For that reason, many
people are searching for a diet for Crohn's disease that will actually help to
give them some relief.

    Actually, changing your diet is one of the best ways for
you to be able to handle this disease. Although there certainly is not a cure
for this problem, changing your diet can help in a number of different ways. It
is not necessarily a diet for Crohn's disease that gives you specific things
that you must eat or not eat, but it is guidelines that are necessary for you to
follow. A doctor once told me that if it bothered my condition, I should avoid
eating it. The first part of a
diet for Crohn's
disease, therefore, should be keeping a diary of everything that you eat along
with how you feel afterwards. You will be able to narrow down the foods that you
can eat by doing this.

    You might also want to avoid foods which typically
irritate the situation, such as dairy products and foods that might cause gas,
such as beans or cabbage. Experiment with a little bit of fiber to see if this
will help with the condition but be alert to any problems that it may cause.
Personally, I found that milk, bacon, and too much red meat caused problems.
Foods that are hard to digest like corn and fruit with skin such as apples can
cause problems with inflammatory bowel disease patients who have problems with
blockages. It also helps if you drink plenty of liquids, especially water, as
this will help to keep your entire body functioning properly, including your
digestive tract.

    Although creating your own 'Crohn's
diet' will not cure your Crohn's disease, avoiding certain foods can
alleviate some of the symptoms. If you're willing to try this method of trial
and error, you may be pleasantly surprised at the results.

If you, or someone you love, is suffering from
Crohn's symptoms, then knowledge and treatment are vital to your well being.  A
Crohn's diet, nutrition, and medication can help alleviate the pain and lead to a healthy remission.