Chron's Disease North Carolina

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If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in North Carolina, find a doctor through Carolina Digestive Health Associates today. Affecting more than 780,000 Americans, the condition known as Crohn’s disease can lead to chronic inflammation and significant debilitation. The chronic pain and diarrhea the condition causes can severely limit how North Carolina residents engage in daily activities. Medical help and treatment options are available.

What Is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease affecting the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease can impact any part of the tract, including the colon and the small intestine. Currently, there is no cure for Crohn’s disease, but North Carolina residents can learn to mitigate the symptoms and live a normal life.

Common Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease

Like many digestive conditions, symptoms of Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe. Usually, these symptoms develop gradually, but many North Carolina patients report a sudden onset of these signs. There are also periods of remission when Crohn’s disease symptoms are dormant.

Common symptoms of active Crohn’s disease include:

• Pain and cramping in the abdomen
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stool
• Reduced appetite and weight loss
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Mouth sores

Severe Crohn’s disease can also lead to inflammation in the liver, joints, eyes, bile ducts, and skin. North Carolina patients can also develop a tunnel into the skin, known as a fistula, which can cause pain and drainage near the anus.

Causes and Risk Factors of Crohn’s Disease

Experts do not know what causes Crohn’s disease, but believe that a combination of genetics, immune system issues, and environmental factors can lead to its development. Certain risk factors increase the presence of Crohn’s disease in North Carolina, such as:

• Age. Young people under the age of 30 are more likely to develop the disease.

• Genetics. People who have close relatives with the disease are more likely to develop it.

• Ethnicity. White people and Ashkenazi Jewish people have the highest risk of developing Crohn’s disease.

• Cigarette smoking. This habit leads to a much greater risk of developing many diseases.

• Environmental factors. Eating a high fat, refined diet, or living in an urban, industrialized area leads to higher rates of Crohn’s disease.

How Do Doctors Treat Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease does not have a cure, but many North Carolina doctors can prescribe treatment to manage and relieve symptoms, such as:

• Medication. Anti-inflammatory drugs, biologics, antibiotics, and other classes of medication can treat Crohn’s disease. North Carolina doctors prescribe this medication on a case-by-case basis.

• Diet. A North Carolina dietician can help patients establish necessary dietary changes to limit certain side effects.

• Surgery. Approximately 70% of Crohn’s disease patients will need to undergo surgery. Depending on the situation, doctors can remove damaged portions of digestive tracts, repair damaged tissue, or treat infections through surgery.

Potential Complications

Unfortunately, Crohn’s disease can lead to several complications. It is important to meet with a North Carolina doctor and receive a course of treatment to avoid the development of the following conditions:

• Ulcers. Open sores can develop along the digestive tract, including the genitals, anus, and mouth.

• Fistulas. Severe ulcers can tunnel through the intestines, connecting body parts such as the intestine and skin or an intestine and a nearby organ. Fistulas can lead to infections and life-threatening abscesses.

• Anal fissures: Painful bowel movements can lead to small tears in the tissue around or inside the anus.

• Malnutrition: Diarrhea and a loss of appetite can lead to lower food consumption. As a result, the body does not receive the nutrients it needs and malnutrition can occur.

• Colon cancer: Crohn’s disease in the colon increases a person’s risk of colon cancer. North Carolina patients should receive colonoscopies frequently.

Additional complications may include arthritis, osteoporosis, anemia, gallbladder disease, and liver issues.

Contact Carolina Digestive Today

Do you need assistance managing Crohn’s disease symptoms in North Carolina or do you believe you have developed the disease? Contact Carolina Digestive Health Associates today. Call (704) 324-8776 to schedule an appointment with a North Carolina doctor near you.

Carolina Digestive Health Associates

Carolina Digestive Health Associates is a group of gastroenterologists serving the residents of North Carolina. We have fourteen highly rated GI doctors who provide service at eight offices and five endoscopy centers. Our doctors work in all major hospitals in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Our physicians, together with our highly trained physician assistants and nurse practitioners, cover a wide range of specialties and are skilled in diagnosis and treatment. Whether you have chronic problems with your digestive tract, a recent, acute attack or simply want a checkup, our team is here in North Carolina to help you reach your healthcare goals.

What We Do

Our team of gastroenterologists in North Carolina is trained to diagnose gastric conditions involving the esophagus, the stomach, the liver, the colon and the rectum. Once we make a diagnosis, we can form a treatment plan tailored to the specific patient and their needs. Some of the common conditions we treat include:

• Constipation
• Bloating and gas
• Celiac disease
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Colorectal cancer
• Diarrhea
• Esophageal cancer
• Fatty liver
• Gallstone
• Gastritis
• GERD
• Hemorrhoids
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Lactose intolerance
• Obesity
• Ulcers

Our team has experience diagnosing and treating these conditions and many more. North Carolina residents in the Charlotte area have come to trust our expertise and our friendly customer service.

Procedures

Our specialists cover a wide variety of fields within gastroenterology and can perform an array of procedures once they have made a diagnosis. Some of the more common procedures are:

• Rectal manometry. This test determines if the rectum is functioning properly and helps to diagnose fecal incontinence and chronic constipation.
• Breath test. A GI doctor can diagnose certain digestive conditions by measuring the gases which a patient exhales.
• Colonoscopy. By means of a camera inserted into the body, doctors can view the intestine and look for polyps, ulcers, bleeding, inflammation and even cancer.
• Polypectomy. If doctors discover polyps during an endoscopy, they will use this procedure to remove them.
• Upper endoscopy. Similar to a colonoscopy, this procedure views the esophagus, stomach and upper duodenum for inflammation, ulcers and abnormal growths.
• Esophageal manometry. This test is to determine the strength of the muscles that you use to swallow, which can affect conditions like heartburn.
• Feeding tubes. A GI doctor can insert a feeding tube when necessary if a patient is not able to feed him or herself.
• ORBERA Gastric Balloon. The FDA has approved our non-surgical program to help patients lose weight and form healthy habits to maintain a stable, healthy weight in the long term.

Research

At Carolina Digestive Health Associates in North Carolina, we participate in many clinical research trials. Medicine is a field that constantly advances, and we encourage and participate in this process to discover new and better ways to diagnose and treat digestive disorders. Sometimes, these trials provide treatment options to our patients in North Carolina that they would not be able to get anywhere else.

When Should You Come to See Us?

Persistent or severe symptoms are reasons to schedule a consultation with us in North Carolina. We also recommend regular screenings starting at age 45 for colon cancer. You may need to see a general practitioner first to get a referral. Come see us if you experience any of the following:

• Constipation. Fewer than three bowel movements a week means constipation. If it persists, contact us.
• Diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common problem, but if it doesn't go away it could be a sign of something more serious.
• Heartburn. A burning your stomach and chest could be your stomach acid inflaming the lining of your esophagus.
• Stomach pain. Severe stomach pain could mean you have a gallstone. More persistent, burning pain could be an ulcer.
• Bloating. If you bloat after a meal, your body might be reacting to something you ate. A gastroenterologist can diagnose the cause.
• Hemorrhoids. If the veins in your rectum are swollen or feel irritated, you may have hemorrhoids, which a GI doctor can treat.
• Blood in your stool. If your stool is black and tarry, or if there is red in the water after a bowel movement, you may have a severe problem that requires immediate attention.

For any of the above symptoms or a cancer screening in North Carolina, contact Carolina Digestive Health Associates for a consultation. Call us at (704) 324-8776 and let one of our highly skilled gastroenterologists assist you.