tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30467638385956661202024-02-06T20:50:38.076-08:00Adam's Crohn'sInformation About Crohn's DiseaseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-78567771162967753032012-06-11T17:21:00.002-07:002012-06-11T17:22:02.889-07:00M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVZ7vilXewbMyyC5r5jNjv8BvH5l6-sDtnKCnWOH7HjqhAAZgs0bGUjh1xaJDUJbBX0yoElitkQ4NgATT4bY8rtSr9PzS7U8LUtqN29XaJl7sICrXqE2jpwd9O0uswoavdBo08vQF56U/s1600/M&M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVZ7vilXewbMyyC5r5jNjv8BvH5l6-sDtnKCnWOH7HjqhAAZgs0bGUjh1xaJDUJbBX0yoElitkQ4NgATT4bY8rtSr9PzS7U8LUtqN29XaJl7sICrXqE2jpwd9O0uswoavdBo08vQF56U/s1600/M&M.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Join us for Charity BBQ Day on Saturday, May 12th, 2012!</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On May 12th, 2012, Canadians can help cook up a cure!</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Visit any M&M Meat Shops location across Canada to support the</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> 24th Annual M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day benefiting Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC). M&M Meat Shops franchisees, staff and thousands of volunteers from coast-to-coast will grill hamburgers and hot dogs to meet the 2012 fundraising goal of $1.5 million.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Visit any M&M location across Canada to enjoy a hamburger or hot dog, a drink and a bag of chips for a minimum donation of only $3.00.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> All proceeds go directly to the CCFC to fund research to help find the cause and cure for Crohn's disease and</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> ulcerative colitis. </span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">M&M Meat Shops 24th annual Charity BBQ Day to help support the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Saturday, May 12th, 2012 from 10 AM – 4 PM</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Every M&M Meat Shops location across Canada.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To help us reach our goal to raise $1.5 million at this year’s Charity BBQ Day to support Crohn’s and Colitis research.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Volunteer, donate or come out and show your support! Enjoy a hamburger or hot dog, a drink and a bag of chips for a minimum donation of only $3.00.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Become a Star! From March 30th until May 13th, there are 3 great ways to be a SUPERstar for CCFC:</span></i></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Buy a Star for $2 and you'll be entered to WIN a $500 M&M Gift Card.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Buy a Blossom for $3, sign a Star & double your chances to WIN a $500 M&M Gift Card.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Buy a Coupon Book for $5 with $50 in savings, sign a Star & triple your chances to WIN a $500 M&M Gift Card.</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">More than 200,000 Canadian men, women and children suffer from IBD</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The incidence of Crohn's and colitis in Canada is thought to be among the highest in the world</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Though inflammatory bowel disease can strike at any age, it usually appears between the ages of 15 and 25, or later between 45 and 55</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Crohn's and colitis are painful and chronic diseases characterized by inflammation and sores on the gastrointestinal wall, both diseases go into periods of "flare-up" and remission</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Despite significant differences, both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are unpredictable, with inflammations ranging from mild and easily manageable to severe and debilitating</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Symptoms associated with Crohn's and colitis include severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, weight loss, decreased appetite, extreme fatigue, nausea. Youngsters may experience a slower growth rate than peers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Neither drugs nor surgery can cure Crohn's disease, but removal of the colon can completely eliminate ulcerative colitis</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THERE IS NO KNOWN CAUSE OR CURE FOR CROHN'S DISEASE OR ULCERATIVE COLITIS</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.charitybbqday.ca/home.asp" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://www.charitybbqday.ca/home.asp</span></span></b></i></u></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-17655859763236057042012-06-11T17:11:00.002-07:002012-06-11T17:22:13.613-07:00Gutsy Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRJqruvvOE-IY8Djs3mWIqHQTUpr1QF5RyYjMgN2rSFQn4wmxSOwizJesrrCm5ykapbYs_DkC4QbRxPuqMfKvPmS1ysFIzI8Fo-UrBaJTN-niAdQZPLYG3sMnUi0CkDatyjArCiMQLPQ/s1600/G+Walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRJqruvvOE-IY8Djs3mWIqHQTUpr1QF5RyYjMgN2rSFQn4wmxSOwizJesrrCm5ykapbYs_DkC4QbRxPuqMfKvPmS1ysFIzI8Fo-UrBaJTN-niAdQZPLYG3sMnUi0CkDatyjArCiMQLPQ/s640/G+Walk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Gutsy Walk is the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada’s (CCFC’s) most energetic and fun fundraising event. On June 10, 2012, thousands of Canadians at almost 80 locations across the country will walk together to raise money to find a cure for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is made up of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">CCFC-funded IBD research has confirmed what we have suspected for years – Canada has one of the highest rates for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in the world and those rates are increasing. In fact, one in 160 Canadians is living with IBD. The Gutsy Walk is a great way to spread awareness of IBD and raise much-needed funds to support essential research.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Gutsy Walk started as the Heel 'n' Wheel-a-Thon in 1996 in 24 communities and has grown to nearly 80 communities throughout Canada. The success of the event is completely due to our amazing volunteers and dedicated participants..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Over the last 16 years, Gutsy Walk has grown from raising $280,000 per year to more than $2 million per year for research. Due to your pledge-earning efforts, there are more IBD researchers hard at work in Canada, and therefore CCFC receives more excellent research proposals every year. For that reason, and because we know first-hand the toll IBD takes on people, we are aiming higher this year with the goal to raise $3.3 million.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.gutsywalk.ca/EN/index.html" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://www.gutsywalk.ca/EN/index.html</span></span></b></i></u></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-68942823792831791892012-06-11T17:02:00.005-07:002012-06-11T17:22:24.992-07:00Good Bacteria (Probiotics)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzgNpnOP2k1XrUv-RaS0TwmJmp2P0ashSUe82ADQFd2otFxdZfvp7ZWhE28xST2EjbwqvxzDKG-MuonF6GiQKSB6svEyjupxyDMysh-z8bOJEG9dqEI8VgIbKefG3J6scLpgB7KFW7bY/s1600/good-bacteria.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzgNpnOP2k1XrUv-RaS0TwmJmp2P0ashSUe82ADQFd2otFxdZfvp7ZWhE28xST2EjbwqvxzDKG-MuonF6GiQKSB6svEyjupxyDMysh-z8bOJEG9dqEI8VgIbKefG3J6scLpgB7KFW7bY/s200/good-bacteria.jpg" width="146" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There’s another good reason to take probiotics, like those found in yogurt and fermented foods. Not only do they boost immunity and help ward off drug-resistant superbugs, but they could also help improve mood, new research suggests.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In a study done on mice, researchers at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton and the University College in Cork, Ireland found that rodents fed a certain type of probiotic, or good bacteria, showed reduced signs of stress, anxiety and depression.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Probiotics are living organisms that inhabit the gut, keeping intestinal flora in balance and stimulating the immune response.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For 28 days, the mice were fed the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1. The study, which was published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that the probiotics affected neurotransmitter receptors, altering brain activity in the hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex. These are areas of the brain associated with mood.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68w8TBWyy6g1HDlhKunfJ-sFvUXqhnjc-FHi-mFdU25ezNA1CQEJDk-jGV-2kZMNUDqmap5Sk3dl2Xd8nxLI2ekCiPIdQJ_DIBhmOOxS9GBpfhazAfeSoTzEzCg1SGzqt3pjueGJCv30/s1600/imagjes.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68w8TBWyy6g1HDlhKunfJ-sFvUXqhnjc-FHi-mFdU25ezNA1CQEJDk-jGV-2kZMNUDqmap5Sk3dl2Xd8nxLI2ekCiPIdQJ_DIBhmOOxS9GBpfhazAfeSoTzEzCg1SGzqt3pjueGJCv30/s200/imagjes.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As well, the mice had less of the stress hormone corticosterone in their blood.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“This is the first-ever demonstration that harmless bacteria, found naturally in the intestine, can influence mood and behaviour in a normal animal,” said the study’s co-author Dr. John Bienenstock, director of the McMaster Brain-Body Institute at St. Joseph’s.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The findings suggest that changes in the gastrointestinal tract are communicated to the central nervous system via the vagus nerve, a long cranial nerve that extends from the brain to the abdomen. The discovery of this pathway is particularly significant Bienenstock said, explaining that electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve in humans has been shown to improve difficult-to-treat depression.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLzHs9D_dvEN9vHqryzp4OLJsEOv5wUt4nnX5KLp-G8EdwlGBQ7B-oYqkm80v9HNCHSo9fZVqdnZQH-19C7E4oAIAlpOiWrzSmSIAyApZXEOwIRv9kFS4sIrXL34S62KcrZ7DRRkbCVI/s1600/images.