Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week

On November 14, 2011, the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 199 (SR 199): “A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week, December 1-7.”

The Senate Resolution 199, expresses appreciation to the family members and caregivers who support people in the United States living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It also commends the health care professionals who care for these individuals, biomedical researchers who work to advance research aimed at developing new treatments and also the thousands of Americans who live with these diseases every day. The week of December 1-7 is now dedicated to them.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Crohn’s and Colitis, Crohn’s disease belongs to a group of conditions known as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). It is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease of the large intestine, also known as the colon, in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops tiny open sores, or ulcers, that produce pus and mucous. The combination of inflammation and ulceration can cause abdominal discomfort and frequent emptying of the colon.

Although considerable progress has been made in IBD research, investigators do not yet know what causes this disease. Studies indicate that the inflammation in IBD involves a complex interaction of factors: the genes the person has inherited, their immune system and something in the environment.

During this week we urge you to help raise awareness for these diseases that so many suffer from. Here are a few easy ways you can get involved:

• Write to your local legislator and encourage them to join Crohn’s and Colitis Caucus.
• “Like” the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America on Facebook.
• Use the #CCFAawarenessweek hashtag on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest whenever you post.
• Change your Facebook status to: “I’m supporting Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week and you should too!”
• Reach out to anyone you know with Crohn’s, Colitis or IBD and let them know you care.
• Visit www.ccfa.org to learn more about these diseases.

At Berger and Green we support Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week and want our readers to know that we care about what they are going through and wish them the best. We have successfully represented many clients who are living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in claims for Social Security disability benefits. For more information on how you can support this cause visit www.ccfa.org

Source: 2013 Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America