Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterised by chronic intestinal inflammation. The two major types of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, although other less common IBD conditions are also included in this category. Ulcerative Colitis is a disease that is characterised by inflammation and micro-ulcers in the superficial layers of the large intestine. The inflammation usually occurs in the rectum and lower part of the colon, but it may affect the entire large intestine (pancolitis). Ulcerative colitis can very rarely affect the small intestine in its distal portion (Backwash Ileitis). The inflammation is accompanied usually with diarrhoea, which may be profuse and bloody. Micro-ulcers form in places where inflammation has destroyed the cells lining the bowel and these areas bleed and produce pus and mucus. Ulcerative colitis, especially when mild, can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders, most notably the other type of IBD called Crohn's disease and also irritable bowel syndrome. Crohn's disease differs from ulcerative colitis because it causes inflammation throughout the whole thickness of the intestinal wall and produces deep ulcers. Crohn's disease usually occurs in the small intestine, but it can also occur in the large intestine, anus, oesophagus, … Continue reading →

Treatment for ulcerative colitis depends on how severe the condition is and how often your symptoms flare up. The main aims of treatment are to: This usually involves taking various types of medication, although surgery may sometimes be an option. Your treatment will normally be provided by a range of healthcare professionals, including: Your care will often be co-ordinated by your specialist nurse and your care team, and they'll usually be your main point of contact if you need help and advice. The various treatments forulcerative colitisare outlined below. You can also read a summary of the pros and cons of the treatments for ulcerative colitis, allowing you to compare your treatment options. Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), such as sulphasalazineor mesalazine, are medications that help toreduce inflammation. They're usually the first treatment option for mildor moderate ulcerative colitis. 5-ASAs can be used as a short-term treatment for flare-ups. They can also be taken long term, usually for the rest of your life,to maintain remission. 5-ASAscan be taken: How you take 5-ASAs depends on the severity and extent of your condition. These medications rarely haveside effects, but some people may experience: Corticosteroids, such as prednisolone,are amore powerful type of medication used to reduce … Continue reading →

Is Alcohol Healthy or Not? The answer could be both. Obviously, alcohol in excess for a long period can cause a range of problems including: On the other hand, people who drink modest amounts of alcohol have a lower risk of developing heart disease. The issues surrounding ulcerative colitis (UC) and drinking alcohol are even trickier. The answer, just like the disease itself, is complicated. On one hand, a very large study examining the outcomes of 304,000 patients suggested that alcohol may actually have a protective effect. The study came to two main conclusions: Coffee intake didnt relate to UC and alcohol consumption before a UC diagnosis may lower a persons risk for developing the disease. The study design and the way that the authors came to these results have many limitations, but it does raise an interesting point: Could alcohol have a protective effect on ulcerative colitis? On the other hand, one study found that alcohol and alcoholic byproducts aggravate inflammatory responses in the gut and make UC worse. The same researchers in another study found that one week of alcohol consumption decreased protective molecules in the gut and increased bowel permeability (both of which are markers of worsening … Continue reading →

Unfortunately colitis affects a large number of people each year. This infection has a wide range of symptoms that can spring up without a moments notice, or be so mild and gradual that a patient is infected for years with no idea. Ulcerative colitis can manifest itself in a variety of different ways, with different outcomes. It can come in a mild, moderate or severe form. The descriptions of colitis are normally classified as either corticosteroid dependent, steroid immune, or inactive (also known as in remission). For almost each person, the course colitis takes on them is extremely unique. There are not many, hard and fast colitis symptoms that everyone experiences, and the symptoms are largely different for each person. In some people colitis may be extremely mild, and in some, albeit rare, cases it can be a life threatening condition. The average patient who has ulcerative colitis experiences periods of inactivity (remission) that can last anywhere from a few months to several years. In these time periods there are the occasional interruptions of flare-ups, but theyre relatively stable. On average, somewhere in the middle of five percent and ten percent experience colitis symptoms all the time. The large range … Continue reading →