The sun is shining on the streets and alleys, and the takeaway brother Xiao Zhang rides an electric car to shuttle among them, and recently he often feels abdominal pain, and diarrhea has become commonplace.
Xiao Zhang blamed the high intensity of work pressure and irregular diet, but the situation did not improve over time, but worsened. His face was getting paler and his weight was slipping, and his friends urged him to go to the hospital for a check-up.
On this day, Xiao Zhang finally walked into the hospital. After a series of in-depth examinations, Xiao Zhang was diagnosed with a little-known but headache for doctors - Crohn's disease, also known as "green cancer".
01. What is Crohn's disease?
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract whose etiology has not yet been determined, and is known as a "green cancer" due to its complexity, recurrent attacks, long course and incurable characteristics.
The disease was named after the American physician Burrier Crohn, who described the disease in detail for the first time in a landmark paper published in 1932.
Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can occur anywhere in the human gastrointestinal tract and can affect the entire digestive tract from the mouth to the anus, but is most common in the terminal ileum and right colon.
The disease is especially favored in young adults, with abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal mass and other intestinal symptoms as the main manifestations, and may also be accompanied by fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, anemia, weight loss, malnutrition and other systemic symptoms. In severe cases, Crohn's disease can cause gastrointestinal obstruction, perforation, intestinal fistula, bleeding, and even an increased risk of cancer.
02. The dangers of Crohn's disease
Abdominal pain: Patients often suffer from persistent or paroxysmal severe abdominal pain, which is often related to the area of inflammatory activity, which can involve the entire abdomen or be confined to a specific area, seriously affecting daily life and work.
Diarrhoea: Frequent and persistent diarrhoea is one of the hallmark symptoms of Crohn's disease and can lead to an imbalance of water and electrolytes, and in severe cases, dehydration, nutrient loss, and physical exhaustion.
Malnutrition and weight loss: Long-term diarrhea, loss of appetite and impaired digestion and absorption function lead to insufficient nutrient intake and malabsorption in the patient's body, resulting in nutrient deficiencies such as protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, manifested as significant weight loss.
Serious complications: Narrowing or scarring of the intestinal wall due to local inflammation may lead to partial or complete obstruction of the intestine, causing symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, cessation of gas and bowel movements, and may require urgent surgical intervention.
Severe inflammation or ulceration erodes the entire thickness of the intestinal wall, forming a perforation, causing acute peritonitis, which is life-threatening and requires urgent surgical repair.
Intestinal fistula: Inflammatory lesions penetrate the intestinal wall to form abnormal channels (fistulas) with other organs or tissues, which can lead to the spread of infection, fluid loss, and malnutrition, and are complex to manage and often require multiple surgeries.
Bleeding: Severe inflammation or ulceration of blood vessels leads to intestinal bleeding, which can manifest as occult blood or melena in the stool, or a large amount of blood in the stool or even shock, requiring urgent hemostasis.
Risk of cancer: People with Crohn's disease have a significantly higher risk of developing bowel cancer than the general population. Long-term inflammatory stimulation may lead to abnormal proliferation of intestinal mucosal cells, forming precancerous lesions or tumors.
03. Causes of Crohn's disease
Smoking: Smoking is an important risk factor for Crohn's disease in multiple studies, with a significantly higher prevalence in smokers than in non-smokers. The harmful substances in tobacco may directly impair the intestinal barrier function, inducing and exacerbating the inflammatory response.
Dietary habits: High-fat diets, low-fiber diets, excessive intake of overly processed foods, and dietary patterns lacking fresh fruits and vegetables may alter the intestinal microbiota and promote the occurrence and development of inflammatory responses.
Environmental pollution: Exposure to air pollution, water pollution, pesticide residues, etc., may increase the chance of exposure to potential pathogenic agents or immune stimulants, which may indirectly affect intestinal health.
Familial clustering: There is a significant familial clustering of Crohn's disease, and individuals with a family history are at significantly higher risk. Genetic factors may be involved in disease occurrence by influencing immune response, intestinal barrier function, microbiome composition, etc.
Genetic markers: specific genetic markers, such as human leukocyte antigen alleles such as HLA-DR4, are associated with the risk of developing Crohn's disease. These genes may affect the recognition and response of immune cells to intestinal antigens.
04. How to prevent Crohn's disease
Balanced diet: Maintain a diversified diet, consume sufficient dietary fiber, and limit high-fat, high-sugar, and over-processed foods to help maintain the balance of intestinal microecology and reduce the risk of inflammation.
Regular work and rest: Ensuring adequate sleep and avoiding staying up late and overworking for a long time can help stabilize the neuroendocrine system and reduce the impact of stress on the gut.
Smoking cessation: Tobacco is an important risk factor for Crohn's disease, and quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of developing the disease. Seek professional support and use nicotine replacement therapy, behavioral therapy and other methods to improve the success rate of quitting smoking.
Limit alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can damage the intestinal mucosa, alter the structure of the microbiota, and induce or aggravate inflammation. Drinking alcohol in moderation or abstaining from alcohol altogether can help protect gut health.
Social support: Establish good interpersonal relationships, actively participate in social activities, seek support from family, friends or professional counselors to reduce psychological burden.
In the face of Crohn's disease, a "green cancer", we should neither panic excessively nor take it lightly. Although there is no cure, through scientific cognition, active prevention and reasonable management, we can effectively reduce the risk of disease, improve the quality of life of patients, and delay the course of the disease.
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