What To Do If You Suspect Crohn's Disease Or Colitis

Often people with Crohn's Disease and Colitis suffer uncomfortable symptoms for a long time before they seek medical treatment. The symptoms of these conditions can vary from person to person. The more common ones are diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cramping. If you experience these ill effects on a regular basis, you should seek a medical opinion.

See Your Doctor

Everyone will experience one or more of these symptoms at some point in their life (diarrhea accompanying flu, gas pains, or other temporary distress). Yet there is a difference between regular and acute bouts of distress and an occasional stomach upset. Often people have a sense when something is not quite right with their health but many people will ignore the signs.

It seems easier to bury one's head in the sand. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. If Crohn's Disease and Colitis symptoms go untreated over time, they can do serious damage to one's body.

The effects of ignored symptoms can include malnutrition, intestinal blockages, and even organ damage. As well, people are enduring needless pain and suffering. It is foolhardy to ignore uncomfortable symptoms.

All the time that people spend in discomfort could be eliminated almost right from the start - if sufferers sought professional attention. When a person is diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and Colitis, they can begin to be treated for their condition. Although there is no medical cure at present for these diseases, they are manageable conditions.

People can learn to control (and even eliminate) their symptoms. A physician or naturopathic doctor will set up a customized plan that suits the individual. Yet none of this can happen if a person sits at home, suffers in silence, and does not seek medical help. If you are experiencing uncomfortable symptoms, do not delay that all-important trip to your medical professional.

Watch Your Diet

Unless it is an emergency situation, there might be a lapse in time (from hours to days) before you get an appointment. In the meantime, go easy on the processed foods, fats, and sugar. Try healthier options. Whether or not you are diagnosed with these conditions, follow a healthy diet in the future. The Western diet is not considered a good diet for anyone and it causes extra distress for Crohn's Disease and Colitis sufferers.

A diet that includes lots of fruit and vegetables is a wiser choice. Many people with Crohn's Disease and Colitis claim that they have controlled (and even eliminated) their symptoms by taking part in a water fast and eating a regular raw food diet. Of course, nobody should go on a water fast or make an extreme change to their diet without checking with their medical professional.

Maybe a raw food diet is right for you but be prepared for a few initial challenges. If you change from the Western diet to a raw food diet, your body will need time to adjust to its new fuel. You may experience temporary discomfort. Yet in the long-term, fruits and vegetables are a better choice than sugars and fats.