Bloating is often associated with a person’s diet. The normal process of digestion involves the food going down the oesophagus into the stomach, where gastric juices break it down to a soft consistency. The partly digested food then moves through the small intestine, which is also known as the small bowel. Here it is broken down even further so that the nutrients can be absorbed into the bloodstream. The waste products form this process then pass into the colon. The colon absorbs the liquid, and the leftover waste forms solid stools. These collect in the last part of the colon and the rectum until they are passed out of the body in a bowel movement.
If a person has Crohn’s disease, ulceration and inflammation occurs and this affects the body’s ability to digest food, absorb nutrients and eliminate waste, in a healthy way.
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation of the digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.
Inflammation caused by Crohn’s disease can involve different areas of the digestive tract in different people.
Crohn’s can affect any part of the gut, but is most likely to develop in the ileum or the colon.
The areas of inflammation are often patchy, with sections of normal gut in between.
Crohn’s & colitis UK said on their website: “Crohn’s disease is a condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system.
“Inflammation is the body’s reaction to injury or irritation, and can cause redness, swelling and pain.
“Crohn’s disease is one of the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
“The other main form of IBD is a condition known as ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s is sometimes described as a chronic condition.
“This means that it is ongoing and life-long, although you may have periods of good health as well pastimes when symptoms are more active.
“In many people the disease runs a benign course with few flare-ups, while other people may have more severe disease.”
The symptoms of Crohn’s disease include abdominal pain and diarrhoea, tiredness and fatigue, feeling generally unwell, mouth ulcers, loss of appetite and weight loss and anaemia.
It’s estimated Crohn’s disease affects around 650 people in the UK and is more common in urban areas than rural areas.
Despite the numerous researches, it’s still unclear what causes Crohn’s disease.
If you suspect you may have symptoms similar to the condition, it’s important to speak with your GP about the possible cause.
