A Humble Vegetable Transformed Cauliflower soup. It may not sound glamorous but don't underestimate this humble vegetable's potential. This creamy, comforting soup is packed with taste and nutrients, making it a perfect meal for any juncture. Cauliflower soup can do everything if you're looking for a light lunch, a cozy dinner, or a satisfying starter. A Brief History of Cauliflower Soup The origins of cauliflower soup can be traced back to ancient Rome, where the vegetable was believed to have aphrodisiac properties. In the Middle Ages, cauliflower became a popular food in Europe, and soup was a common way to prepare it. The first recorded recipe for cauliflower soup appears in a French cookbook from the 17th century. Over the centuries, cauliflower soup has evolved into a diverse dish with countless variations. In France, it is often served with cream and croutons. In India, it is spiced with curry and coconut milk. In America, it is usually made with cheddar che...
Crohn's disease is, together with ulcerative colitis to the chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) . The disease is a permanent, i.e. chronic, inflammation of the intestine, which usually runs in spurts. In sick people, the mucous membrane of the entire digestive tract from the mouth to the anus can become inflamed.
However, the small intestine is particularly often
affected. The bowel disease is not contagious. It is not curable, but
the symptoms of inflammation in the intestine can now be treated well. Why
Crohn's disease develops is not entirely clear.
The bowel disease progresses differently in all patients - sometimes only
with mild symptoms, sometimes severe. In Germany, 120 to 200 out of
100,000 people have Crohn's disease. Most of those who are newly diagnosed
are between 20 and 30 years old.
Difference Between Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
The protective mucous membrane is
damaged. Pathogens penetrate, the immune system reacts with
inflammation. This inflammation spreads differently in Crohn's disease and
ulcerative colitis.
Crohn's disease: the symptoms
The first signs of Crohn's disease include abdominal pain , which is often spasmodic and
often suggests appendicitis . The
following symptoms are typical of Crohn's disease:
- Pain in the lower right abdomen
- diarrhea
- constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Fever and general malaise
- Weight loss
In the long term, Crohn's disease can lead to the
following symptoms and complications:
- Nutrient deficiency that leads to changes in the skin, for example
- Exhaustion and tiredness
- Abscesses (collections of pus) on the intestines
- Fistulas (passages between the intestines and the skin)
- Cracks of the anus (anal fissures)
- Intestinal
obstruction (ileus)
- Scarring in the intestines
- Cracks in the intestine (perforation)
- Colon cancer
Crohn's disease usually occurs in phases . This means that the symptoms will
subside completely for a while, but will intensify in phases. The first
signs of a flare-up are, for example, stomach pain on the right
side. Doctors consider the bowel disease to be "chronic" if the
symptoms persist for more than six months.
Not all sufferers experience all
symptoms. Crohn's disease is very different. There are patients
without diarrhea who are more likely to have abdominal pain, or those who
suffer from diarrhea more often. The condition may affect the mouth in
some (6 to 10 percent), where for example a furrowed tongue or an ulcer in the
mucous membrane is noticeable. Sometimes the gums are inflamed
(gingivitis) or the lip is swollen. For most people (45 percent), however,
Crohn's disease takes place in the last section of the small intestine and in
the large intestine. In every third patient, only the small intestine is
affected.
In general, people with Crohn's disease are more
prone than others to inflammation, for example in the liver, joints or eyes . Sometimes the disease
remains undetected for a long time and runs without any side effects . Due to the lack of nutrients that
many patients have because of the persistent diarrhea, after years with Crohn's
disease, comorbidities such as osteoporosis (due
to calcium deficiency) or canker sores in the mouth (due to zinc
deficiency) often develop. Many patients also have food
intolerances such as lactose intolerance .
Crohn's disease: the causes
Why Crohn's disease develops is unclear. There
are probably several causes that lead to the onset of the bowel disease, which
usually becomes noticeable for the first time between the ages of 20 and
30. The disease is probably not directly hereditary ,
but scientists suspect that genes play a role: every second patient has
mutations in a certain gene. In many of those affected, the barrier function of the intestinal wall is
probably disrupted , so that pathogens can penetrate more
easily. It is believed that this activates the immune system and causes
the inflammation.
The fact that the immune system reacts so strongly
in the intestine in Crohn's disease indicates an autoimmune disease in
which the immune system overreacts and is directed against the body's own
tissue. Studies show that lifestyle significantly influences the course of
Crohn's disease and probably also its development. For example, smokers
are more often affected by Crohn's disease than other people. Sick people
who continue to smoke despite being diagnosed have more relapses and the
disease is more severe for them overall. Stress is also
considered to be the trigger for a surge .
Crohn's disease: diagnosis by a doctor
Anyone who visits a doctor with the typical
symptoms of Crohn's disease will first be asked about their medical history:
- What are the symptoms and when?
- How severe are the symptoms and how long do they last?
- Has anyone in the family got sick?
The doctor asks these and other questions as part
of the so-called anamnesis .
Next, the doctor will palpate the abdomen, which
may be painful for the patient in the lower right corner. If he suspects
that Crohn's disease may exist, he also takes a blood sample. The blood values reveal whether there is inflammation in
the body and whether there is already a lack of nutrients. Sometimes the
doctor will ask for a stool sample to rule out other causes of the symptoms,
such as a bacterial infection in the intestine.
Further examinations may
follow to finalize the diagnosis of Crohn's disease:
- Abdominal ultrasound to identify inflamed sections of the intestine
- transrectal ultrasound to assess the rectum
- Colonoscopy (colonoscopy), to examine the intestinal mucosa
- Gastroscopy (gastroscopy), up to examine the upper digestive tract
- Small intestine endoscopy (double balloon endoscopy) to examine the
small intestine
- Colonoscopy using capsule endoscopy (the patient swallows a tiny
camera the size of a tablet)
- other imaging tests ( MRI , CT)
The doctor uses the "Best activity index" to
categorize how severe the bowel disease is . If this value is between
150 and 200, treatment should take place.
Why specialists should treat Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic disease that has to be
treated for a lifetime. Patients should therefore, if possible, place
themselves in the hands of a specialist who will look after them on a long-term
basis. Doctors who specialize in inflammatory bowel diseases are
internists with a focus on gastric and intestinal diseases, so-called gastroenterologists .