Living With Crohn's Disease

In addition to taking medications and making dietary changes, certain lifestyle changes may help those living with Crohn's disease. Some of these lifestyle changes involve quitting the use of tobacco products and reducing stress. People living with Crohn's disease may also benefit from receiving counseling or support.

 

An Overview of Living With Crohn's Disease

It is thought that nearly 500,000 people in the United States are living with Crohn's disease. While Crohn's disease can seriously affect your life, and may require special care at times, it's rarely life threatening.
 
Depending on how serious your condition is, your doctor may recommend a combination of different treatments. These Crohn's disease treatment options may include:
 
In addition to making dietary changes and taking medicine, there are a few lifestyle changes that may be helpful in dealing with Crohn's disease. These include:
 
  • Quitting the use of tobacco products
  • Reducing stress
  • Getting counseling or support.
     

Crohn's Disease Diet Changes

Research on Crohn's disease has shown that there is no diet that can prevent or cure the condition. However, certain types of foods can worsen symptoms in a lot of people with Crohn's disease.
 
If you are living with Crohn's disease, you may be able to make changes in your diet to control your symptoms. You might need to:
 
  • Limit dairy products
  • Try low-fat foods
  • Experiment with how much protein and fiber you eat
  • Avoid problem "gassy" foods
  • Eat smaller and more frequent meals.
     
(Click Crohn's Disease Diet to learn more about dietary recommendations for people living with Crohn's disease.)
 
(Living With Crohn's Disease Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD