How serious is Crohn's disease? Can a person with Crohn's disease lead a normal life like others or is it a disease that changes your lifestyle forever? Yes, by managing their diet and pain, a person with Crohn's disease can live a very normal and healthy life. Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, that affects the lining of the digestive tract. (MayoClinic, 2009). Inflammation is caused by activation of T cells, which leads to damage to the digestive tract. According to Rangasamy, P. MD and Katz, JMD (2011), “Once T cells are activated by antigen presentation, the release of helper type 1 (Th1) lymphocytes predominates in Crohn's disease due to of defective regulation. Th1 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha stimulate the inflammatory response. Inflammatory cells recruited by these cytokines release nonspecific inflammatory substances, including arachidonic acid metabolites, proteases, platelet activating factor, and free radicals, which lead to direct injury to the intestine. (paragraph 1 - pathophysiology). Currently, the medical community is unsure of the cause of Crohn's disease. There is speculation that this may be caused by genetic, microbial, immunological, environmental, dietary, vascular, and psychosocial factors, including smoking, oral contraceptives, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). Studies have shown that people with a family history of Crohn's disease are at higher risk of developing the disease. Although this seems to be a very complicated genetic process of inheritance. Several genes contribute to the possible final cause of Crohn's disease. The NOD2 gene (also known...... middle of paper ......cases in which the patient must undergo surgery to remove a damaged part of the intestines. (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, 2009)The Crohn's disease is a chronic digestive disease that can come and go from gas pains to the need for emergency surgery. It is serious and can be life-threatening. It is our duty as a person. nurses to help educate the patient about this disorder by supporting their concerns and questions and showing empathy for their situation. It is with greater education that the patient will fare better. and will play an active role in their own disease A Crohn's disease patient may not be able to live a completely normal life without these digestive problems, but with education they will hopefully be able to. , minimize side effects, and know when they should seek further education or assistance (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America)., 2009)