Is There a Link Between Crohn’s Disease and Fatigue?

Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition. It causes inflammation in the digestive tract. People with it often experience fatigue. It can be severe and affect their daily activities. Many people experience intense tiredness. This fatigue can occur not only during flare-ups but periods of remission. Fatigue is a very persistent symptom. That is why people wonder: Is there a link between Crohn's disease and fatigue?

What Does Fatigue Feel Like for a Person With Crohn’s Disease?

Fatigue is more than just feeling tired. A person can be physically and mentally tired at the same time. It affects both the body and the mind. But physical fatigue is very challenging to carry out daily activities. Fatigue can be of two types.

Physical Fatigue

Physical fatigue makes it really hard to carry out everyday activities. This can make simple tasks difficult. These tasks can be climbing stairs, walking short distances, completing household chores and many more. These tasks feel extremely difficult.

Mental Fatigue

It is also known as brain fog. It makes it difficult for a person to concentrate and stay focused. It troubles in

Concentrating
Staying focused
Thinking clearly

Fatigue is common in many chronic illnesses. But it is especially widespread in inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s.

How Common Is Fatigue in Crohn’s Disease?

Research also indicates that fatigue is a common problem among patients suffering from Crohn's and ulcerative colitis:

A systematic review conducted in 2020 indicated that close to 50% of IBD patients had fatigue as a symptom.
According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, fatigue is a condition seen in 80% of patients during flare-ups.
During remission, about 50% still have the problem of fatigue.

Such percentages demonstrate the strong connection between fatigue and Crohn's disease. This shows Crohn's is a Full-Body Disease

What Causes Fatigue in Crohn’s Disease?

A person suffering from Crohn's disease may go through some of the following things that ultimately will lead to fatigue. Among others:

Inflammation:

If inflammation develops in the gastrointestinal tract, the body will produce chemical reactions as a response to it. The resulting chemical body movements can lead to tiredness and lack of vitality, they may also add to the feeling of fatigue.

Anemia:

Approximately 33 percent of people with IBD have anemia. This means that their red blood cells cannot transport enough oxygen to their body tissues. It can make a person tired and weak. Its symptoms are:

Exhaustion
Weakness
Dizziness
Low stamina

Nutritional deficiencies:

People with Crohn’s disease have low levels of

Vitamin B12
Iron
Folates

These deficiencies are linked to weakness and fatigue.

Side effects of medications:

Medications for Crohn's disease have been known to be some of causes of tiredness in patients. Steroids are one of them, as they may be affecting one’s sleeping habits. Besides, immunomodulators like methotrexate and 6-MP also result in fatigue.

Steroids can disrupt natural sleep cycles.
Immunomodulators cause tiredness as a side effect

Anxiety:

Patients suffering from Crohn's disease are more likely to suffer from anxiety and fatigue is one of its symptoms.

Prolonged poor sleep:

People with Crohn’s disease experience poor sleep. This may be because stomach pain can interrupt their sleep. If a person experiences reduced quality sleep for a number of nights, it could lead to them developing fatigue.

How to manage serious, chronic fatigue?

Fatigue is one of the major symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease. Nevertheless, the disease is frequently under-recognized in individuals with IBD, which implies that the symptom is usually neglected by medical practitioners in cases of IBD. A variety of treatments are available for chronic fatigue. Here are some useful tips for a person suffering from Crohn’s disease to consider.

Managing Anemia

Since 1 in 3 people with Crohn’s has anemia. Irritation and swelling mean the body does not absorb iron. So, improving iron levels can make a significant difference. Options include:

Oral iron supplements
Intravenous (IV) iron for those who do not absorb oral iron effectively

Correcting anemia can lead to noticeable improvement in energy levels.

Improving Nutrition

Research suggests that nutrient deficiencies, especially low B12, iron, and folate, can worsen fatigue. People with Crohn’s should take supplements for better energy by:

Taking supplements recommended by a healthcare provider
Consuming foods rich in B12 and folates
Addressing malabsorption issues with a doctor

By restoring these nutrients, you can reduce extreme tiredness.

Treating inflammation

The body’s response to inflammation can also cause fatigue. Therefore, if a person has Crohn’s disease, they should treat their inflammation to manage fatigue. A common symptom of Crohn’s disease is fatigue. It can occur during flare-ups of the condition and periods of remission. You can manage it by

Medications
Diet changes
Lifestyle adjustments based on medical guidance

How Pain Free Foods Views the Source of Inflammation

Clearly, there is. Here at Pain Free Foods, we believe that inflammation of the colon in Crohn’s disease patients is caused by eating foods we call “Catalyst Foods” and “Trigger Foods”.

I have even asked myself: “What reaches our colons that could be causing the inflammation?” Our belief is that it had to be either stomach acid or food, since that is the only two things that reach the colon. As it turns out, it is both that may be causing the inflammation and damage.

What if I told you that after over a decade of research, we have figured out a way to eat a certain way to eliminate your symptoms? It is true, you just need to visit https://www.rachelstea.com to learn more about the Pain Free Foods plan. We also have supplements such as Turmeric capsules, to help fight inflammation, which also acts as a mood enhancer. Control the inflammation, control the symptoms. Let’s get your quality of life back today! Your journey to better health starts now at Rachel’s Tea.