Ghada Sadaka is a retired principal and spends her free time doing volunteer work, specifically within the Crohn’s and Colitis Disease community. Her interest in these conditions piqued when a family member of hers was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at a very young age and was suffering terribly as a result. Witnessing this prompted Ghada to get involved with research and volunteering, and in the article below, she discusses how today’s medical advancements are helping those afflicted with this disease.
Sadaka explains that both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis belong to the same group of disorders known as IBD, or Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. While Crohn’s disease presents as patches of diseased bowel in among healthy patches, ulcerative colitis is an ongoing colon inflammation.
With more than 3 million Americans suffering with IBD, more research than ever before is focusing on both treatment and the search for a cure, of which there is currently none. Ghada Sadaka explains that recent medical news is pointing to an optimistic future for those suffering with an IBD.
Good News for Animal Lovers
Ghada Sadaka says that new research from doctors in the USA has discovered that living with a dog as a child can reduce the chances of developing Crohn’s disease later in life by up to 37%.
This is due to the exposure of certain microbes that contribute to a child developing an effective immune system, the research suggests. And it’s not just dogs that can make the difference: living in a household along with at least three other family members can reduce the onset of IBD by a staggering 64%.
Doctors have long been aware of the need for children to be exposed to microbes to build up resistance, but in cases like IBD, which is an autoimmune disease, such exposure is vital.
Scientists Discover the Causal Chain of Bowel Inflammation
The lack of a cure for IBD stems from scientists being able to locate the reason for the issue initially occurring. However, an article in the Gut Microbes journal of May 2022 presents fascinating information concerning the cause of IBD.
While the tests are yet to be performed on humans, Dr. Sahar El Aidy and his team at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands has demonstrated that fecal transplants in mice have “pinpointed a pattern of gene expression” that is associated with the changes in the bowel associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
There is much work to be done to replicate the results in humans, but the results show promise.
Biomarker for Crohn’s Detectable Years Before Diagnosis
Ghada Sadaka says that a simple blood test could very soon predict the likelihood of a person going on to develop Crohn’s disease, as much as seven years before diagnosis, researchers at the University of Toronto have reported.
This is due to a specific biomarker, in this case an antibody which blocks the function of a vital gut protein called a cytokine. This protein maintains the necessary balance of gut flora and protects the lining of the intestine, preventing the inflammation that is symptomatic of all IBD conditions.
By identifying the biomarker with the blood test, all concerned patients, especially those with a known genetic link to the disease, could identify their risk of developing Crohn’s in the future without the need for costly genetic testing, says Ghada Sadaka.
Disordered Eating a Trigger for Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s patients are all too aware of the need for a healthy and often grueling diet to manage their painful symptoms, but recent studies have highlighted how disordered eating can be a trigger for Crohn’s disease long before symptoms begin to present.
Disordered eating, which can involve binge eating, purging (inducing vomiting or misusing enemas) and restricted eating, can often go hand in hand with Crohn’s disease.
A vicious cycle of Crohn’s symptoms resulting in an inability or lack of desire to eat can lead to disordered eating, which can in turn exacerbate Crohn’s symptoms, along with psychological issues including depression and anxiety reports Ghada Sadaka.
The research has highlighted the need for patients with Crohn’s disease to remain in contact with dieticians to monitor their eating habits, but it has also shown the importance to screening anorexia and bulimia patients for Crohn’s disease given the links.
Johnson and Johnson are Asking the Experts
Finally, Johnson and Johnson had produced an informative article on 5 things that experts know about Crohn’s disease.
This article, according to Ghada Sadaka is extremely useful for patients who have recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s, as it contains up-to-date information and in addition, the latest breakthroughs in the field of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Medicine.
One of the contributors, Dr. Lou Ghanem, was himself diagnosed with the disease at the age of 22 and has ploughed his efforts into pediatric gastroenterology, to both diagnose and support children and young people who have been diagnosed with Crohn’s.
From recognizing symptoms, to staying up to date with the latest treatments, to looking to the future at hope for possible causes, the website should be something all patients, recently diagnosed or not, should take the time to visit.