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLzHs9D_dvEN9vHqryzp4OLJsEOv5wUt4nnX5KLp-G8EdwlGBQ7B-oYqkm80v9HNCHSo9fZVqdnZQH-19C7E4oAIAlpOiWrzSmSIAyApZXEOwIRv9kFS4sIrXL34S62KcrZ7DRRkbCVI/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“That is a clue to us that this is not just curing depression in mice, but there is some hope that this could eventually be applied to the human,” he said.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bienenstock hopes to get approval from Health Canada to conduct a clinical trial, using Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1 on humans.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Meantime, he is continuing to study the impact of the probiotic on mice, trying to determine exactly how it stimulates the nervous system.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“(The study) highlights the idea that bacteria in the intestine can influence certain mood and behavioural disorders and identifies the gut as a possible target for treatment,” Bienenstock said.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.healthzone.ca/health/mindmood/mentalhealth/article/1047680--good-bacteria-may-improve-mood-study-suggests" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://www.healthzone.ca/health/mindmood/mentalhealth/article/1047680--good-bacteria-may-improve-mood-study-suggests</span></span></b></i></u></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-89940828239167175982012-06-03T00:24:00.001-07:002012-06-03T00:24:14.613-07:00Adam's Crohn's: Pictures<a href="http://adamscrohns.blogspot.com/p/pictures.html?spref=bl">Adam's Crohn's: Pictures</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-64636933880189846202012-06-02T23:56:00.003-07:002012-06-03T00:09:16.184-07:00The Burden Of IBD In Canada<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Who is Affected?</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
In the fall of 2008, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC)
released its report, “The Burden of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in
Canada.” This landmark document revealed that over 200,000 Canadians
suffer from inflammatory bowel disease. IBD affects more people than
multiple sclerosis or HIV and is almost as prevalent as epilepsy and
Type 1 diabetes. In spite of that, IBD remains a closet disease,
shrouded in silence and relatively unknown.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Why is that? Perhaps it is because people with Crohn’s disease (CD) and
ulcerative colitis (UC) are reluctant to speak out about health issues
that have been taboo in polite conversation. It’s time for that to stop.
We need to bring this conversation out into the open and talk about a
disease that strikes more than 9,000 new patients every year.
</span></span>
<br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Costs of IBD</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Canada has one of the highest incidences of IBD in the world. With an
annual cost of $1.8 billion to individuals, their families and society
at large, the burden of IBD is significant. In 2008, costs covered by
the health care system were estimated at $753 million; including
expenses such as hospitalization, surgery, medication and physician
visits. Not included in these estimates, but having as real a system
impact, are things like emergency visits, lab costs and other
consultations with other health professionals such as nurse
practitioners, dietitians and social workers.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
In addition to the direct expenses to the health care system, it is
estimated that IBD incurs more than a $1 billion dollars every year in
indirect costs. These include short and long-term work absences,
productivity losses, caregiver work absences and patient out-of-pocket
expenses related to care, nutritional products, medication and
complementary therapies. </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Beyond the economic impact, the emotional suffering inflicted by these
chronic diseases is incalculable. Quality of life, career choices, sense
of self-worth, intimacy and personal freedoms are all affected when
someone develops IBD. Over and above those concerns, the risk of
premature death for IBD sufferers is 47 per cent higher than the general
public, and the risk of developing colorectal cancer is also elevated.
</span></span>
<br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Challenges</span></h2>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Because they are often embarrassing to talk about, social stigma and
the silence surrounding CD and UC lead to a lack of public understanding
about the impact of IBD. IBD is currently not considered a chronic
disease under government health strategies. An enhanced level of public
and governmental awareness needs to be developed so that improved access
to IBD specialists, procedures and medication can be established
nationally. Also, improved employer understanding of the challenges
inherent in these diseases would be enormously helpful to those living
and working with the daily challenges of these diseases. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Download:</b> <a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/atf/cf/%7B282e45d9-a03a-49d1-883c-39f4feaf7246%7D/BIBDC%20FINAL%20OCTOBER%2029TH%20EN.PDF" target="_blank">The Burden of IBD in Canada Report</a></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6431205/k.884D/The_Burden_of_IBD_in_Canada.htm" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6431205/k.884D/The_Burden_of_IBD_in_Canada.htm</span></b></i></u></a></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-67511646397485640002012-06-02T23:54:00.004-07:002012-06-03T00:00:31.431-07:00Frequently Asked Questions<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) the same as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?</b><br /><br />You may have heard of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and wondered if it is the same as IBD. While often confused because their names are similar and their symptoms can seem comparable, the two are not the same.<br /><br />Yes, both diseases affect the digestive tract. However, with inflammatory bowel disease, inflammation is the key characteristic. In irritable bowel syndrome it is thought that problems arise because of changes to bowel function or the way the brain senses what is going on in the bowel; inflammation does not play a role. It is possible to have IBS if you have been diagnosed with IBD. It is also possible to have just one or the other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /><b>Is there a special diet for people with IBD?</b><br /><br />The short answer is, “NO.” Because everyone is unique, there is no standardized “IBD Diet” that will be the solution for those who have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Beware of fad diets, new “health foods” that your friends are raving about, and do not stop eating. You need all the well-balanced nutrition that healthy foods can provide you.<br /><br />Check out our booklet, “Food for Thought” for more details on what you should be doing with your diet if you have been diagnosed with IBD.<br /><br /><b>Does stress cause IBD?</b><br /><br />Researchers do not know the cause(s) of IBD, but they DO know that stress is not one of them. Stress however, can aggravate your symptoms and possibly trigger a flare-up, in conjunction with a number of other factors.<br /><br />The reverse is also true; IBD can cause stress. In other words, the presence of fatigue, gut pain, diarrhea, and sleep disturbances from having to get up during the night to go to the bathroom, can be stressful. As well, fatigue can be the result of the disease process itself and not just sleep disturbances.<br /><br /><b>Can I donate blood if I have IBD?</b><br /><br />Having IBD does not automatically prevent you from donating blood. However, sometimes the medications that you are taking pose a problem. Contact your local blood donor clinic to find out if you are eligible to give. And remember – “It’s in you to give.”<br /><br /><b>How do I find a Gastroenterologist?</b><br /><br />A referral to a gastroenterologist has to come from your family physician. Talk to your family physician and get a referral to a specialist who can work with you to control the symptoms of your IBD. While we do not make referrals to gastroenterologists, we've put together links to organizations that can help you find a doctor.<br /><br /><b>Where can I get help to pay for my IBD medications?</b><br /><br />In Canada, when you are a hospital patient, the cost of your drugs is covered by provincial health plans.<br /><br />However, when you are discharged, the cost of prescription medications has to be paid by you. For some, a company benefit plan may provide a subsidy. For others, a private insurance plan may cover the costs.<br /><br />If you do not have a drug plan and require assistance to pay for your medications, you may be eligible for assistance from your provincial Drug Benefit Plan. Unfortunately, drug benefit assistance guidelines vary from province to province in Canada, so you need to investigate what medications are eligible in your place of residence.<br /><br />Google your “provincial Drug Benefits” (e.g., Saskatchewan Drug Benefits) to find out information specific to you and your situation.<br /><br /><b>How effective is fecal transplantation as a treatment option for IBD patients?</b><br /><br />Fecal transplantation, (also known as 'Stool transplant, 'Human probiotic infusion' and 'Stool enema'), is an experimental procedure that has not shown efficacy for the treatment of IBD in controlled clinical trials to date. Research is ongoing in this area. There are potential known and unknown risks associated with experimental treatment of this nature.<br /><br /><b>Is the vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus safe for people with Crohn's or colitis? Would people with IBD qualify to be included in the first administration of vaccine due to our suppressed immune systems?</b><br /><br />The chance of contracting H1N1 flu is not increased in patients with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Therefore, there won't be priority for IBD patients. However, those patients on immunosuppressant drugs (azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, or anti-TNF agents) may be at increased risk. (Dr. Remo Panaccione, Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic and Gastroenterology Training Program and Associate Professor of medicine, at the University of Calgary, says he personally recommends the seasonal flu vaccine to his patients who are on immunosuppressant drugs.) Different jurisdictions around the world are handling this differently because there is not much knowledge in the area.