Almost a quarter of the American population is afflicted with an irritable bowel disorder such as IBS or Crohn's Disease. The symptoms of Crohn's cannot, unfortunately, be cured. Remission is sometimes possible and where this happens steps can be taken to prevent a relapse. The disease is manageable for many victims, and there are three key steps to take to achieve this.

The first step is to get informed. Your local library will have medical books which are pretty much understandable to the layman so this is a good place to start. The internet will lead you to many many websites concerning medical issues. A search engine such as Google will lead you to the right place, or Wikipedia is a good and usually current source of information. You should also, of course, visit your GP - he or she will be able to give you a lot of information and support.

In fact, the second step is to get support. It is easier to cope with this affliction if you are not alone. It can take a while to seek help as many sufferers go through a phase of denial after being diagnosed (and prior to this as well if the truth be told). Denial is a quite natural initial response to any bad news but the problem needs to be confronted and it is easier to do that with someone by your side. This could be friends or a partner, or you could seek out a local self help group where you can discuss your condition with others who are suffering in a similar way. Again, the internet, the library or your GP can help you to find such a group.

The third step is to take control. The disease can usually be managed - this involves a few lifestyle changes and usually medication is prescribed. (In extreme cases surgery will be necessary however). By making some changes to lifestyle - quitting smoking, adjusting the diet - sufferers will find that their symptoms are reduced and they can live a pretty normal life with the condition. Crohn's disease is an auto immune condition and various companies and institutions around the world are working on producing a cure, with University College London one of the more prominent of these.



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