Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the intestine, specifically the large intestine or colon, that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores, in the colon. The main symptom of active disease is usually constant diarrhea mixed with blood, of gradual onset. Ulcerative colitis is, however, believed to have a systemic etiology that leads to many symptoms outside the intestine. Because of the name, IBD is often confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a troublesome, but much less serious condition. Ulcerative colitis has similarities to Crohns disease, another form of IBD. Ulcerative colitis is an intermittent disease, with periods of exacerbated symptoms, and periods that are relatively symptom-free. Although the symptoms of ulcerative colitis can sometimes diminish on their own, the disease usually requires treatment to go into remission. Affecting close about 2 million Americans, Colitis is a disease that equally affects both men and women. Colitis can be caused by a range of different diseases and is most likely found in younger people, before the age of 30. If a family member or relative has Colitis, there is a risk for you getting the disease. It has been shown to run in families and 20 percent of … 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 where stools are stored. Smallulcers can develop onthe colon's lining,and can bleed and produce pus. The main symptoms of ulcerative colitis are: 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 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). Read more about the symptoms of ulcerative colitisand living with ulcerative colitis. You should see your GP as soon as possible if you have symptoms of ulcerative colitis and you haven't been diagnosed with the condition. They can arrange blood or stool sample tests to help determine what may be causing your symptoms. If necessary, they can refer you to hospital for further tests. Read more about diagnosing ulcerative colitis. If you have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis andthink you may be having … Continue reading →

BRIEF VIDEO: Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Howard Ross, MD What is ulcerative colitis? Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation of the lining of the large bowel (colon and rectum). Symptoms include rectal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, weight loss, and fevers. In addition, patients who have had extensive ulcerative colitis for many years are at an increased risk to develop large bowel cancer. The cause of ulcerative colitis remains unknown. How is ulcerative colitis treated? Initial treatment of ulcerative colitis is medical, using antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications such as aminosalicylates. If these fail, prednisone can be used for a short period of time butlong-term use can be associated with significant side effects. If prednisone is ineffective or cannot be discontinued, immunomodulators such as 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine can be used to control active disease that does not merit hospitalization. In order to maintain control of the disease, aminosalicylates or immunomodulators are used on a long-term basis. "Flare-ups" of the disease can often be treated by increasing the dosage of medications or adding new medications. Hospitalization may be necessary to put the bowel to rest and deliver steriods directly into the blood stream. When is surgery necessary? Surgery is indicated for patients who have … Continue reading →

Ulcerative colitis is a condtion in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn's disease is a related condition. The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown. People with this condition have problems with the immune system. However, it is not clear if immune problems cause this illness. Stress and certain foods can trigger symptoms, but they do not cause ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis may affect any age group. There are peaks at ages 15 - 30 and then again at ages 50 - 70. The disease can begin the rectal area. It may involve the entire large intestine over time. It may also start in the rectum and other parts of the large intestine at the same time. Risk factors include a family history of ulcerative colitis, or Jewish ancestry. The symptoms can be more or less severe. They may start slowly or suddenly. About half of people only have mild symptoms. Others have more severe attacks that occur more often. Many factors can lead to attacks. Symptoms include: Children's growth may slow. Other symptoms that may occur with ulcerative colitis include the following: Here … Continue reading →

Getting too much, too little may raise chances of inflammatory bowel condition WebMD News from HealthDay By Mary Elizabeth Dallas HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Not getting the right amount of sleep might raise your risk of ulcerative colitis, a new study suggests. Those who sleep less or more than the recommended seven to eight hours per night may be more prone to developing the chronic condition, which causes inflammation in the intestines, researchers report. The study authors concluded that duration and quality of sleep are key factors to be considered among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. "Both short and long durations of sleep have important health implications, and are associated with increased overall mortality, cardiovascular disease and cancer," study author Dr. Ashwin Ananthakrishnan, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, said in an American Gastroenterological Association news release. "Our findings indicate that ulcerative colitis may potentially be added to this list," he said. "We found that less than six hours of sleep per day and more than nine hours of sleep per day are each associated with an increased risk of ulcerative colitis." The study, published recently in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, included women … Continue reading →