5 Symptoms That Might Indicate You Have Crohn's Disease

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Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of the digestive system. The signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease can be very unpleasant. Living with a chronic condition might make you anxious about going somewhere new, in addition to managing discomfort.

Crohn's disease can cause permanent damage to your digestive tract if left undetected or untreated, leading to much greater pain and discomfort in the long term. For these reasons, it's critical to be aware of the symptoms of Crohn's disease and to take action if you see them, even if they're difficult to discuss.

Not sure what your digestive discomfort could be pointing to? Read on to learn about 5 common symptoms of Crohn’s disease to diagnose this condition early enough to prevent serious damage.

1. Diarrhea

Crohn's disease can cause more than just occasional diarrhea. It can lead to persistent, unexpected, and difficult to treat with over-the-counter drugs diarrhea. During Crohn's disease flare-ups, diarrhea can persist anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on the severity.

Diarrhea is a symptom of Crohn's disease, which is caused by intestinal inflammation. Crohn's disease can affect any area of your digestive system, although it most commonly affects the colon and the terminal portion of the small intestine (where the majority of the digestive process occurs). When certain portions of your digestive tract get inflamed, they are unable to function properly, resulting in severe diarrhea. Besides, inflammation in the digestive tract can lead to open sores that can bleed causing bloody stools. 

Furthermore, Crohn's disease-related inflammation can cause the affected parts of your digestive tract to become hyperactive and spasm excessively, causing food to pass through your system much too fast and resulting in loose, watery stools. 

2. Abdominal pain

Inflammation in the intestines can cause excessive cramping, which can cause Crohn's disease pain. In addition, people with Crohn's disease may experience intestinal scarring and constriction (known as intestinal strictures). This can lead to discomfort and bloating because it's difficult for stools to get through. Sometimes, Crohn's disease discomfort might be so intense that it makes  it difficult for some people to simply get out of bed.

3. Fatigue

It's probably obvious that it's difficult to feel energized while you're coping with Crohn's disease symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain. All of that inflammation, as well as your body's immune response, can lead to low energy and fatigue. 

Diarrhea and its consequences might also be to blame. When you have diarrhea, your body doesn't absorb the nutrients as efficiently as it should, which can harm your overall health. In addition to dehydration, this might cause difficult issues like anemia, which can make you exhausted. Finally, Crohn's disease symptoms might keep you up at night, exacerbating the problem.

4. Unintentional weight loss

Unintentional weight loss can be a result of the stomach not correctly absorbing dietary calories because of damage, but it can also be a symptom of inflammation. When the body is in a state of chronic inflammation, it expends energy and calories, which can lead to weight loss.

In addition, a lack of appetite might result in weight loss since you aren’t eating enough. Add the fact that Crohn's disease can make it difficult to adequately absorb nutrients from meals, and you’ll see why patients with this disease may struggle with unexpected weight loss.

5. ­­Skin, joint, and, eye inflammation

People with severe Crohn's disease may have symptoms that extend beyond their gastrointestinal system, which are side effects of chronic inflammation in the body. You may develop arthritis, which can cause your back, knees, and ankle pain. Inflammatory eye problems, such as conjunctivitis, or inflammatory skin disorders, such as erythema, which creates painful circular lumps, are also possible.