<br /><br />The issue surrounding the H1N1 vaccine should be discussed with your doctor, as the local regulations will differ from province to province.<br /><br /><b>Does the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC) have anything local where I can get ongoing information?</b><br /><br />Absolutely “YES”! CCFC has local chapters across the country. Participating in the activities of your local chapter will help you learn more about IBD, and give you the chance to meet other people with similar concerns and questions. Do yourself a favour, and become a member of CCFC.<br /><br /><b>What is the GEM project?</b><br /><br />In 2007, the CCFC was very proud to announce the launch of the Michael J. Howorth Genetics, Environmental and Microbial (GEM) project. The GEM Project, named in honour of the previous CCFC National Executive Director, is a $5.5 million research investment over six years. During this time, researchers will investigate how early genetic and environmental interactions can set the stage for events that will eventually cause Crohn’s disease.<br /><br />Researchers aim to recruit up to 5,000 healthy subjects (between the ages of 6 and 35 years), identified as being at high-risk for developing IBD. High risk is defined as having a sibling or parent (“first degree relative”) with Crohn’s disease. When recruited, biographical and environmental information of these healthy subjects will be collected, baseline intestinal permeability will be measured, and stool and blood studies will be collected and stored. Researchers expect some of these at-risk subjects to develop Crohn’s disease during the follow up period. At that point, the stored biological material will be studied in parallel with matched controls from the same group of at-risk subjects to look for genetic, environmental, immunological and microbial features which may explain onset of symptoms.<br /><br /><b>I want to make a difference. How do I enroll in the GEM Project?</b><br /><br />Please click here to quickly find out more information about the GEM Project and whether or not you fit the criteria for the research study. Thank you for your interest.<br /><br /><b>What is the purpose of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada?</b><br /><br />We are so glad you asked! CCFC’s Mission is to “Find the Cure”. We are dedicated to raising money for research into the cause of IBD – and we know that the cure will be found. In the pursuit of that cure, we also know that medical treatments will be discovered that will alleviate the suffering and pain that IBD patients experience.<br /><br />CCFC is also dedicated to helping people learn about their disease. Through our website, patient information booklets, our magazine “the Journal” and education events, we are there to support you in your journey of discovery about inflammatory bowel disease.<br /><br />Join with us and together, we will find the cure for IBD.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349443/k.8089/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349443/k.8089/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm</span></b></i></u></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-1126451988514000322012-06-02T23:50:00.004-07:002012-06-03T00:01:26.268-07:00Cancer And IBD<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Canadian men and women and affects over 20,000 people annually. On a global scale, Ontario has the highest rate of this type of cancer in the world. The good news is that if detected early, there is a 90% chance that this type of cancer can be cured. In short, early detection is crucial to survival.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What has this got to do with IBD? People with IBD have an increased chance of developing colorectal cancer, correlating with the length of time they have had the disease.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Studies tell us that the probability of a person developing colorectal cancer after having IBD for 10 years is 2%. After that, risk continues to rise and is as high as 30% after 30 years. In other words, as age increases, so does risk.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But it is also true that everyone in the general population has an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer as aging occurs. In fact, the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC) recommends that everyone over the age of 50 should be screened for colon cancer. The CCAC also states that if you have a family history of the disease, screening should begin at an earlier age.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Regular colorectal screening is absolutely vital in the early detection of cancer. Again, let us stress that if detected early, colorectal cancer responds very well to treatment.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Screening is particularly important for those with IBD, because the early warning signs of cancer are similar to the symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. While people in the general population might become frightened if they detect blood in their stool, changes in their bowel habits, alternating diarrhea and constipation, persistent abdominal bloating and cramps, those with IBD would not regard these symptoms as uncommon or alarming.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What is “regular screening”? If a person has suffered from large bowel Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis for more than 10 years, annual or bi-annual colonoscopy is recommended. Tests such as a barium enema, fecal occult blood sampling and flexible sigmoidoscopy are not considered adequate because biopsy samples are not taken during these tests.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Even with regular screening, detection of cancer can be difficult in IBD patients. In spite of that, it is better for you to take the opportunity to be tested than to sit back and hope that all is well. Knowledge is essential in managing health.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is important for people with IBD to manage the risks associated with their disease. Colorectal cancer poses a higher risk for those who have suffered from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis for more than 10 years. The message is clear, “Be proactive – be informed – get screened”.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349437/k.74B9/Cancer_and_IBD.htm" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349437/k.74B9/Cancer_and_IBD.htm</span></b></i></u></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-4360460794342262262012-06-02T23:49:00.004-07:002012-06-03T00:02:11.562-07:00Opioids<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Opioid boost may ease Crohn’s symptoms</span></b><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There is a lot of talk around the IBD community about the potential benefits of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a novel treatment for Crohn’s disease. The interest stems from two small pilot and follow-up studies by researchers Dr. Jill Smith and Ian Zagon at Pennsylvania State University, which suggest that a low dose of the generic drug naltrexone can improve symptoms and quality of life for some Crohn’s patients.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What is LDN therapy and is it a legitimate treatment option for IBD patients to consider?</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Naltrexone hydrochloride is a blocker of the body’s natural opioid system. It was developed in the 1960s and later approved by the FDA to treat drug and alcohol dependence. With low-dose naltrexone therapy, patients receive a 4.5 milligram (mg) dose daily, about one-tenth of the normal FDA-approved dose of 50 mg for treating drug addiction and overdose.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Researchers don’t know exactly how LDN works. The proposed theory is that a low dose of the drug stimulates the body to make more of its endogenous (or “home-grown”) opioids, known as endorphins and enkephalins. A low dose is used because it blocks opioid receptors only temporarily, resulting in a rebound effect where more opioids are produced to compensate for a perceived deficiency. (A high dose blocks receptors continuously, which would prevent therapeutic effects from the opioids.) The higher opioid levels produced by the low dose of naltrexone help to control and reduce inflammation in the gut, and may have other beneficial effects on the immune system.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dr. Keith Sharkey is the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada Chair in IBD Research and well-known for his research on the role of the nervous system in IBD at the University of Calgary. Dr. Sharkey is encouraged that LDN shows promise in controlling inflammation and improving symptoms in some patients with Crohn’s disease, but cautions that the findings are preliminary and limited to a small number of patients treated for only 12 weeks at a single research centre.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“The encouraging aspect is that beneficial effects were seen in some patients and this suggests the endogenous opiate system is important in Crohn’s disease. Further clinical trials are absolutely warranted and low-dose naltrexone has to be tested in a multi-centre study,” he says.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dr. Sharkey emphasizes that there isn’t enough information yet to know whether LDN is effective, or who is most likely to benefit from the treatment. “This is not necessarily going to benefit everybody. We don’t know the optimal dose or the optimal way the drug should be used in Crohn’s patients. We don’t know for sure that it doesn’t do harm and an important question is whether it would interfere with existing therapies,” he says.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Despite those caveats, Dr. Sharkey believes it is worthwhile for patients interested in LDN to consider and discuss this treatment option with their doctors. “Talk to your doctor and ask whether it’s safe and appropriate for you,” he says.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One major benefit of these preliminary LDN studies is as a stimulus for more research in this area.