Ulcerative Colitis: Causes, Risk Factors, Types, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

How to Reduce Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a condition called inflammatory bowel disease. This condition causes irritation, ulcers, and inflammation ulcers in the lining of your large intestine (which is also called as colon).

There’s no proper cure for this condition and people who suffer from ulcerative Colitis usually have symptoms off and on for life. The right treatments can help you keep manage the disease.

Causes and Risk Factors

Ulcerative colitis occurs when the immune system makes a mistake. Normally, it attacks invaders cells in your body, like the common cold. But in case you have UC, your immune system thinks it’s food, good gut bacteria, and the cells that line your colon are regarded as intruders. WBC that usually protects you attacks the lining of your colon instead which causes inflammation and ulcers.

Risk factors of getting ulcerative colitis include:

● Your Age. It’s most likely to get this condition if you’re between 15 and 30 years old or older than 60.
● Ethnicity. The race you belong to also plays the role of getting affected with the condition. For instance, the risk is highest in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
● Family history. Your chances of getting inflicted with UC could be up to 30% higher if you have close relatives with this condition.
● Food and stress do not cause it, but they can cause symptoms.

Types of Ulcerative Colitis

The type of ulcerative colitis you have depends on where it is present in your body:

Ulcerative proctitis:-

it is usually the mildest form and only in the rectum, the region of your colon closest to your anus. Rectal bleeding can be the one and only sign of the disease.

Proctosigmoiditis:-

It also happens in your rectum and the lower end of your colon. In this type you’ll have bloody diarrhea, belly cramps, and pain in the abdomen. You’ll feel the urge to poop, but you won’t be able to.
 

Left-sided colitis:-

This condition causes cramps on that side of your belly. Patients Also have bloody diarrhea, and you might lose weight without even trying. They will have inflammation from your rectum moving up through the left of your colon.

Pancolitis:-

This type often affects your entire colon. It causes severe bouts of bloody diarrhea, belly cramps, fatigue pain, and major weight loss.

Acute severe ulcerative colitis:-

This is a rare type of colitis. It also affects your entire colon and causes severe pain in the abdominal region, bleeding, heavy diarrhea, and fever.

Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms

The major symptom of ulcerative colitis is bloody diarrhea. There might also be some pus in your stools, too.

Other symptoms include:

● Cramps and belly pain
● Sudden urge to poop
● No hunger feeling
● Major Weight loss
● Feeling tired throughout day
● Fever and Dehydration
● Joint pain or soreness of the muscles
● Canker sores
● Eye pain and strain when you look at a bright light
● Anemia
● Skin sores
● Pain or bleeding when having bowel movements

Diagnosis

These are the following tests that your Doctor might ask you to get when experiencing Ulcerative colitis symptoms:-
● Blood tests
● Stool samples
● Flexible sigmoidoscopy
● Colonoscopy
● X-rays

Treatment

UC treatment has two main aims. The first is to make patients feel better and give the colon a chance to heal. The second is to prevent more flare-ups and deterioration of the condition. You may need to follow a combination of diet modification, medication, or surgery to reach those goals.

● Diet. Some foods can worsen your symptoms. You might find spicy and junk food bothers you alot. If you are intolerant to lactose which is a sugar present in it then it’s better to cut down on all dairy products. Following a balanced diet with plenty of fiber, fruits lean protein, and veggies which will provide enough vitamins and nutrients can help to alleviate the symptoms of Ulcerative colitis.

Medicine. Your might be prescribe a few different kinds of drugs that includes by your doctor:

● Antibiotics
● Aminosalicylates
● Corticosteroids
● Immunomodulators
● Biologics
● Janus kinase inhibitors
● Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators
● Loperamide