Crohn’s disease flare-ups occur when the inflammation in the digestive tract intensifies, leading to symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss.
Crohn’s disease describes an illness where inflammation appears anywhere in the digestive tract, especially in the small intestine and colon. Symptoms associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction are common, and in many cases, can be tricky to manage on top of a patient’s busy schedule. Through understanding the symptoms and devising relief strategies, patients can be better prepared to manage their condition and maintain long-term gut health.
Crohn’s Disease Flare-Up Symptoms
A Crohn’s flare-up is a distressing episode caused by the exacerbation of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in areas affected by the disease. These flare-ups are unpredictable and can vary in frequency and intensity. During a flare-up, individuals may experience debilitating symptoms that significantly impact their daily lives.
Common symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain, cramping, and tenderness – often localized in the lower right abdomen.
- Persistent diarrhea, sometimes bloody, leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. This is often accompanied by fatigue and muscle weakness since the body doesn’t get enough of what it needs.
- Weight loss due to reduced appetite, malabsorption of nutrients, and increased metabolism during inflammation.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Mouth ulcers or pain in one’s gums
- Infected abscesses in or around the anal canal
Additionally, patients may experience fever, joint pain, and skin rashes, indicative of systemic inflammation.
The unpredictable nature of Crohn’s flare-ups can disrupt work, social activities, and personal relationships, leading to increased stress and anxiety. Managing these symptoms requires careful attention to diet, medication adherence, stress reduction techniques, and regular communication with healthcare providers to optimize treatment and improve quality of life.
What Causes A Crohn’s Disease Flare-Up?
Some causes of a Crohn’s disease flare include:
- Disruptions to your regular treatment plan, such as switching to a new medication, missed doses, or incorrect doses.
- Chronic stress and psychological factors can influence symptoms and disease activity as the overproduction of stress hormones can trigger gut inflammation.
- Disruptions in the balance of bacteria and other microorganisms in the gut, known as dysbiosis, have been linked to Crohn’s disease as alterations in the gut microbiome can influence immune function and inflammation in the digestive tract.
- Highly inflammatory foods and drinks can trigger a flare-up, such as alcohol, soft drinks, coffee, dairy products, fatty foods, and fiber-rich foods.
- Bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract such as C. difficile, often associated with food poisoning, can trigger a flare-up of symptoms.
- Certain medications or treatments, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or antibiotics, may trigger inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract in susceptible individuals, potentially exacerbating CD symptoms.
How Long Does a Crohn’s Flare-Up Last?
A Crohn’s flare-up can vary widely, lasting from days to weeks or months.
The typical duration of a flare-up depends on various factors, including the severity of inflammation, the effectiveness of treatment, individual differences in disease presentation, and the presence of any complicating factors, such as infections or complications like strictures or fistulas.
Factors that can influence the length of Crohn’s flare-ups include:
- Severity of inflammation: Flare-ups with mild inflammation tend to resolve more quickly than those involving severe inflammation.
- Treatment adherence and effectiveness: Consistently following treatment plans—such as medication regimens or dietary modifications—can help manage inflammation and shorten flare-ups.
- Presence of complications: Conditions like strictures (intestinal narrowing), fistulas (abnormal organ connections), or abscesses can prolong flare-ups and often require additional treatment.
- Stress and lifestyle factors: Chronic stress and unhealthy habits can worsen inflammation and extend flare-ups. Managing stress through relaxation techniques and adopting healthier lifestyle choices may help reduce their duration.
- Medical interventions: In some cases, treatments like corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or biologic agents are necessary to control inflammation and shorten flare-ups.
- Underlying health conditions: Coexisting health issues or infections can complicate Crohn’s flare-ups, leading to prolonged symptoms.
Overall, individualized treatment plans, regular monitoring by healthcare providers, and proactive management of symptoms and complications are crucial for reducing the duration and severity of Crohn’s flare-ups. Evinature has a high-quality, scientifically-backed protocol meeting all of these standards and more, with a free assessment online to properly provide the right dosage for each patient.
Managing Crohn’s Disease Flare-Ups
Once in a flare-up, it can feel overwhelming to try and manage all of the different symptoms. Therefore, we recommend a few quick holistic lifestyle changes that are easy to make and require little thought, so you can focus your energy on feeling better.
What to eat during a Crohn’s Disease flare-up
The key to eating during a Crohn’s Disease flare-up is SSS; simple, small, and soft. The goal is to give your body the material it needs while giving your gut a well-deserved break. Easily digestible foods, such as foods low in fiber and with a more fluid texture, are recommended in small portions, to make sure that your stomach and intestines can process it properly. The liquid will help aid digestion while keeping you hydrated and reducing fiber will help slow down digestion to increase absorbance of nutrients and reduce diarrhea.
For example, here are a few ideas:
- Cooked fruits and vegetables without skins: The softer the better. Immersion blenders and food processors make this easy, and there are a number of delicious soups and purees that can meet both your nutritional needs and be a treat for your tastebuds!
- Lean proteins such as poultry or fish: White meat, thoroughly cooked, and non-greasy fish provide essential building blocks for muscle throughout the body while actively flaring. Other foods such as chickpeas and tofu can also boost protein consumption while being easy to digest.
- Simple grains like rice: Easy to digest while providing a base of carbohydrates to balance your gut’s energy needs, white rice, in small portions, assists in reducing symptoms of diarrhea and constipation.
- Easily digestible fats like olive oil or those found in avocados can please your palate and bring foundational nutrients to your GI tract, just as it is needed.
