Is There a Cure for Crohn's Disease?

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and while scientists have yet to find a cure, treatment can control symptoms and improve quality of life. Everyone with an IBD should have a digestive specialist as part of their care team.

Gastroenterology specialist Dr. Vikram S. Jayanty diagnoses and treats a full range of digestive conditions, including Crohn’s disease, which is characterized by flare-ups of inflammation that affect parts of the digestive tract.

The goal of treatment is to manage acute symptoms and extend time in remission. Read on to learn how treatment can help you feel and function better.

Crohn’s disease overview

Living with a chronic illness can cause considerable distress, and Crohn’s disease is no different. Marked by chronic inflammation, Crohn’s can cause lesions on any part of the digestive tract. If you have Crohn’s disease, you may experience:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Constipation
  • Weight loss
  • Reduced appetite

Symptoms may flare up without warning, and while some people experience long periods without symptoms, others have more frequent and prolonged episodes of active symptoms. Treatment aims to reduce inflammation in order to ease active symptoms and promote remission.

Managing acute Crohn’s flares

Active Crohn’s symptoms can have a significant impact on your daily life. The stomach pain, fatigue, and changes in bowel habits can make it challenging to get through a work day, attend school, or go to a social function.

Because Crohn’s disease affects people differently, there’s no single treatment for managing acute flare-ups. Dr. Jayanty works with each patient to develop an individual treatment plan. It often takes time and patience to determine which medication works best for getting your flares under control.

Promoting remission in Crohn’s disease

Because no single treatment works for everyone with Crohn’s disease, it’s crucial to work closely with your specialist to implement a treatment plan to promote remission. Various medications reduce digestive tract inflammation and help extend symptom-free periods.

Dr. Jayanty may recommend immune system modulators. These medications reduce immune system activity. Biologic medications are another option. This class of medications targets specific inflammation-causing immune system proteins. Blocking or otherwise neutralizing these proteins reduces digestive tract inflammation.

Surgery is often necessary to treat and prevent Crohn’s complications, such as a bowel obstruction. This is particularly true the longer you have Crohn’s disease. While surgery doesn’t cure the disease, it can improve symptoms.

It’s essential to collaborate with a health care provider to ensure that you understand your treatment options, as well as which lifestyle changes are likely to help manage your Crohn’s symptoms.

Dr. Jayanty offers a tailored therapeutic approach that optimizes current and investigational strategies to manage Crohn’s disease. To learn more about how we manage IBDs, schedule a visit with Dr. Jayanty by calling 713-932-9200 or by booking online.

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