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“This is a very exciting development from my perspective as a researcher. The promise is that we could target sites in the endogenous opioid system, and perhaps better regulate and control inflammatory conditions in the body. The ultimate would be to never get inflammation in the gut,” says Dr. Sharkey.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“If we can understand the endogenous opioid system better, we could perhaps prevent relapses from occurring as often or at all. If remission lasts longer, that’s as good as a cure.” </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.8103117/k.CE9D/Opioids.htm" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.8103117/k.CE9D/Opioids.htm</span></b></i></u></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-6799018008826694992012-06-02T23:48:00.002-07:002012-06-03T00:02:57.795-07:00Vitamin D<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCxBCmchiy8YH-Q3IET6kIgT85zu8UPD732WiVmgYNfyoQeM73sEqRhxQ_UBMglyBMKhS6SD9mEBhFanm8yQW189ikYPOMGJuL_2IQ_Bd1bqwsEfNWsdc9A3PjYqUAj0oNyHWDxvGEZA/s1600/DrGilaadKaplan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCxBCmchiy8YH-Q3IET6kIgT85zu8UPD732WiVmgYNfyoQeM73sEqRhxQ_UBMglyBMKhS6SD9mEBhFanm8yQW189ikYPOMGJuL_2IQ_Bd1bqwsEfNWsdc9A3PjYqUAj0oNyHWDxvGEZA/s320/DrGilaadKaplan.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Winter or summer, a dose of Vitamin D can help</span></b><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Vitamin D has gained recognition in the last few years as a nutrient that is key for good overall health, and bone health in particular. Known as the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D is produced when the sun’s ultraviolet rays strike the skin. Much epidemiological research shows people who live in northern latitudes are more at risk of having inadequate levels of Vitamin D compared to their counterparts who live in southern latitudes.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A recent study published in the journal Gut shows geography also affects the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): increasing latitude of residence was linked to an elevated incidence of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in a population of American women. Yet another study published in the journal Gastroenterology late last year demonstrated a connection between higher Vitamin D status and lower Crohn’s disease, suggesting greater Vitamin D intake is a means of decreasing the risk of Crohn’s disease. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Emerging research is pointing to Vitamin D and its role in the inflammatory process, and as a factor in the disease activity in patients with IBD, according to Dr. Gilaad Kaplan, a gastroenterologist with a research interest in IBD and Assistant Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“When we look at patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and check their Vitamin D levels, they are usually deficient in Vitamin D,” notes Dr. Kaplan. But he says it’s not clear whether low Vitamin D levels are making the disease course worse in someone who has an established diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, or whether IBD patients who have active IBD have a more difficult time absorbing Vitamin D.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Clinicians like Dr. Kaplan want to determine whether healthy stores of Vitamin D will reduce inflammation and quiet the disease activity in IBD patients, given the body of research suggesting Vitamin D decreases inflammation and regulates the immune system.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“The question is whether we can improve the disease course by taking Vitamin D,” he says. “In 2012, we can’t definitively say that by taking Vitamin D, you will improve the disease course. We need to do studies to show that."</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But in the absence of those definitive studies, Dr. Kaplan recommends that his IBD patients take oral Vitamin D supplements to increase their Vitamin D levels, noting Vitamin D supplementation poses no harm. It can be a struggle to derive enough Vitamin D through diet and sun exposure, so a daily dose is recommended as an effective route to acquire enough Vitamin D. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And IBD patients shouldn’t assume they are getting enough Vitamin D daily in the summer months, as they still may be challenged to get enough sun exposure if they are working in an office most of the day, for example. Indeed, Vitamin D deficiency is not limited to the darker, winter months, stresses Dr. Kaplan.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“Patients with IBD should continue to take Vitamin D supplements in the summertime,” says Dr. Kaplan. “Even in the summertime, people can be Vitamin D deficient.”</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A future study that would shed more light on the impact of Vitamin D in the disease activity of IBD patients would involve a large sample of IBD patients with similar history and health status, where one group of patients would be administered sufficient doses of Vitamin D and one group would not get Vitamin D supplements. Investigators would then evaluate whether the patients getting vitamin supplementation had a clinical benefit in their course of disease.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Anecdotally within CCFC’s IBD community, patients report that they experience less joint pain when they take Vitamin D supplements. Patients’ observations fit with scientific studies which tie IBD with suboptimal bone health. Furthermore, osteoporosis is a co-factor in IBD patients, and bone disease is attributed in part to a lack of Vitamin D. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.7994469/k.F15F/Vitamin_D.htm" style="color: white;" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.7994469/k.F15F/Vitamin_D.htm</span></b></i></u></a><br />
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-84995264969881920282012-06-02T23:45:00.002-07:002012-06-03T00:03:39.530-07:00Treatment Options<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/atf/cf/%7B282E45D9-A03A-49D1-883C-39F4FEAF7246%7D/medication.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="" border="0" src="http://www.ccfc.ca/atf/cf/%7B282E45D9-A03A-49D1-883C-39F4FEAF7246%7D/medication.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">No two IBD cases are exactly alike. That is why there is no “one size fits all” approach to IBD medication and treatment. The
drugs your doctor prescribes for you, the dosage and the effects you
experience are going to be unique to you. You and your physician must
work together to sort out what is the most effective regime for you when
you are in a flare-up or in remission.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Medication</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In general, medications fall into one of two very broad
categories: drugs that are used to reduce inflammation (and may
therefore reduce some of your symptoms) and those that are aimed only at
symptom-reduction and do not affect the inflammation in your gut. </span></div>
<ol style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Drugs that control the inflammation in your gut </b></span></li>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Examples of the types of drugs available to combat inflammation include: </span></i></div>
<ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Sulfasalazine
and 5-Aminosalicylates (5-ASA): These drugs limit the production of
certain chemicals that trigger inflammation. This medicine is generally
prescribed to help combat milder attacks of IBD. Examples include
Mesalamines and Sulfalazine. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Steroids:
Steroids aim to reduce inflammation. This medicine is used in cases of
moderate to severe attacks of IBD. Some examples include Prednisone and
Hydrocortisone. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Immunomodulators:
This type of medicine alters how the body mounts an inflammatory
response. Patients using this type of drug should get into the habit of
regular hand washing during the day, as immunomodulators do suppress
your ability to fight infections in general. An example of this type of
drug is Methotrexate. These drugs are used by patients who have moderate
to severe attacks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Biologicals:
These drugs target and block molecules involved in inflammation.
Biologics are the latest generation of medications and hold great
promise for relieving IBD. These drugs are used to combat moderate to
severe attacks. Some examples include Adalimumab (Humira) and Infliximab
(Remicade). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Antibiotics:
Antibiotics do not counteract inflammation directly, but decrease
infection that can cause and result from severe inflammation. Examples
include Ciprofloxacin and Metronidazole. </span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Drugs that manage symptoms </b></span></li>
</ol>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Note that many of these drugs are available “off the shelf” in
your pharmacy. You should NOT self prescribe; talk with your doctor
first. </span></i></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Antidiarrheals: Do not take these during a flare-up as they may cause other complications! Check with your doctor </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ointments and Suppositories: Off the shelf ointments can be applied around hemorrhoids to reduce swelling, itching, and inflammation. Most of these ointments contain a steroid such as hydrocortisone and will help to shrink inflamed tissue. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Antispasmodics: Relax muscles in the wall of the GI tract to reduce cramping </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bulk formers for stool: Soak up water in the stool, thereby firming it up and lessening looseness as well as frequency.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bile Salt Binders: Prevent irritation of the gut by capturing bile salts. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stool
softeners: For softening feces to ease bowel movements if you have
hemorrhoids or anal fissures; talk with your doctor before trying these!