Regular monitoring and adjustments to the diet may be necessary to optimize symptom management and overall health. Consult a nutritionist or physician if you have any questions on how to personalize your diet during a flare to increase your chances of recovery.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
When in doubt, drink water. If you don’t remember the last time you took a sip, take one now. If you are sitting on your couch, take a sip. Designate a special water bottle for flare-ups and set a timer to remember to drink.
Especially during a flare-up, it is essential to replace the fluids in your body. Water is integral to physiological homeostasis, and getting back to a regular digestive routine. A dehydrated person with Crohn’s disease is more likely to flare, and flare-ups will last longer without proper hydration. 8-10 glasses of water each day is the recommended quantity to restore gut integrity and reduce abnormal bowel movements.
Decaffeinated herbal teas, such as ginger and peppermint, can also aid in digestion and directly reduce inflammation through the release of anti-inflammatory compounds. The heat can also be soothing, and reduce abdominal pains and cramping.
There is also rising evidence that bacterial infections can be reduced through the consumption of acidic fruit juices. The acid helps combat bad bacteria in the gut, while the sugar contained in the juice indirectly loosens the adherence of pathogens to the gut epithelium. Urinating after drinking then flushes the bacteria out of your system and promotes quicker healing times. We recommend watering down fruit juices such as orange juices when doing this, so the acid doesn’t damage an already sensitive gut lining while still providing the relief of this strategy.
Natural Relief for Crohn’s Flare-Ups
Effective management of Crohn’s flare-ups involves not only dietary considerations but also attention to lifestyle factors such as stress management, regular exercise, and adequate sleep.
Stress management techniques like mindfulness meditation or yoga can help reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms. Regular exercise has been shown to improve overall well-being and reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups by promoting better digestion and immune function. Additionally, prioritizing sufficient sleep is crucial for supporting the body’s healing processes and overall health.
In addition to lifestyle factors, natural compounds such as Curcumin and Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis) have shown promise in managing Crohn’s flare-ups.
Curcumin, derived from turmeric, exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NF-kB signaling pathways and suppressing proinflammatory cytokines like TNFα and IL-1β. It aids mucosal healing, enhances antioxidant defenses by neutralizing ROS, inhibiting ROS-generating enzymes, and boosts glutathione levels. This multifaceted action makes curcumin a promising option for IBD patients, offering relief from inflammation and promoting tissue repair.
Qing Dai (QD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used historically to treat gastrointestinal disorders. In human trials on patients with IBD, QD has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects on the mucosa and the ability to relieve severe symptoms of IBD. The active molecules responsible for these benefits are Indigo and Indirubin, now confirmed to activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway and send signals that override pro-inflammatory cytokines. This helps regulate intestinal immune homeostasis, reduce inflammation, and promote mucosal tissue healing.
When taking herbal supplements for IBD, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider before incorporating these natural compounds into your treatment regimen to ensure safety and effectiveness, especially when used with other medications or treatments. Qing Dai, especially, requires a tailored approach that includes a tapering protocol for safe, comfortable use. Evinature has a free assessment with a high-quality, personalized protocol created with the expertise of international gut health experts and researchers here that combines Curcumin and Qing Dai in a nutraceutical designed to combat CD flares.
Best Diet Following Crohn’s Disease Flare-Ups
In general, slowly introducing more fiber and harder-to-digest foods into your diet is a good idea after a flare: emphasis on slow to avoid retriggering a flare-up. Simple methods of cooking, such as boiling, roasting, poaching, grilling, etc., and making sure to cook food thoroughly reduces the chance of bacterial infections and digestive problems leading to Crohn’s flare-ups.
Avoiding common trigger foods, such as caffeine, alcohol, and overly processed and packaged foods can also help reduce the chance of launching into a Crohn’s flare-up.
The Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet is a structured dietary approach that has gained attention for its potential benefits in managing Crohn’s Disease symptoms. This protocol temporarily eliminates specific food groups that trigger inflammation or exacerbate symptoms, followed by a gradual reintroduction process to identify individual triggers.
Commonly excluded foods include:
- Dairy
- Gluten-containing grains
- Processed foods
- High-fat foods
- Certain fruits and vegetables that are difficult to digest
The Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet helps guide dietary choices to minimize symptom flare-ups and promote overall gut health by systematically identifying trigger foods. However, it’s essential to undertake this diet under a healthcare provider’s or registered dietitian’s guidance to ensure nutritional adequacy and safety while effectively managing Crohn’s symptoms.
How Can Evinature Help You?
Evinature’s free assessment tailors a personalized nutraceutical protocol for each patient, based on the details they provide. For Crohn’s disease, the CurQD protocol will likely be suggested, which combines Curcumin and Qing Dai at varying doses based on patient severity, to decrease the dosage of Qing Dai as the patient’s symptoms improve to maintain long-term gut health and even remission. Our Clinical Support team is also available to help advise with any gut-related queries. Take the Evinature assessment now for better gut health today!
Conclusion
Understanding Crohn’s flare-ups is crucial for effective management. Recognizing symptoms and managing flare-ups through diet, lifestyle adjustments, and stress management techniques can help alleviate symptoms.
It’s important to seek professional advice promptly for persistent or severe symptoms, complications, or changes in symptoms is essential. Regular communication with healthcare providers ensures ongoing support and optimization of treatment strategies.
If you’re interested in trying Curcumin and Qing Dai for a Crohn’s Disease flare, take our free online assessment first to receive the best treatment plan, dose, and tapering protocol for your individual needs.
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