How to Detect Crohn's Diease
Crohn's disease affects the gastrointestinal tract through inflammation of the affected organ. It is not yet known if Crohn's can be passed on genetically or what the specific causes of the disease are. Several factors can cause Crohn's such as physical predisposition and environment.
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Instructions
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Know the symptoms, which can include pain in the lower abdomen due to the swelling of the intestine, diarrhea and indigestion. These are due to the difficulty the body has digesting food and passing waste normally.
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Notice if something is different in your body pertaining to digestion and the abdominal region. Check if you have a burning sensation in your stomach and hemorrhoids. These may be early signs of Crohn's disease that you can treat.
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Go to a doctor if you feel you have the symptoms. Only a doctor can confirm if you have Crohn's since you must be medically diagnosed. The doctor will administer a series of tests such as stool exams to determine if you have the disease. It is also important to get an annual physical exam, since this can detect conditions such as Crohn's even before symptoms show.
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Do a blood test. The doctor will check your anemia and white blood cell levels, as well as platelet counts. If your white blood cells are high, this may be a sign of an infection or an inflammatory disease, which may be Crohn's.
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Get an endoscopy. An endoscopy involves inserting a thin, lighted tube in your rectum and an abdominal incision to get a snapshot of your lower GI tract. An endoscopy may be able to check ulcers and inflammatory signs related to Crohn's disease. Your physician may recommend this if he thinks you have the disease.
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