</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Analgesics: For pain reduction.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs: For pain control in joints (but note that some
people find these drugs aggravate their abdominal pain and diarrhea).</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Acid-reducing drugs: For “heartburn”</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vitamins and Minerals: May be needed as supplements.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To learn more about any of the drugs listed above, take a look through our “<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/atf/cf/%7B282E45D9-A03A-49D1-883C-39F4FEAF7246%7D/PrescriptionForHealth.pdf" target="_blank">Prescription For Health</a>” booklet.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349435/k.B7B7/Treatment_Options.htm"><u><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349435/k.B7B7/Treatment_Options.htm</span></b></i></u></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-43016009207352008272012-06-02T23:41:00.000-07:002012-06-03T00:04:23.217-07:00Related Diseases<div id="TextSizeModify" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Up until now, we have been discussing the
problems that arise from inflammation in the intestines. In addition to
those, people with IBD sometimes suffer from “extra-intestinal
manifestations” or conditions that affect areas outside of the
intestines. These include the eyes, mouth, blood, joints, bones, skin
and liver.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Flare-ups of extra-intestinal manifestations do not necessarily
correlate to flare-ups of IBD. Sometimes they appear when intestinal
problems are in remission; other times they can be in remission when the
gut problems are active. There is also no guarantee that someone with
IBD will experience these problems; some people may never have
extra-intestinal manifestations.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Blood Abnormalities</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.ccfc.ca/atf/cf/%7B282E45D9-A03A-49D1-883C-39F4FEAF7246%7D/testtubes.jpg" />Some
people with IBD have an increased tendency to develop blood clots. For a
variety of different reasons, those with IBD are predisposed to forming
clots in their veins, particularly during periods of inactivity. It is
very important during periods of bed rest, to “pump” the feet and move
the legs to prevent clots forming in the calves. In addition, it is a
good idea to get up out of bed and move around a little, even though the
desire to stay hunkered down in the sheets is a strong one.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Eye Inflammation</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Occasionally people with IBD experience inflammation in their eyes.
The inflammation can affect different parts of the eye, resulting in
mild symptoms such as redness, some burning sensation and tearing, to
more severe symptoms such as blurred vision, headache and eye pain. If
any of these symptoms appear, it is best to see your physician.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Joint Inflammation</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.ccfc.ca/atf/cf/%7B282E45D9-A03A-49D1-883C-39F4FEAF7246%7D/jointpain.jpg" />When
joints become inflamed and painful due to intestinal complications, the
medical term used is “enteropathic arthropathy” or EA. “Entero” means
“intestinal”; “enteropathic” means disease caused by, or related to, the
intestines.” “Arthropathy” means a disease of the joints.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Like non-enteropathic arthropathy, joint inflammation is experienced
by redness, heat, pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints. Sounds
like arthritis, doesn’t it? In fact many patients describe it as
arthritis to their doctors, and if it weren’t for their IBD, their
physicians would have diagnosed it as such.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The big difference with EA as opposed to arthritis is that it is
non-destructive, and the swelling and pain are usually temporary with no
damage to joints after a flare-up. Oddly enough, arthralgia (joint
pain) can occur separate from flare-ups of IBD; the patterns are quite
variant and inconsistent.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">EA often affects the large joints such as the hips and knees, but can sometimes attack the small joints of the fingers and toes.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Liver Trouble</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Up to 5% of IBD patients develop primary sclerosing cholangitis
(PSC). PSC is more typically associated with ulcerative colitis than
Crohn’s disease. This serious liver disease results from inflammation of
the small vessels that transport bile from the liver to the small
bowel. If the condition becomes severe, it can cause damage to the liver
and potentially, liver failure. If you have IBD and you develop a fever
and yellowing of your skin (jaundice), you should be seen immediately
by your physician.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Osteoporosis</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.ccfc.ca/atf/cf/%7B282E45D9-A03A-49D1-883C-39F4FEAF7246%7D/skeleton.jpg" />Osteoporosis,
or weakening of the bones, is due to the reduction of minerals, notably
calcium, in the bones. This softening of the bones could be due to
malnutrition, malabsorption of nutrients from the small bowel or
medications that interfere with calcium and vitamin D absorption (such
as steroids). Regardless of the cause, people with IBD are at higher
risk of developing osteoporosis than the average population.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Those with osteoporosis have a higher risk of fractures so it is
prudent to have a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) scan every year to enable
early detection and treatment.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Skin Conditions</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Erythema nodosum (EN), pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) and psoriasis are three skin conditions sometimes associated with IBD.
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">EN appears as dark coloured (red or purple), painful bumps on the
skin, usually on the shins. These lesions (bumps) tend to appear when
bowel troubles are active, and go away when the bowel flare-ups subside.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">PG lesions also typically appear on the legs, but can also be located
close to an ileostomy site. They start off looking red and tender,
gradually becoming more like a blister in appearance. They eventually do
“ulcerate” or break open, seeping fluid from the sore. If large and
“weepy”, PG lesions may require dressings.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">People with Crohn’s disease appear to have a greater chance of
developing psoriasis than the average person. Psoriasis is characterized
by itchy, red patches covered with scales. Lesions can occur on the
scalp, ears, elbows, knees, navel, genitalia or buttocks.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Ankylosing Spondylitis</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.ccfc.ca/atf/cf/%7B282E45D9-A03A-49D1-883C-39F4FEAF7246%7D/angspondilytis.jpg" />Ankylosing
Spondylitis (AS) is a severe form of arthritis that is more commonly
associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) than with Crohn’s disease (CD),
although it can manifest with either. It may precede the onset of bowel
symptoms by many years and at first, appears unrelated to IBD.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">AS symptoms of pain and stiffness of the sacroiliac joints of the
lower back do not coincide with flare-ups of bowel problems, and often
appear independent of any GI disease. Surgery to remove the colon does
not seem to relieve or cure AS. If the disease spreads up the spine, the
bones may fuse together, causing permanent stiffness and lack of
mobility.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> A less severe form of arthritis of the sacroiliac joints is known as
sacroiliitis. In this case, pain and stiffness develop in the lower back
and possibly the hips. Fusion of the bones of the back does not occur
as it does with ankylosing spondylitis.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Sores in the Mouth</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Cankerous sores in the mouth can also afflict those with IBD. When
related to intestinal disease, these sores appear in clusters, can be
quite large and painful, are present for a few weeks and usually
coincide with a flare-up of IBD.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349433/k.9DA5/Related_Diseases.htm" target="_blank">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349433/k.9DA5/Related_Diseases.htm</a></span></b></i></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-83857530677361710262012-06-02T23:39:00.002-07:002012-06-03T00:05:08.662-07:00Ulcerative Colitis<div id="TextSizeModify" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ulcerative colitis, or UC, is more localized
in nature than Crohn’s disease (CD). Typically, the disease affects the
colon (large bowel) including the rectum and anus, and only invades the
inner lining of bowel tissue. It almost always starts at the rectum,
extending upwards in a continuous manner through the colon. UC can be
controlled with medication and in severe cases, can even be “cured” by
surgical removal of the entire large intestine. </span><br />
<br />
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="65%"><h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">What are the Symptoms?</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">People suffering with ulcerative colitis experience
severe and bloody diarrhea, false urges to have a bowel movement,
abdominal pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting, decreased appetite,
weight loss, mild fever, anemia and loss of body fluids.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">UC is a chronic (life long) disease. Like CD, people with
UC have acute periods of active symptoms, and other times when their
symptoms are absent (remisson). Unlike CD, there is usually not any pain
during remission. During flare-ups, the pain is usually not constant
but does seem to arise coincidentally with the urge to have a bowel
movement. Often the pain is experienced more as a cramping sensation
than as lancing pain.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">One of the hallmark symptoms of UC are the “false urges”
that arise frequently during the day. People with false urges experience
an extremely urgent need to have a bowel movement, and yet, when they
try to expel feces, discover that they only have a small amount to pass.
