10 Symptoms of Crohn's Disease You Should Be Aware Of

Depression

As symptoms of Crohn’s disease progress, feelings of depression or social anxiety may occur. Many people with Crohn’s disease feel embarrassed to go out in public out of fear of needing to use the bathroom urgently. Chronic intestinal pain, bloating, and nausea may cause a person to stay home instead of participating in the activities they love. High-impact sports or exercise that requires running and jumping may aggravate the condition and may need to be ceased during a flare, which can contribute to depression.

Other Autoimmune Conditions

It is not uncommon for people with Crohn’s disease to be diagnosed with other inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroid disease, lupus, Grave’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and Hashimoto’s disease. Autoimmunity produces antibodies that may attack other areas of the body besides the digestive tract. As approximately seventy percent of the immune system resides in the gastrointestinal tract, it is easy for a bowel disorder to impact the health of other areas of the body.