Category Archives: Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a form ofinflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic disease for which there is currently no known cure. The primary sign of ulcerative colitis is inflammation of the colon and rectum, which causes a variety of symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract, including pain and bloody stool. Lifestyle modifications may help, as can medications such as anti-inflammatories and antidiarrheals. The disease can sometimes result incomplicationsthat affect other parts of the body, including the joints, skin, and eyes. There are several different types of ulcerative colitis andsymptoms can overlap. Knowing which form you have will allow your doctor to provide the most suitable and effective treatments. Ulcerative colitis symptoms come and go. When symptoms are active, it is called a flare-up. A flare-up can be severe for a few days or weeks and then go into remission, where there are few or no symptoms or little inflammation in the colon. Some people with ulcerative colitis will not experience remission but instead will have continuous, active disease. For most people, symptoms continue to flare up on and off throughout their lives. (Approximately 10 percent of people never have another flare-up after their first one, however, potentially because the diagnosis of ulcerative … Continue reading →

The primary goal in treating ulcerative colitis is to help patients regulate their immune system better. While there is no known cure for ulcerative colitis and flare ups may recur, a combination of treatment options can help you stay in control of your disease and lead a full and rewarding life. Treatment for ulcerative colitis and other IBD varieties is multifaceted and includes the use of medication, alterations in diet and nutrition, and sometimes surgical procedures to repair or remove affected portions of your GI tract. Medication for ulcerative colitis can suppress the inflammation of the colon and allow for tissues to heal. Symptoms including diarrhea, bleeding, and abdominal pain can also be reduced and controlled with effective medication. In addition to controlling and suppressing symptoms (inducing remission), medication can also be used to decrease the frequency of symptom flare ups (maintaining remission). With proper treatment over time, periods of remission can be extended and periods of symptom flare ups can be reduced. Several types of medication are being used to treat ulcerative colitis today. Search for you ulcerative colitis medication to learn more. In some circumstances, a health care provider may recommend adding an additional therapy that will work … Continue reading →

Murata I, Satoh K, Yoshikawa I, Masumoto A, Sasaki E, Otsuki M. Recurrent subcutaneous abscess of the sternal region in ulcerative colitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999 Mar. 94(3):844-5. [Medline]. Kimura K, Hunter SF, Thollander MS, et al. Concurrence of inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis. Mayo Clin Proc. 2000 Aug. 75(8):802-6. [Medline]. Egan CA, Meadows KP, Zone JJ. Ulcerative colitis and immunobullous disease cured by colectomy. Arch Dermatol. 1999 Feb. 135(2):214-5. [Medline]. [Guideline] Bernstein CN, Eliakim A, Fedail S, et al. World Gastroenterology Organisation global guidelines: inflammatory bowel disease: update August 2015. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2016 Nov/Dec. 50 (10):803-8. [Medline]. [Full Text]. Esteve M, Gisbert JP. Severe ulcerative colitis: at what point should we define resistance to steroids?. World J Gastroenterol. 2008 Sep 28. 14(36):5504-7. [Medline]. [Full Text]. Shen B. Crohn's disease of the ileal pouch: reality, diagnosis, and management. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2009 Feb. 15(2):284-94. [Medline]. Van Assche G, Vermeire S, Rutgeerts P. Treatment of severe steroid refractory ulcerative colitis. World J Gastroenterol. 2008 Sep 28. 14(36):5508-11. [Medline]. [Full Text]. Heuschen UA, Hinz U, Allemeyer EH, et al. Backwash ileitis is strongly associated with colorectal carcinoma in ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology. 2001 Mar. 120(4):841-7. [Medline]. Kaufman SS, Vanderhoof JA, Young … Continue reading →

If you or someone you love have recently been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, its important to begin learning as much as you can about what ulcerative colitis is. By developing a better understanding of ulcerative colitis, you will be more prepared to manage its symptoms and live a full life. 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. Ulcerative colitis is the result of an abnormal response by your body's immune system. Normally, the cells and proteins that make up the immune system protect you from infection. In people with IBD, however, the immune system mistakes food, bacteria, and other materials in the intestine for foreign or invading substances. When this happens, the body sends white blood cells into the lining of the intestines, where they produce chronic inflammation and ulcerations. Its important to understand the difference between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Crohns disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but ulcerative … Continue reading →

What is ulcerative colitis? Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. People with this condition have tiny ulcers and small abscesses in their colon and rectum that flare up periodically and cause bloody stools and diarrhea. Crosscut of colon and rectum with ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is characterized by alternating periods of flare-ups and remission in which the disease appears to have disappeared. The periods of remission can last from weeks to years. The inflammation usually begins in the rectum and then spreads to other segments of the colon. How much of the colon is affected varies from person to person. If the inflammation is limited to the rectum, the disease may be called ulcerative proctitis. Ulcerative colitis, unlike Crohn's disease, does not affect the esophagus, stomach or small intestine. When grouped together, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease because they cause inflammation of the bowel. Ulcerative colitis can be inherited. Up to 25 percent of people with inflammatory bowel disease have a first-degree relative (mother, father, brother, sister) with the disease. The main symptom of ulcerative colitis is diarrhea that often becomes … Continue reading →