This sense of urgency is due to inflammation of the rectum.</span></td>
<td><div align="right">
<span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="gut pain" height="288" src="http://www.ccfc.ca/atf/cf/%7B282E45D9-A03A-49D1-883C-39F4FEAF7246%7D/cduc.jpg" width="216" /></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Can UC be cured?</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Yes and no. Because we do not know the cause of UC yet, we do not
know the cure. However, if severe symptoms persist in spite of
medication and other therapies, a surgeon may resect (remove) the colon.
By doing so, the patient is “cured” of UC and the disease will not
return anywhere else in the GI tract. In effect, a “cure” has been
achieved.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada funds medical research
into IBD, and with the help of our generous donors and partners, we will
eliminate these diseases. Please join with us in our mission to “Find
the Cure” by clicking on our <a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6246735" target="_blank">online donations</a> and giving what you can.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Need more Information?</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Your local chapter of CCFC is a powerhouse of health information.
Through education, presentation and discussion, people can find
resources to help them cope with their UC, and meet others who are
living with IBD. Please go to <a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349949/k.B1B0/In_Your_Community.htm" target="_blank">CCFC In Your Community</a> to look up the chapter closest to you. It’s in your best interest to get involved and get informed.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349431/k.C04A/Ulcerative_Colitis.htm" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349431/k.C04A/Ulcerative_Colitis.htm</span></b></i></u></a></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-43239940398693222262012-06-02T23:38:00.001-07:002012-06-03T00:06:10.767-07:00Crohn's Disease<div id="TextSizeModify" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Crohn’s disease (CD) is named after the
doctor who first described it in 1932. (Since he did not have the
disease itself, it is sometimes more accurately called Crohn disease).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The inflammation from CD can strike anywhere in the gastrointestinal
(GI) tract, from mouth to anus, but is usually located in the lower part
of the small bowel and the upper end of the colon. Patches of
inflammation are interspersed between healthy portions of the gut, and
can penetrate the intestinal layers from inner to outer lining.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">CD can also affect the mesentery, which is the network of tissue that
holds the small bowel to the abdomen and contains the main intestinal
blood vessels and lymph glands.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">What are the Symptoms?</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.ccfc.ca/atf/cf/%7B282E45D9-A03A-49D1-883C-39F4FEAF7246%7D/cduc.jpg" />Since
CD can be located anywhere in the GI tract, symptoms can vary. On the
whole however, they often include abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea,
nausea, vomiting and not surprisingly, weight loss and lack of energy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Crohn’s disease is a chronic (lifelong) illness. People who have CD
will experience periods of acute flare-ups, when their symptoms are
active and other times when their symptoms go into remission. The
average risk of a flare-up in any one year is approximately 30%.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In 25% of those with CD, perianal disease may also develop. “Peri”
means “around” – therefore perianal disease is located “around the
anus”.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Specifically this means that a person could develop:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">painful, swollen skin tags (that appear to be haemhorrhoids but are not)
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">abscesses (bags of pus created inside the body as a result of infection)
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">fistulas (infections that have tunneled from the abscess to a hollow organ such as the rectum or vagina) </span></li>
</ul>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Can CD be cured?</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">There is no cure for Crohn’s disease - yet.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada funds medical research
into IBD, and with the help of our generous donors and partners, we will
eliminate these diseases. Please join with us in our mission to “Find
the Cure” by clicking on our <a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6246735" target="_blank">online donations</a> and giving what you can.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Need more Information?</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Your local chapter of CCFC is a powerhouse of health information.
Through education, presentation and discussion, people can find
resources to help them cope with their CD, and meet others who are
living with IBD. Please go to <a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6349949" target="_blank">CCFC In Your Community</a> to look up the chapter closest to you. It’s in your best interest to get involved and get informed.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349429/k.930E/Crohns_Disease.htm" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349429/k.930E/Crohns_Disease.htm</span></b></i></u></a></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-80948007648365251802012-06-02T23:36:00.003-07:002012-06-03T00:16:00.793-07:00What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62vW0eXTQzqIJAqRuQ0sK_ZAa4x_1oJroDQk6Lh3uNjZsXdEg3wXuPp6kYr6zMeI8McK5R5lnrLAJI9H0ovtyh2aYS1ngCY8wY8nAAAIaa4JS5KTHqWHEKmRvM85jBT9SK-iG8niswJo/s1600/gi-tract.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></h2>
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62vW0eXTQzqIJAqRuQ0sK_ZAa4x_1oJroDQk6Lh3uNjZsXdEg3wXuPp6kYr6zMeI8McK5R5lnrLAJI9H0ovtyh2aYS1ngCY8wY8nAAAIaa4JS5KTHqWHEKmRvM85jBT9SK-iG8niswJo/s1600/gi-tract.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></h2>
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Anatomy and Function of the GI Tract</span></h2>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In order to understand inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it is first
helpful to understand the anatomy and function of the healthy
gastrointestinal (GI) tract.<br /><br />
Here is a medical illustration of the GI tract: </span> </div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; width: 600px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></td>
<td width="20"><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62vW0eXTQzqIJAqRuQ0sK_ZAa4x_1oJroDQk6Lh3uNjZsXdEg3wXuPp6kYr6zMeI8McK5R5lnrLAJI9H0ovtyh2aYS1ngCY8wY8nAAAIaa4JS5KTHqWHEKmRvM85jBT9SK-iG8niswJo/s1600/gi-tract.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></h2>
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62vW0eXTQzqIJAqRuQ0sK_ZAa4x_1oJroDQk6Lh3uNjZsXdEg3wXuPp6kYr6zMeI8McK5R5lnrLAJI9H0ovtyh2aYS1ngCY8wY8nAAAIaa4JS5KTHqWHEKmRvM85jBT9SK-iG8niswJo/s1600/gi-tract.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62vW0eXTQzqIJAqRuQ0sK_ZAa4x_1oJroDQk6Lh3uNjZsXdEg3wXuPp6kYr6zMeI8McK5R5lnrLAJI9H0ovtyh2aYS1ngCY8wY8nAAAIaa4JS5KTHqWHEKmRvM85jBT9SK-iG8niswJo/s400/gi-tract.gif" width="240" /></a></h2>
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>As you can see, when you eat, food travels through the GI tract in the following order:</i></span></h2>
<ol>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mouth<br /> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach)<br /> </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stomach (where food is mixed with stomach acid and enzymes to break down the material into smaller pieces called chyme)<br /> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Small Bowel (also known as the Small Intestine) which is made up of three sections known as the:</span></span></li>
</ol>
<ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Duodenum (about 8 cm in length)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Jejunum (can be around 3 metres long)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Ileum (can also be approximately 3 metres in length)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The functions of the small bowel are to digest your food and absorb the
nutrients that are necessary for life. Many people believe that this is
the purpose of the stomach but that is not true. In actual fact, the
small bowel (particularly the jejunum and ileum) is the organ
responsible for absorbing nutrients from your food. Without the small
bowel, we would not be able to convert food into useable nutrition.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
5. Ileocecal Valve (which regulates the amount of material passed from
the small bowel to the large bowel and prevents “dumping” all at once</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
6. Large Bowel (also called the Large Intestine or the Colon). The colon
is much wider in diameter than the small bowel and is approximately 1.5
metres long. Once again, there are sections of the colon which are
identified by different names to enable discussion about clinical issues
:
</span></span>
<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Cecum and appendix
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Ascending colon
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Hepatic flexure (a bend in the gut at close to the location of the liver)
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Transverse colon
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Splenic flexure (another bend located near the spleen)
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Descending colon
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Sigmoid colon
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Rectum
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Anus </span></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The main functions of the colon are to extract water and
salt from stool, and store it until it can be expelled via the anus.
