Page 86 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2020

HEALTHY LIVING
GUT CHECK
Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week
story by Alexis Williams
Nationally, December 1-7 is recognized as Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week, a time to support those a ected by both conditions and an opportunity to encourage those with intestinal discomfort to see a physician. Dr. Catherine Hirsch, who has practiced gastroenterology on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for 33 years, has helped many patients a ected by in ammatory bowel diseases in her years of patient care.
Dr. Hirsch explains that Crohn’s Disease causes in ammation that can a ect your body from mouth to anus, a ecting all layers of the bowel and can sometimes stulizing, disrupting important connections between the colon and other parts of the body. Ulcerative colitis is in ammation of the colon only, a ecting the rectum rst and then progressing through the remainder of the colon.
Patients who experience chronic diarrhea, bloody stools, abdominal cramping, weight loss and weakness are encouraged to see their physician for referral to a gastroenterologist. Dr. Hirsch’s usual rst step is
a colonoscopy. “As soon as a colonoscopy is performed, I can usually tell that a patient has Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.”
Both conditions are treated by reducing gut in ammation, using a combination of medicines including mesalamines, steroids and IVs or subcutaneous medication known as biologics.
“The most important thing for patients to understand are that these are lifelong conditions, and
they must take their
medications,” says Dr.
Hirsch. “Some patients
have an excellent
response to treatment
where they even forget
they have the disease,
except when they have
to take their medications. The worst thing a patient can do is be noncompliant in taking medications or stopping them altogether without consulting their physician. They think they are doing well, so they will stop. They have a grace period of six months to over a year without symptoms, thinking the in ammatory bowel disease has gone. However, it is not gone, and they usually are with a vengeance, making it di cult to control.”
Dr. Hirsch also explains that
with both conditions, patients can develop arthritis, iritis (in ammation and pain in the eye) and skin rashes associated with their gut in ammation. Controlling in ammation is key. Besides medication, patients are encouraged to reduce stress levels which can worsen the
disease.
“As for dietary changes, the Crohn’s
and Colitis Foundation has not endorsed any speci c diet per se,” added Dr. Hirsh. “Dietary options are still being studied; however, I feel a low ber diet is helpful in many
of my patients, especially those with areas of narrowing in the colon or small bowel.”
During December, take note of your gut health, aim to control your stress, notice in ammation and most importantly seek help if needed.
86 | December 2020
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