[Last updated 31st July, 2018] Many people claim to have cured their ulcerative colitis with diet or supplements. Unfortunately, there is no diet or pill that can cure the disease. However, certain diet changes have shown promise in reducing symptoms and easing discomfort. This article explains what we currently know about the role of diet in ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), like Crohns diseaseand microscopic colitis that affects the colon (large intestine). Recent studies estimate that IBD affects 2 million people worldwide (1). Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and sores in the inner lining of the colon. Inflammation often begins in the rectum, but it can spread throughout the large intestine. This brief video gives a more detailed look at the disease: Summary: Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and sores in the colon. Ulcerative colitis is thought to develop when a person at genetic risk is exposed to certain environmental stressors. These environmental stressors either change the ratio of gut bacteria or alter the way the immune system responds to bacteria (2, 3). As a result, the immune system attacks the intestinal lining causing inflammation and … Continue reading →

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition, where the colonand rectum become inflamed . The colon is the large intestine (bowel), and the rectum is the end of the bowel wherestools arestored. Smallulcers can develop onthe colon's lining,and can bleed and produce pus. The main symptoms of ulcerative colitis are: You may also experience fatigue(extremetiredness), loss of appetite and weight loss. Theseverity of the symptoms varies, depending on how much of the rectum and colon is inflamed and how severe the inflammation is. For some people, the condition has a significant impact on their everyday lives. Some people may go for weeks or months with very mild symptoms, or none at all (known as remission), followed by periods where the symptoms are particularly troublesome (known as flare-ups or relapses). During a flare-up, some people with ulcerative colitis also experience symptoms elsewhere in their body. For example, some people develop: In severe cases, defined as having to empty your bowels six or more times a day, additional symptoms may include: In most people, no specific trigger for flare-upsis identified, althougha gut infection can occasionally be the cause. Stress is also thought to be a potential factor. Read more about living with ulcerative … Continue reading →

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one branch of several types of digestive disorders known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis affects only the large intestine and causes the lining to becomeinflamed and irritatedcreating ulcers that produce mucus, pus and persistent diarrhea. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America estimates that about 700,000 men and women have UC today. It is most often diagnosed in younger adults and teensbetween the ages of about 15 and 30 and occurs equally as often in men and women. It is more common among white people with European heritage and with the Jewish population. Learn more about ulcerative colitis today: call (410) 567-0667 or contact Dr. Alan Stuart Weiss online. Half of all UC patients will have only mild symptoms. You should see a doctor if you have any of the following: Along with these symptoms, you may not feel hungry and may lose weight. It's normal to feelchronic fatigued(very tired) and be low on energy too. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis tend to come and go over time. You may not have symptoms for weeks, months or even years in some cases before it returns. The cause of ulcerative colitis is complicated, and researchers still … Continue reading →

Chronic conditions bring complications to everyday life. My ulcerative colitis (UC), for example, can throw a wrench into things, even when I least expect it. When my UC decides to steal the show, I've learned the best thing to do is to find a way, no matter how difficult it is, to laugh about it and learn from it. For instance, traveling seems to always set off my UC, and this year was no different. Every year, my fianc's family goes to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for vacation, and I've been lucky to join them on the last two trips. His parents are so accommodating when it comes to my UC: For example, they make sure to get everything on my grocery list, so I have access to my safe foods and enough water to stay hydrated while we're there. I usually never sweat it. This year, however, we ran into a lot of travel issues. Our plane was delayed from Chicago, which caused us to miss our flight to Hilton Head from North Carolina. We thought we'd be stranded in North Carolina until the next day. After wandering around the airport and going from car rental company to … Continue reading →

Ulcerative colitisis a chroniccondition that results in inflammation and ulcers of the colon and rectum. It isan inflammatory bowel diseasethat affect the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis produces tiny sores called ulcers on the lining of your colon. It usually begins in the rectum and spreads upward. It can involve your entire colon. The primary symptoms of active disease are abdominal pain and diarrhea mixed with blood. Weight loss, fever, and anaemia may also occur. Often, symptoms come on slowly and can range from mild to severe.Ulcerative colitis is closely related to another condition of inflammation of the intestines called Crohns disease. Together, they are frequently referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Theres no cure yet, and people usually have symptom flare-ups off and on for life. The right treatments can help you keep a handle on the disease, though. The actual cause of ulcerative colitis remains unknown. Diet and stress were previously suspected, but now researchers know that these factors rather precipitate but dont cause ulcerative colitis.So far, research hasnt discovered one clear cause for Ulcerative colitis. However, a possible cause is an immune system malfunction. When your immune system tries to fight off an invading micro-organisms, an abnormal immune … Continue reading →