Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease that is chronic. It is characterized by the occurrence of regularly recurring inflammations in the colon and rectum. The complaints can vary per person from not so bad to very bad. The diagnosis is often made in young adults. Having ulcerative colitis eventually increases the risk of developing colon cancer. It is therefore important to be regularly checked by a doctor. An incorrect lifestyle can cause the disease to flare up even more and the symptoms can worsen.
Ulcerative colitis
- What is Ulcerative Colitis?
- Symptoms that may occur
- Possible causes Ulcerative colitis
- Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
- Living with Ulcerative Colitis
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation of the lining of the large intestine and is an autoimmune disease. The inflammation occurs regularly, is chronic and is limited to the colon and rectum. This intestinal disease occurs in both men and women, but slightly more often in men. It is often discovered at a fairly young age, between 10 and 40 years. The disease often starts in the rectum and then spreads throughout the colon. Some people have few complaints from this disease, but others regularly experience a lot of problems. About eight years after the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, you have a slightly increased risk of developing colon cancer . It is therefore important that regular examinations are carried out by a doctor after the diagnosis.
Symptoms that may occur
Not everyone has the same complaints and suffers from them as much as someone else. Complaints that often occur with ulcerative colitis are;
- Stomach ache
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea, which may contain mucus and blood
- Bloated stomach
- Problems keeping stools down
- Fever
- Anemia due to excessive blood loss
- Weight loss
Furthermore, there are sometimes complaints that occur outside the intestines, such as;
- Inflammations of the skin that are painful
- Painful inflamed joints
- Inflamed eyes that are painful
- Inflamed bile ducts in and outside the liver, primary sclerosing cholangitis, which occurs in about 10% of people with ulcerative colitis.
Possible causes Ulcerative colitis
- Defense. The body’s immune system does not function properly, which means that bacteria and viruses have free rein and inflammation can occur in the large intestine.
- Heredity. If someone has developed ulcerative colitis, the chance for family members to also develop the disease is about 5 to 10% higher than if no one has the disease.
- Bacteria. Research is still being conducted into the influence of certain bacteria on developing this disease.
Stress is not a cause of this disease, but it does cause more complaints. Even people who do not have ulcerative colitis often experience stomach and intestinal complaints due to a lot of stress. Stopping smoking and not smoking appear to increase the risk of this disease. However, it is certainly important for your overall health not to smoke.
Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
- Medicines. Different types of medications can be prescribed. What the doctor will prescribe depends on the severity of the complaints and the side effects you may experience. The medications cannot cure the disease, but they can reduce inflammation of the intestines and reduce symptoms. One achieves better results than the other.
- Operation. If many complaints continue to occur, even with all kinds of medications, it may be necessary to remove the entire colon or part of it. A stoma can also be temporarily created to give the inflamed intestine the chance to recover.
Living with Ulcerative Colitis
It is important for everyone to rest regularly, exercise regularly and eat and drink healthily. This is certainly important for people with ulcerative colitis. The complaints can be worsened by:
- A reduction in resistance
- Due to stress and leading an irregular life
- By eating unhealthy and exercising little. Alcohol consumption may also influence the disease.