When stool first enters the colon from the small bowel, it is very
watery. As it traverses the large bowel, water is reabsorbed and the
stool gradually becomes firmer.
</span></span><br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Scoop on Poop</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Let’s talk a bit about stool, also known as feces. It may seem glib and a
bit crass to kid around about toilet humour and “the scoop on poop”
however, the fact of the matter is that bowel function is a normal,
absolutely necessary function of the human body. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
When it is not normal - as with IBD - all kinds of trouble can result.
We, like many who deal with IBD, address the issues of bowel function
and feces in a direct manner, and occasionally with humour, we do so
with the best of intent and the desire to help you face this disease
openly and frankly. Our aim is to take IBD out of the shadows where it
will remain unless more people talk about it directly.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Stool or feces, is the by-product of digestion through the GI tract. In a
healthy individual, it is usually composed of water, dead and living
bacteria, fiber (undigested food), intestinal mucous and sloughed-off
lining of the gut. It is not normal to have blood in feces, nor large
amounts of mucous. Feces from an individual without any gut disease is
soft enough to pass comfortably from the rectum and anus, and (depending
on the person) is typically expelled one or two times a day.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Bowel movements are an entirely different matter for someone with IBD.
If you have IBD, there are some very real challenges related to feelings
of urgency, diarrhea and bloody stool. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349427/k.8651/What_is_IBD.htm" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6349427/k.8651/What_is_IBD.htm</span></b></i></u></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-47010020486251012112012-06-02T23:31:00.001-07:002012-06-03T00:07:58.777-07:00Crohn’s And Colitis Foundation Of Canada<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Welcome to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC) was founded in 1974
by a group of parents whose children were diagnosed with inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD). They were concerned about the lack of funding for
IBD research and they were interested in learning more about Crohn’s
disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
From that small but dedicated group, CCFC has grown to become a world
leader in IBD research funding. Through the support of our generous
sponsors and donors, CCFC funds research projects that probe the
mysteries of IBD. We know that life-altering treatments have been
developed as a result of these discoveries, and we also know that one
day, a cure will be found.
</span></span>
<br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We are on a Mission</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
To achieve our goal of finding the cure, CCFC is committed, first and foremost, to raising funds for </span><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6456829" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">research</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> into inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
We also believe it is important to raise awareness about Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis by </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6417211" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_self">educating people</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
with IBD, their families, health professionals and the general public
about these diseases. There are many challenges for people living with
IBD, ranging from lack of awareness of IBD as a chronic disease, to
social stigma, to lack of equity in access to expensive IBD medications.
</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
To read more about the impact of IBD, </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6431205" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_self">click here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> to go to CCFC’s report on the “The Burden of IBD”.
</span></span><br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Research – The Reason We Exist</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
CCFC believes that multiple research approaches are required in the
search for a cure for IBD. IBD is a complex set of conditions, possibly
triggered by an interaction between genetic, environmental and
microbiological events. The highly integrated but differentiated set of
circumstances that cause the onset of IBD can be varied; thus
investigations must also be varied. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
To that end, CCFC is funding a multi-million dollar, multi-year study known as the Michael J. Howorth </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6446493" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_self">GEM</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> (Genetics,
Environmental, Microbial) project. GEM will investigate the potential
causes of Crohn's disease by following 5,000 healthy individuals who are
at high risk for developing Crohn’s disease. Please see </span><a href="http://www.gemproject.ca/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_blank">www.gemproject.ca</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> for more information on the GEM project or to enroll as a subject in the study. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
In addition to GEM, CCFC also funds more than 30 </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6349971" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">research projects</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
annually, and has provided more than $71 million
in research funding since its inception. Furthermore we partner with
many other research organizations to co-support investigations and build
the global IBD knowledge base. We share, we learn, we grow together.
Through our efforts both within Canada and internationally, we
collaborate to uncover the secrets that will cure IBD.
</span></span><br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Raising Awareness about IBD</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Another strategic priority for CCFC is education and enhanced public
awareness about IBD. This set of diseases remained in the shadows for
too long, relegating those with IBD to suffer in silence. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
CCFC provides </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6353709" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_self">brochures</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, holds </span><a href="https://secure.ccfcfindthecure.ca/default.aspx?L=2&CCID=89" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">education events</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> and information sessions on IBD. We also publish </span><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6417799" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_self">The Journal</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
three times a year; this popular subscription (free to CCFC members)
provides useful health tips, inspirational profiles, Q and A’s by Dr.
Remo Panaccione and updates on the latest research. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
We are also in the process of building a </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6431221" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_self">Health Professional Program</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">,
connecting clinicians who have an interest in and treat people living
with IBD. By creating and linking a network of IBD professionals, we
will increase best practices in the field and enhance the knowledge base
around the treatment of CD and UC. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Become a </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6353763" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">member of CCFC</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> and experience the benefits of belonging to a dynamic organization, aimed at raising the profile and understanding of IBD.
</span></span><br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Volunteers are the Heart of our Business</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Without our volunteers, CCFC would not be able to pursue its mission.
Volunteers are truly our workforce in community right across the
country. We have many exciting and rewarding volunteer opportunities in
every Chapter. To get involved with a worthy cause and find out more
about volunteering with us, please contact your </span><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6349949" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_self">local chapter</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, email us at </span><a href="mailto:volunteer@ccfc.ca" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">volunteer@ccfc.ca</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> or visit to fill out a volunteer application. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
You help yourself when you help others! </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6356883/k.FA7E/Volunteer.htm" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Become a CCFC volunteer today</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">.
</span></span><br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Donate and Make a Difference</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
The search for a cure for IBD takes long-term commitment and funding.
Because of the generosity of our donors, CCFC has become one of the
world leaders in non-government funded research into IBD. We have any
number of flexible giving plans that will suit you, including one-time
donations, monthly donation plans and charitable bequests. We also have
plans that will provide you with tax benefits under Canadian income tax
laws. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><i style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
For more information, please </span></i></span><i style="color: white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/lookup.asp?c=ajIRK4NLLhJ0E&b=6246735" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">click here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> or call </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Trish Long at 1-800-387-1479 ext 210 (416 920-5035 ext 210 from the Greater Toronto Area) or send her an email at <a href="mailto:tlong@ccfc.ca">tlong@ccfc.ca</a></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
. </span></i><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Thank you for your support! </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6446491/k.247F/Who_We_Are.htm" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6446491/k.247F/Who_We_Are.htm</span></b></i></u></a><br />
<br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mission</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
Find the cure.
</span><br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Vision</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC) believes that a cure
will be found for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. To realize
this, the CCFC is committed, first and foremost, to raise increasing
funds for medical research.<br /><br />
The CCFC also believes it is important to make all individuals with
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) aware of the Foundation, and educate
these individuals, their families, health professionals and the general
public about these diseases.
