Senator Walczyk Wears Purple Bow Tie For World Crohn's & Colitis Awareness Day

Senator Mark Walczyk is donning a purple bow tie today to spread awareness for Crohn’s and Colitis disease awareness. May 23rd is celebrated globally as World Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Day.

According to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, Crohn's disease belongs to a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases, or IBD. It is named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, who first discovered the disease in 1932 along with his colleagues, Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon D. Oppenheimer. It’s an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Nearly 1 in 100 Americans are diagnosed with IBD. Men and women are equally likely to be affected by Crohn's disease. The disease can occur at any age, but Crohn’s disease is most often diagnosed in adolescents and adults between the ages of 20 and 30. Although there is a genetic component, there is no way to definitively predict who may develop the disease and who may avoid it. 

The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation also explains that Ulcerative Colitis is different from Crohn's in that Colitis only affects the large intestine and colon. Crohn’s can affect any part of the digestive tract. Although they share similar symptoms and are often confused with each other, it’s important to understand they are different diseases and understanding the differences help you make informed choices on how to treat this incurable disease.

“Living with an IBD such as Crohn’s and Colitis can be manageable but it takes awareness to make informed decisions on how to treat these diseases,” said Senator Walczyk. “It may be true that these diseases do not have a cure at the moment, but understanding the correct symptoms and having conversations with your doctor will give you the tools you need to live your best life with Crohn’s or Colitis.”

Senator Walczyk represents the 49th Senate District of New York State which encompasses either the entirety or part of Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Herkimer, Hamilton, and Fulton counties. Bow Tie Tuesday is a fun initiative by the Senator to raise awareness to important issues and will be released each Tuesday on his website and social media.