Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) caused by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. It’s characterized by abdominal pain, cramps, bloody stool, diarrhea, and weight loss. Symptoms range from mild (no symptoms) to severe (flare-ups), can change over time, and vary from person to person. There is currently no cure for Crohn’s disease, and there is no single treatment that works for everyone.
Although living with Crohn’s disease can be difficult at times, there’s no reason patients can’t have a normal life if their symptoms are well controlled. Dr. Sophie Balzora, a clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and gastroenterologist, spoke to Black Health Matters about how patients with Crohn’s disease can help manage their symptoms.
Black Health Matters: How can someone with Crohn’s disease prevent flare-ups?
Dr. Balzora: Sometimes, unfortunately, the disease can progress despite patients’ best efforts—that’s just the nature of their disease for them. How Crohn’s disease behaves varies considerably from patient to patient. Things that may help prevent flare-ups, however, include taking the right medication based on how severe their disease is, what part(s) of the body the disease affects, and other important factors like age, other medical problems, and patient preferences. Doing your best to see your IBD specialist regularly, stay on top of symptoms, and talk to your physician regularly when you’re feeling unwell may be helpful. With this approach, you can be formally evaluated swiftly, which can help catch flares early so they can be promptly addressed.
Black Health Matters: What type of diet should someone with Crohn’s disease have?
Dr. Balzora: Currently, there is no particular diet for adult patients with Crohn’s disease that has been shown to heal inflammation of the intestine. What studies show time and time again is that the ultimate goal of treatment is to heal inflammation—this is how patients do best long-term. That being said, as patients live with Crohn’s, they certainly find what foods work for them and which foods do not, especially when they’re flaring. Generally, though, we do recommend avoiding high-roughage foods when patients have strictures, or areas that are narrowed, throughout the intestines. It’s always important to discuss with your doctor about whether there are particular foods to avoid.
Black Health Matters: Do African Americans with Crohn’s disease have unique challenges or conditions?
Dr. Balzora: Unfortunately, and with many digestive diseases, especially chronic ones, there are racial disparities that exist, and IBD is no different. Challenges with recognizing and/or diagnosing one’s symptoms as IBD is one hurdle, for instance. Such delays in diagnosis leads to delays in treatment, and the potential for undiagnosed IBD to persist. We know that early and appropriate treatment for Crohn’s disease is key to remission. Black patients may experience challenges particular to them that may work to widen disparities in IBD care, such as doctors not being aware of the growing incidence of IBD in Black communities.
Black Health Matters: Can alternative treatments help?
Dr. Balzora: Complementary and alternative treatments should always be discussed with your physician. It’s always important to be sure these complementary medications are safe, and to be sure they do not interact with other medications one may be taking.
Black Health Matters: Does stress exacerbate Crohn’s disease?
Dr. Balzora: The brain-gut interaction can be profound. Stress can certainly exacerbate tummy troubles, and people will often say that when they are very stressed, their digestive complaints ramp up. It’s tougher to say, though, if psychological stressors directly cause inflammation or complications of Crohn’s disease. That’s a hard thing to formally study.
Black Health Matters: When should someone with Crohn’s disease see their doctor?
Dr. Balzora: With any concerning symptoms, there should be a low threshold to contact your doctor, especially if you’re newly diagnosed and learning the ropes about how your Crohn’s disease affects you and behaves in your body. Absolutes include bloody stools, abdominal pain, worsening diarrhea, weight loss, and fever. It’s also important to understand that Crohn’s disease can affect many organs outside of the digestive tract, so it’s important to discuss with your doctor any symptoms that are worrisome to you so that they can be addressed timely.
Black Health Matters: Is it important for African Americans with Crohn’s to participate in clinical trials to improve their outcomes?
Dr. Balzora: It’s so important that we diversify the cohort of patients in clinical trials, especially with a growing population of black and brown patients who are now suffering from IBD. The more the trials reflect the population in which we live and the patients we treat, the more knowledgeable we will be about the disease and how best to serve all of our patients, not just the majority of our patients.
This article is sponsored by Eli Lilly & Company.