</span>
<br />
<h2 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Values</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
In undertaking this vision, the CCFC believes:
</span><br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The greatest proportion of funds raised must be allocated to research;
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Collaboration with the medical community is imperative;
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Goals must be set and met throughout the organization;
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Participation by volunteers is crucial to our success;
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The success of the Foundation rests on the mutual respect of staff and volunteers;
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The national nature of the Foundation must be respected;
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">All volunteers, members, supporters and employees have a
right to contribute in an environment that asserts the personal worth
and dignity of each individual.</span></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6373595/k.6CDF/Mission_Vision_Values.htm" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://www.ccfc.ca/site/c.ajIRK4NLLhJ0E/b.6373595/k.6CDF/Mission_Vision_Values.htm</span></span></b></i></u></a><br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</blockquote>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-75758351761116165992012-06-02T23:21:00.001-07:002012-06-02T23:21:41.704-07:00Rubber Side Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXviMSY1ZG5dCpuWMNZPEXtANxbzyojLy6CPhHAJBVkWbIJ1FlhkfMbyUR3WLkMODhUlJSpB9NYVSH15_eWJ5wbX1Jynvbistn6X-bpGYoY-nSGCq5QryKbxSy3XUXyGlgp7g5012naI/s1600/bg_header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXviMSY1ZG5dCpuWMNZPEXtANxbzyojLy6CPhHAJBVkWbIJ1FlhkfMbyUR3WLkMODhUlJSpB9NYVSH15_eWJ5wbX1Jynvbistn6X-bpGYoY-nSGCq5QryKbxSy3XUXyGlgp7g5012naI/s640/bg_header.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">From the Rockies to the Rock<br /> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A Film for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation<br /> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What began as an idea became a challenge. From a challenge, a commitment was forged. With a commitment, anything is possible.<br /><br />It is an epic Canadian adventure best summed up in three words: Coast. To. Coast. Spanning over three months in the summer of 2008, two amateur cyclists would attempt to pedal 8000 km from Victoria, BC to St.John's, Newfoundland, in an effort to shed light on Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis—tragic bowel diseases that are in dire need of a voice. What they discovered will astound you.<br /><br />Experience a film that depicts the vastness of our land, the spirit of our people, the hilarious mishaps of two young lads, and a struggle that unites us.<br /> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rubber Side Down DVD includes:</span></div>
<ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> Full length feature of our film Rubber Side Down (with all original soundtrack)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> Pre-release promotional trailer of film</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> Deleted Scenes and Outtakes from Greg and Vin's ride</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> Scene selection by province</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> Music Video of the song "Broken" from the film...performed by Greg Mailloux</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> CCFC section with info about our charity and its mission</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> DVD case with original artwork and graphics</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rubber Side Down:</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">From The Rockies To The Rock </span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.poweredbycommunity.org/cms/?q=learn" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://www.poweredbycommunity.org/cms/?q=learn</span></span></b></i></u></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-27558672936493995182012-06-02T23:11:00.002-07:002012-06-02T23:13:22.797-07:00Free App For Crohn's Patients<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCaAUqGXl3dLhgy3PS-gKzNlrt6rH3fUDcCATogEEveWsRUbTr-TYBKM81YGWrPPLi_pCYbgdJz33Sx6egXrmfyaRDkJorBzodn3_JgzZztHyCW9b7jWBksMNk-7t4_E1YpZxDG88jd8/s1600/myibd-140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCaAUqGXl3dLhgy3PS-gKzNlrt6rH3fUDcCATogEEveWsRUbTr-TYBKM81YGWrPPLi_pCYbgdJz33Sx6egXrmfyaRDkJorBzodn3_JgzZztHyCW9b7jWBksMNk-7t4_E1YpZxDG88jd8/s320/myibd-140.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Toronto's SickKids creates myIBD to monitor bowel diseases</span></b><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Teens and parents dealing with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis now have a mobile app that will help them manage their disease and seek help sooner if something is wrong courtesy of staff at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The free app helps patients track their pain, food, stool and frequency of bathroom visits on their mobile devices. It also provides access to educational tools and the latest information on managing their symptoms.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">More than 200,000 Canadians suffer from Crohn's or colitis, known as IBDs or inflammatory bowel diseases, which can be debilitating.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Some days I'd go to the washroom up to 20 times," says 18-year-old Calandra Carkner, who has Crohn's. "I was exhausted, in constant pain and afraid."</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Staff at SickKids say they noticed that patients and families of young children with IBD were missing "red flags" when it came to symptoms and flare-ups.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That led Karen Frost and her colleagues, Dr. Johan Van Limbergen and Meaghan Wright of the Department of Gastroenterology at the hospital to create the app.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"myIBD offers a visual tracking system so patients can monitor their disease activity and seek help when necessary - sooner, rather than later," said Frost in a statement released Monday.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Calandra says the app helps her understand the triggers such as stress or a particular food and gives her some control and lets her focus on her life.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">SickKids has arranged for myIBD to be available in the APP Store for iPhones, iPad and the iPod touch and will be available to Android devices later this year.</span></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/07/25/myibd-app-sickkids.html" target="_blank"><u><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/07/25/myibd-app-sickkids.html</span></b></i></u></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-18871133786453394302012-06-02T22:48:00.001-07:002012-06-02T22:48:16.020-07:00What Are The Symptoms?<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are abdominal pain, often in the lower right area, and diarrhea. Rectal bleeding, weight loss, arthritis, skin problems, and fever may also occur. Bleeding may be serious and persistent, leading to anemia. Children with Crohn’s disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. The range and severity of symptoms varies. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-82829293951159625852012-06-02T22:47:00.001-07:002012-06-02T22:47:29.769-07:00What Causes Crohn's Disease?<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Several theories exist about what causes Crohn’s disease, but none have been proven. The human immune system is made from cells and different proteins that protect people from infection. The most popular theory is that the body’s immune system reacts abnormally in people with Crohn’s disease, mistaking bacteria, foods, and other substances for being foreign. The immune system’s response is to attack these “invaders.” During this process, white blood cells accumulate in the lining of the intestines, producing chronic inflammation, which leads to ulcerations and bowel injury.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Scientists do not know if the abnormality in the functioning of the immune system in people with Crohn’s disease is a cause, or a result, of the disease. Research shows that the inflammation seen in the GI tract of people with Crohn’s disease involves several factors: the genes the patient has inherited, the immune system itself, and the environment. Foreign substances, also referred to as antigens, are found in the environment. One possible cause for inflammation may be the body’s reaction to these antigens, or that the antigens themselves are the cause for the inflammation. Some scientists think that a protein produced by the immune system, called anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF), may be a possible cause for the inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-13003928600719257792012-06-02T22:46:00.003-07:002012-06-02T22:46:15.377-07:00What Is Crohn’s Disease?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Crohn’s disease is an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. The swelling can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, the general name for diseases that cause swelling in the intestines. Because the symptoms of Crohn’s disease are similar to other intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, it can be difficult to diagnose. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layer of the lining of the large intestine. In Crohn’s disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and normal healthy bowel can be found between sections of diseased bowel.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Crohn’s disease affects men and women equally and seems to run in some families. About 20 percent of people with Crohn’s disease have a blood relative with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, most often a brother or sister and sometimes a parent or child. Crohn’s disease can occur in people of all age groups, but it is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. People of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease, and African Americans are at decreased risk for developing Crohn’s disease.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Crohn’s disease may also be called ileitis or enteritis. </span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046763838595666120.post-9871199205078154892012-06-02T21:55:00.003-07:002012-06-02T21:55:31.843-07:00Who Is Adam?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">My name is Adam and I am currently 30 yeas old. I have had Crohn's for the past 6 years and I am still learning how to deal with it. I was a high school teacher but now I work in finance. I live in the Niagara region of Ontario and have been treated by doctors in St.Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Hamilton. I lived in Toronto for a year and I even lived in Australia for a year so I have been treated by quite a few doctors from a few different places. Each time I get similar answers but some different opinions as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But the main points seem to stay the same:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;">none of them know exactly how I got Crohn's</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">none of them know how to cure Crohn's</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">and their favourite line about diet, medication, or any form of treatment... "everyone is different"</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So how does any of that help me? And that is the point I am at now. Being bounced back and forth, from one doctor to another. All they want to do is give me the same tests over and over again to find out what they already know. Then they put me on new pills that are supposed to be better than the old ones. My condition never gets any better but the side effects just keep getting worse. Each pill is more expensive than the last and they aren't covered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I just found out from my new doctor, after all the horrible tests again, that my condition is worse, my previous medication didn't help and actually made things worse. So now I have to go through the withdrawals of going off the old meds while increasing the new meds which have more side effects. My condition just went from bad to worse over night and I don't know what to think or do anymore. I'm researching it on my own, looking for someone to talk to and I don't even know where to start. But I've decided to start this blog and put together all the information I find into out place. Maybe if it can't help me it can at least help someone else. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0