Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may not be familiar to for most college students, but these gastrointestinal disorders are ones that are cropping up on local campuses.
Dr. Roger Mitty, chief of Gastroenterology at Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, has seen more college students diagnosed with the disorders recently. "It may be that college health services are now referring more students, or it could be actual increases," Mitty said. "Students are definitely more upfront about talking about it."
One BC student, who wishes to remain anonymous never hestitated to seek professional help when she was confronted with common symptoms of the diseases. "I'm pretty upfront about these things, but it never occurred to me not to see a doctor. It's a health problem that affects a lot of people and shouldn't be shameful," she said.
According to WebMD.com, Crohn's disease is an inflammation in the small intestine. It can run in families, but the cause of the disease is unknown. Mitty likens the disease to a "rash in the colon." It is as if the immune system is working too well, thus causing an inflammation so that food is not absorbed properly. The inflammation often causes pain and diarrhea.
There is no cure for Crohn's disease, although treatment includes drugs, nutritional supplements, and surgery, according to WebMD.com. Sufferers of the disease have fluctuating symptoms; they may feel fine for many months, and then experience the symptoms unexpectedly again.
IBS is a much less serious problem, but one that affects many people, especially college-age men and women. Whereas Crohn's disease has no known triggers, there are definite causes of IBS. Stress can sometimes bring it about, as well as an unbalanced diet.
For college students, a typical meal is often something fast and prepackaged that can easily be slipped into a microwave. Then there's always the temptation of the late-night array, complete with fried foods and plenty of grease.
Yet continually choosing these options may not only expand a student's waistline, but also create health problems such as IBS. "Although Crohn's disease is not affected by diet, eating a balanced diet and consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables will help ward off IBS," Mitty said. Caffeine, milk, and cheese should be avoided, as well as red peppers, green onions, red wine, and wheat, according to WebMD.com.
Students should avoid smoking, and they should increase fiber and water intake. Certain drugs, such as laxatives or bulking agents, can be helpful in more serious cases. Less stress and more exercise are two more important factors in fighting IBS.
Since both diseases deal with bowel problems, students may be embarrassed or reluctant to come forward with their issues. "It's definitely embarrassing and negatively affects my life when I have to leave class or work early with no explanation," said the anonymous BC student. "I don't think my teachers or boss really want to hear the details about my IBS."
"If you're having trouble, just know you're not alone," Mitty said.
It is important to be tested by a specialist because, according to Mitty, Crohn's disease and IBS present themselves with similar symptoms but are treated in very different ways. Although students cannot be tested at their university health services, going to BC's Primary Care Center (located on the first floor of Cushing Hall) can help because students can be referred to a specialist at a nearby hospital.
"It isn't something to be proud of, but it's not something that should prevent anyone from making a healthy decision," the student said.
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