10 Facts You Need To Know About Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that impacts the digestive system by causing inflammation, ulcers, and sores in the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Ulcerative colitis symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe, at times potentially causing life-threatening complications. There is still much to learn about this condition. With more knowledge about ulcerative colitis, individuals with the disease, family members of those affected by it, and medical professionals can have a better understanding of how to manage and control the condition.

Cause Of Ulcerative Colitis

Despite many research studies and test trials, the cause of ulcerative colitis is not known. In the past, it has been suspected that stress and diet may have caused the condition. However, there is not enough research to back these claims. It is now thought that diet and stress can aggravate ulcerative colitis but they are not the cause. A possible cause of the disease is an abnormal immune system response. This may occur when the immune system acts to combat an invading bacterium or virus and instead the immune system attacks the cells of the gastrointestinal tract as well. Another cause may be genetics, as ulcerative colitis tends to be more prevalent amongst individuals who already have a family member with the disease.

Symptoms

The symptoms of ulcerative colitis, also known as flare-ups, depend on the location and the severity of the inflammation. Symptoms include rectal bleeding and stools with blood, abdominal pain and discomfort, diarrhea with mucus or blood, reduced appetite, nausea, an urgency to defecate, constipation, rectal pain, and tenesmus which is the inability to move bowels despite urgency. There are symptoms that are outside the digestive system such as frequent fevers, skin sores and rash, fatigue, weight loss, anemia, and joint pain. Some factors that can trigger the symptoms of UC are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen, aspirin, and ibuprofen; use of antibiotics; missing doses or wrong doses of medication; smoking; eating foods that can aggravate the digestive tract; and stress.