Cardiovascular System
Not just Crohn’s disease but any other IBD will have a negative effect on the cardiovascular system. With Crohn’s disease there’s poor absorption iron which can cause anemia. Untreated, iron deficiency anemia [2] can lead to heart problems such as fast or irregular heartbeat. Over time, especially if not properly treated you may develop an enlarged heart or heart failure [3]. During pregnancy, iron deficiency is associated with premature birth and low birth weight. In children, anemia can delay growth and development.
Having IBD triples the risk of developing a blood clot in a deep vein (deep vein thrombosis) or a clot that blocks a lung artery (pulmonary embolism). This risk may be even greater when you’re hospitalized.
Another complication of Crohn’s disease is high blood pressure. This happens when you use corticosteroids [4] to treat Crohn’s. The treatment you use can cause side effects. For example, immune-suppressing medications may increase the risk of lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.