A Complicated chronic inflammatory bowel disease is none other than ulcerative colitis commonly known as UC. The major characteristics of this fatal disease are that it affects the lining of the large intestine and rectum. The difference between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is the degree of severity. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract while on the other hand UC just damages the colon which is the large intestine. So it is very important to understand its symptoms in a very comprehensible manner. Due to its complexity it is crucial to diagnose it at an early stage for better treatment and speedy recovery. Let’s talk more about it.
Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis
The symptoms of ulcerative Colitis can vary in different conditions. Its main characteristic is to develop gradually, not suddenly. Its symptoms can be simple and complex. We will talk about both. Stay with us.
Diarrhea
The primary symptom which is the most common one in case of ulcerative Colitis is diarrhea. A patient can suffer from diarrhea that may contain blood, mucus or pus.
Tummy Pain and Cramping
A patient feels pain in his tummy and most of the cases in the lower abdomen. This pain can vary from minor to severe.
Rectal Pain and Bleeding
It is very common that a patient feels pain and bleeding during bowel movements. In some of the patients it is observed that they may experience the sensation of needing to have a bowel movement despite the fact that the large intestine colon is empty.
Fatigue
Due to the chronic inflammation and the wastage of blood it can be the result of anemia. If this happens then a patient starts feeling tired and having no energy.
Weight Loss
A patient can lose weight quickly due to severe diarrhea. Besides that, the loss of appetite is also another factor of weight loss during ulcerative colitis.
Fever
Fever is also one of the common reasons and this happens due to the inflammatory response of the body.
Growth Failure in Children
In most of the cases the growth of children is affected badly. This decrease in growth occurs due to malnutrition and chronic disease.
Symptoms due to inflammation in the Colon
There are some other symptoms which can be observed. These symptoms can be different due to the different severity of inflammation in the colon. So here we are going to discuss some of those indications that will tell you the whole story in this context.
Ulcerative Proctitis
In this situation, inflammation damages only the rectum. When this happens rectal bleeding occurs that needs to be addressed on an urgent basis.
Proctosigmoiditis
This type of inflammation is basically an inflammation in the rectum and sigmoid colon. When this type of disorder occurs it results in bloody diarrhea. Besides that, patients can observe cramps and pain also.
Left Sided Colitis
In this type of ulcerative Colitis the inflammation starts to extend from the rectum up through the sigmoid and descending colon. A patient in this type of situation feels severe pain in the left side of the abdomen. Besides that, there is also the possibility of weight loss and bloody diarrhea.
Pancolitis
Pancolitis is another type of ulcerative colitis which is caused by inflammation. This type of inflammation mostly affected the entire colon mostly from the rectum to the cecum. In this case patients can observe diarrhea that often comes with blood mucus or pus. Patient starts feeling abdominal pain and cramping. It is also found that an affected person loses weight due to malnutrition and loss of appetite. Besides that, symptoms of tiredness and fever can also be observed.
Causes and Risk Factors
Medical study shows that it is very difficult to tell exact causes of ulcerative colitis but it is commonly believed that three factors collectively are the root causes of this chronic disease. Let’s have a look.
Genetics
Genetic factor is one of the major contributing elements in the case of ulcerative Colitis. Those people who have a family history of IBD have a greater chance of becoming a victim of this disease.
Immune System
Studies show that the immune system is another factor in case of ulcerative colitis. The inflammation in the colon actually arises due to the abnormal response of the immune system against harmless substances.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors also play their role to create ulcerative colitis. There are actually multiple factors that are involved in this whole scenario. For example diet, stress and certain viruses and bacteria are responsible for this.
Diagnosis
As we have discussed earlier, we cannot exactly describe the root causes of ulcerative colitis. That’s why at this stage diagnosis becomes really important. You can properly diagnose it by using the medical history of a patient. Besides that, physical examination and some important tests are also useful to get complete information about the actual culprits in this case. Some are as follows.
Blood Tests
Blood tests are on top of the list when we talk about the diagnosis option for ulcerative colitis. This type of test helps to identify the possibility of anemia and other signs of inflammation.
Stool Sample
The stool sample analysis is a really very important test in order to know the availability of ulcerative colitis. Stool test is actually performed in order to identify pathogens that are the actual symptoms of ulcerative colitis. These pathogens are actually bacteria, viruses and parasites.
Colonoscopy
In this type of diagnosis, professional physicians directly visualize the colon. If necessary then some tissue samples can also be taken to confirm whether there is inflammation in the colon.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
It is somehow very similar to colonoscopy. Flexible sigmoidoscopy diagnostic tool is used in order to check out the lower part of the gastrointestinal.
Imaging Tests
When there is a need to examine the colon in a comprehensive way then imaging tasks are formed such as x-ray, CT scans and MRI.
Treatment Options
The major purpose in case of ulcerative colitis is to reduce or eliminate inflammation. Now there comes a very important question at this time: what are the treatment options that are available in this whole picture. Let’s have a look.
Medications
You can take certain medicine in order to get rid of pain in ulcerative colitis. You need to take medicine only with the advice of a professional health Care provider. Some of the common and important medicines that are used in order to treat UC are as follows.
Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), Corticosteroids, immunomodulators are one of the most common and useful medicines that are used to treat UC. You can target those proteins that create inflammation. The best ones are infliximab, adalimumab and vedolizumab.
You can use certain inhibitors that are extremely helpful to reduce inflammation. They directly target specific culprits in the immune system. Tofacitinib is an oral medicine that is used in this case.
Surgery
Surgical options are taken at that time when other treatment options that we have talked about earlier fail to give required results. So there are some surgical options for example proctocolectomy and Ileostomy. In case of proctocolectomy the colon and rectum is removed. After the removal of colon and the rectum, an opening in the abdomen is created in order to pass out waste into an external bag.
Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies
Last but not least, an option for better and effective treatment is to change your daily lifestyle and take some home remedies. Make sure that you take those foods in your diet that actually provide you ease in case of ulcerative colitis. Try to avoid junk foods and keep yourself hydrated. Test management is also an important option to deal with UC symptoms. Make a habit to use techniques such as yoga and take those exercises which are deep breathing in nature.
You can also take out alternative therapy such as acupuncture, probiotics or herbal supplements.
Managing Ulcerative Colitis
It becomes very crucial to manage ulcerative colitis in an effective way. Here we talk about effective management. It is actually a combination of medical treatment, modification in lifestyle and regular monitoring. Here in this segment of the article we are going to talk about some strategies that you can take in order to manage UC. Let’s have a look.
Taking Regular Treatment
First important thing is to take medicines only after a prescription from a professional health Care provider. Make a habit to take those treatments on a regular way.
Monitoring Symptoms
It is better to keep a diary with yourself and write all the symptoms that you observe during your treatment. After keeping a record of those symptoms just consult your physician for further guidance.
Nutritional Support
It is really very important to discuss with your nutritionist for an effective dietary plan according to your nutritional deficiencies.
Regular Screening
It becomes very crucial for a patient to get regular screening when the risk of colon cancer increases. In this way Colonoscopies become really very important.
Support Networks
When someone suffers from any type of complicated disease and in this case of ulcerative colitis it becomes really very crucial for a patient to be in touch with those people who are also facing the same health issue. In this way, you will get emotional support and experience from other people.
Educating Yourself
Try to stay informed about ulcerative colitis. Every day, new research and innovations are taking place. So get informed about the new treatment options and the possible concerns. Consult them with your professional healthcare provider and see professional guidelines.
Complications of Ulcerative Colitis
It is important to know the possible complications if you fail to treat it in an effective manner. Some of the complexities are as follows.
Severe Bleeding
There is a magnificent possibility of a severe bleeding. This bleeding actually happens from the inflamed colon. The significant amount of blood loss can lead you to anemia.
Perforated Colon
This is really a very complex situation where a hole in the clone wall appears which results in the leakage of intestinal content into the abdominal cavity. In this case just consult your physician urgently.
Severe Dehydration
There are a lot of chances of the most complex dehydration issue if a diarrhea continues for a longer period of time. In this way a lot of fluid is lost which is not a good sign for a patient.
Liver Disease
There are possibilities that ulcerative Colitis can damage liver and bile ducts. If this happens then there is a lot of risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Colon Cancer
It is very important to manage and treat ulcerative Colitis as soon as possible because its prolonged period can create another health issue like colon cancer.
Toxic Megacolon
Toxic megacolon is a really very dangerous medical condition. Although it is very rare in nature, if it happens then there are a lot of chances of colon expansion. In this way it loses its ability to contract.
Living with Ulcerative Colitis
Now there comes an important question at the moment: what to do and how to live with ulcerative colitis. There are a lot of people who are living a happy life by managing it. So here are some useful strategies that you can use in order to manage it more perfectly.
Building a HealthCare Team
It is important for UC patients that they keep a good relationship with gastroenterologists and other specialists in this field. With in-time communication, you can manage this chronic disease in an easy manner.
Personalized Care Plan
Just go to your professional health Care provider and ask for a comprehensive care plan according to the needs and adjustments of that individual.
Stress Reduction
In today’s busy life stress is very fatal for overall health. So try to reduce stress related activities from your daily routine.
Future Planning
Just prepare yourself for ups and downs during a treatment. So prepare yourself mentally and physically in order to manage symptoms in an effective way.
Open Communication
Make a habit to discuss your issues with your family, friends and your beloved ones. Because when you communicate your issues then you must get some solution which is really very important in any type of health issues and the same is the case with Ulcerative Colitis.
Conclusion
Ulcerative Colitis is a fatal chronic disease that needs to be tackled with comprehensive management. For this purpose it is very important to understand its symptoms. After identifying root causes the next important step is to go for a better treatment option. Those individuals who are affected with UC can adopt certain strategies for a speedy recovery. First of all, try to modify your quality of life. Keep in touch with your professional health Care providers for comprehensive guidance. With the help of lifestyle adjustments, regular medical care and attending support networks you can deal with this complex chronic medical disorder and can live a happy life as many others around the world.