David Garrard - In the Zone for Crohn's Disease

Centocor and David Garrard, quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars will continue the In the Zone for Crohn's program this football season to raise awareness and provide funding for Crohn's disease research, education and support. Last year, In the Zone for Crohn's raised $170,000 for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.

Centocor Ortho Biotech will again make a donation of $10,000 to the CCFA for each touchdown Garrard scores, passing or rushing, during the 2009 NFL season.

"I feel fortunate to be able to bring even greater awareness to this often misunderstood condition," said David Garrard, quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars. "Through my play on the field and by speaking out on my condition, I hope to continue to further educate the public and be an example to others who are living with Crohn's disease."

The program will kick off with the Jaguars' first game of the season on September 13 and will culminate at the end of the 2009 season. A contribution will be donated to the CCFA based on Garrard's total touchdown performance. The In the Zone for Crohn's program kicked off during the 2008 season. By the end of the season, Garrard helped raise $170,000 for the CCFA through his play on the field.

What other Crohn's Disease sufferer has done this? David Garrard scored nearly 50 touchdowns over the past three seasons for the Jaguars. David Garrard is entering his third season as their full-time starting quarterback.

About David Garrard
David Garrard knows first hand the painful, debilitating and often embarrassing effects of Crohn's disease. Prior to the 2004 football season, Garrard began experiencing the excruciating symptoms associated with the disease, lost a significant amount of weight and missed several weeks of pre-season training. Following his diagnosis, David underwent surgery and, in consultation with his doctor, began a treatment regimen. David returned to the playing field by the start of the 2004 season and in 2007 led the team to its first playoff win in eight years.



About Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, affects approximately 500,000 Americans, including approximately 100,000 pediatric patients. The cause of Crohn's disease is not known, but the disease is associated with an abnormality of the immune system that could be triggered by viral or bacterial infections, a genetic predisposition or diet. Symptoms of Crohn's disease can vary but often include abdominal pain and tenderness, frequent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss and fever. For those that ask is there a cure for crohn's disease, There is currently no cure for Crohn's disease.

Hynotherapy For Crohn's Disease

Anyone tried this?? I guess it makes sense considering it can reduce stress, one of the biggest causes of Chron's Flares.

Hypnotherapy has long been used to help people cope with stress. No matter what the source of stress is, hypnosis is a relaxation technique that calms the mind and body into a deeper state of relaxation. Research has shown that when stress is a contributing factor in a physical or physiological situation, hypnotherapy helps reduce symptoms associated with that ailment. Studies show that hypnotherapy is very beneficial in treating people with Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. It affects about 2 to 7 in 100,000 people. The disease can be quite debilitating and sometimes life threatening when symptoms are not controlled. It causes the digestive tract to inflame and can cause severe abdominal pain, malnutrition, and diarrhea. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Crohn's disease. Instead, symptoms must be treated, for example with hypnotherapy, and people with the disease can live a long life with their symptoms under control. According to the Mayo Clinic, stress does not cause Crohn's disease, but it can cause symptoms to worsen or cause a flare up.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there is no way to prevent Crohn's disease, but managing the symptoms is possible through diet, lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies. The main goal is to prevent flare-ups and to remain in remission as long as possible. People with Crohn's disease have reported that stress makes their symptoms worsen. Relaxation techniques are very helpful in reducing the symptoms of Crohn's disease. The University of Maryland Medical Center also promotes the use of hypnotherapy because studies have been shown that it improves immune function, decreases stress, increases relaxation, and eases feelings of anxiety.

A study conducted in Europe included 266 participants with Crohn's disease. The researchers found that hypnotherapy and psychotherapy improve the treatment of the disease. The study found that emotional conflicts such as stress, depression, and anorexia effect the transgression of the disease. Relaxation techniques used in hypnotherapy and psychotherapy were found to give patients greater control over their symptoms.

More research is finding that there are links between stress and physiological diseases. There is a direct link between emotional stress and Crohn's disease flare-ups. Alternative therapy such as hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, yoga, and meditation has been shown to improve the overall well-being of Crohn's disease sufferers. Since there is no known cure for Crohn's disease, alternative therapies are highly suggested to help people control their flare-ups and remain in remission. Hypnotherapy promotes relaxation and puts the Crohn's disease sufferer in control of their symptoms in a safe and natural way.

Sources

Crohn's disease. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved August 21, 2009 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cr...

Crohn's disease. (2008). University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved August 21, 2009 from