Causes and Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease Essay

Submitted By matthews08
Words: 368
Pages: 2

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects parts of the gastrointestinal tract. The small intestines become inflamed and it’s hard to digest and absorb all of the key nutrients from food. Many people believe that when they eat certain foods their gastrointestinal symptoms: gas, bloating and abdominal pain, tend to flare up. These foods are called trigger foods. Due to the lack of nutrients, people with Crohn’s disease can become malnutritioned. Without the proper nutrients from food it becomes hard for the individual to maintain a normal body weight. As an LPN I would educate and go over with my patient three specific factors including foods that helps avoid “trigger foods”, a low residue diet, and a liquid diet. Just to name a few, trigger foods may include alcohol, corn husks, carbonated beverages, butter, coffee, tea, dairy products, red meat, pork, spicy foods, fatty foods, nuts and seeds, and whole grains. I would first ask the patient which of these foods aggravate symptoms of the disease. Secondly I would let the patient and their families know they don’t have to give up these foods but to try preparing them in different ways including steaming, stewing, or boiling. By knowing their trigger foods and experimenting with different ways of preparing them the patient might find they can tolerate the food and not have to give it up completely. Also I would educate them about a low residue diet which may help lessen symptoms like