Crohn's Disease: 7 Tips for Avoiding a Flare
Crohn's Disease: 7 Tips for Avoiding a Flare
Getting a break from cramps, nausea, or diarrhea could almost make you forget you have Crohn's. That's the best time to take action to keep flares away.
Doctors don't know why Crohn's symptoms come and go. But they know that things like diet, smoking, and stress can make them worse.
How to Have a Confident Social Life With IBD
Chances are your inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is under good control thanks to effective medicine. But even if you're in remission from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, you may fear having sudden cramps or worse when you're out and about. The good news: You don't have to give up your social life. People who've been there share their advice:
Read the How to Have a Confident Social Life With IBD article > >
Use these tips to keep flares at bay:
Learn all you can: what causes it, your triggers, and which treatments work best. Keep up with news about Crohn's and its treatments. Go to your doctor visits with questions prepared. Know how to spot the warning signs of a flare and what helps prevent it.
Even if your symptoms are gone and you feel great, don't stop taking your prescribed drugs unless your doctor tells you to.
People who don't stick to their drug plan are more likely to get flares. Over time, that can cause medical problems. Repeated flares can lead to complications like narrowing of your intestines. Or you might get fistulas, which are tiny connections between the intestines and your skin or other organs.
If a drug causes side effects that bother you, don't stop taking it. Talk to your doctor first. You might need to take a lower dose, switch to another drug, or get treated for the side effects.
When your Crohn's disease flares, it can be hard for your small intestine to absorb nutrients. So when you don't have symptoms, it's especially important to eat healthy.
Keep a diary to learn if certain foods make your symptoms worse. For some people with Crohn's, high-fat foods or fiber-rich fruits and vegetables (like beans and broccoli) cause problems. Let your doctor know about things you eat that seem to trigger your symptoms.
Your doctor and a diet expert can help you plan meals that include all the food groups. You might also need to take supplements of vitamins B12 and D, iron, or calcium, or a multivitamin.
Doctors don't know why Crohn's symptoms come and go. But they know that things like diet, smoking, and stress can make them worse.
Recommended Related to Inflammatory Bowel Disease
How to Have a Confident Social Life With IBD
Chances are your inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is under good control thanks to effective medicine. But even if you're in remission from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, you may fear having sudden cramps or worse when you're out and about. The good news: You don't have to give up your social life. People who've been there share their advice:
Read the How to Have a Confident Social Life With IBD article > >
Use these tips to keep flares at bay:
Become a Crohn's Expert
Learn all you can: what causes it, your triggers, and which treatments work best. Keep up with news about Crohn's and its treatments. Go to your doctor visits with questions prepared. Know how to spot the warning signs of a flare and what helps prevent it.
Stick With Your Crohn's Drugs
Even if your symptoms are gone and you feel great, don't stop taking your prescribed drugs unless your doctor tells you to.
People who don't stick to their drug plan are more likely to get flares. Over time, that can cause medical problems. Repeated flares can lead to complications like narrowing of your intestines. Or you might get fistulas, which are tiny connections between the intestines and your skin or other organs.
If a drug causes side effects that bother you, don't stop taking it. Talk to your doctor first. You might need to take a lower dose, switch to another drug, or get treated for the side effects.
Eat Healthy
When your Crohn's disease flares, it can be hard for your small intestine to absorb nutrients. So when you don't have symptoms, it's especially important to eat healthy.
Keep a diary to learn if certain foods make your symptoms worse. For some people with Crohn's, high-fat foods or fiber-rich fruits and vegetables (like beans and broccoli) cause problems. Let your doctor know about things you eat that seem to trigger your symptoms.
Your doctor and a diet expert can help you plan meals that include all the food groups. You might also need to take supplements of vitamins B12 and D, iron, or calcium, or a multivitamin.
