How serious is Ulcerative Colitis?

Definition of Ulcerative Colitis 

Ulcerative Colitis is one type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is a lifelong condition manageable by a person having this illness. However, Ulcerative Colitis is still a severe disease that can lead to dangerous complications, especially if not detected early and not given the proper treatment.

Ulcerative Colitis causes irritation and open sores (ulcers) in the large intestine, also known as the colon, up to the inner lining of your rectum. In most cases, it causes cramping, urgency, and diarrhea with blood. This can make a person go to the comfort room, even during nighttime. It is called Ulcerative Proctitis if the inflammation is in the rectum and lower part of the colon. Pancolitis is the correct term if the whole colon or large intestine is affected. Suppose it is only the left side of the colon or large intestine affected. In that case, it is called Distal Colitis or Limited.

The amount of inflammation and the location dictates the severity of Ulcerative Colitis. Each case could be a little different. A person could have severe inflammation in the rectum. In contrast, another person could have very mild inflammation in the entire large intestine.

A person may experience a pattern of flare-ups (activeness of the diseases) if they have Ulcerative Colitis Specialist Singapore. This pattern of flare-ups can be severe if the symptoms are worse. During remissions, there can be little to no signs at all. The goal of the treatment is to maintain the remission as long as possible.

Based on research, most people, about half of those diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, have mild symptoms. At the same time, others experience severe signs and symptoms of the disease.

Types of Ulcerative Colitis 

The type of Ulcerative Colitis varies depending on factors like its location in your body.

• Ulcerative proctitis. This is the mildest form in most cases. It is found in the rectum, the part of your colon nearest your anus. The only sign of this disease may be rectal bleeding.
• Proctosigmoiditis. This happens when the inflammation occurs in your rectum and the sigmoid colon (the lower end of your colon). A person having this disease may experience belly cramps and bloody diarrhea. Even if you feel the need to poop, you won’t be able to. 
• Left-sided Colitis. This type of Ulcerative Colitis causes cramps on the sides of your belly. You are likely to have bloody diarrhea, and losing weight without even trying can be a problem to deal with. The inflammation occurs in the rectum up through the left side of your colon.
• Pancolitis. This one affects a person’s entire colon. It can cause bloody diarrhea, fatigue, belly cramps/pain, and significant weight loss.
• Acute severe ulcerative colitis is rare. This type of Ulcerative Colitis also affects a person’s entire colon and causes severe diarrhea, serious diarrhea, bleeding, and fever.

Cause of Ulcerative Colitis 

It remains unknown the exact cause of Ulcerative Colitis. Diets and stress were suspected; however, the doctors know that these factors may aggravate and trigger a flare of symptoms but won’t be a cause of Ulcerative Colitis a hundred percent of the time. Listed below are some of the possible causes of Ulcerative Colitis.

• Immune system malfunction. An abnormal immune response can make the immune system attack the digestive tract cells when a person’s immune system tries to fight a bacteria or an invading virus off the body. When you have Ulcerative Colitis, your immune system thinks good stomach bacteria, food, and the cells that line your colon are the bad cells, bacteria, or viruses. The white blood cells that usually protect you will attack the lining of your colon, which can cause inflammation and ulcers. 
• Heredity. Family history plays a significant role in Ulcerative Colitis. People whose family members with the disease are at higher risk of getting one.
• Diet. People who eat a high-fat diet are likely to get the disease.
• Medications. Use frequent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®).

Signs and Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis 

The most known symptom of Ulcerative Colitis is bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may be as follows:

• Not feeling hungry
• Significant weight loss
• Skin sores
• Feeling tired
• Joint pain or soreness
• Canker sores
• Fever
• Dehydration
• Cramping belly pain
• Sudden urges to poop
• Waking up at night to go
• Too few red blood cells, called anemia
• Pain or bleeding with bowel movements
• Feeling like your stomach is still wholly filled
• Not being able to hold your poop in
• Eyesore or pain when you look at a bright light

The symptoms can go from mild to severe, can go away, and come back. That is why you have to be observant in terms of your symptoms.

Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis 

The doctors have several types of tests to know if you have Ulcerative Colitis or a different kind of gut disease. Some of the tests to diagnose Ulcerative Colitis are:

• Blood tests. It can determine if you have an inflammation or anemia.
• Stool samples. This can help rule out a parasite or an infection in your colon. This can also show if there’s a presence of blood in your stool which our bare eyes cannot see.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy. It lets your doctor see the lower part of your colon. A bendable tube will be pushed through your lower colon through your bottom. It has a small light and a camera on end. A biopsy may also be done by your doctor to take a piece of the lining of your lower colon. Another doctor in the laboratory will have to check the sample using a microscope.
• Colonoscopy. Similar to the flexible sigmoidoscopy but differs in a way that your doctor will look at your whole colon instead, rather than looking just at the lower part.
• X-rays. This procedure is less common for diagnosing Ulcerative Colitis, but this can be done in exceptional cases.

Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis 

A range of medications for Ulcerative Colitis treatment may be recommended by doctors. All of the treatment aims to maintain remissions and relieve symptoms. Some of the options for Ulcerative Colitis treatment may include:

• Antidiarrheal medications. These types of treatment can help stop or reduce diarrhea. However, these are usually for the short term only.
• Aminosalicylates. If a person has a mild or moderate symptom, this drug can help control inflammation.
• Corticosteroids. For people with severe symptoms, doctors may prescribe these for short-term relief.
• Immunomodulators. These drugs suppress a person’s immune system to reduce inflammation or irritation in the colon. 
• Biologics. These are antibodies, and they target specific parts of the immune system. The doctors usually reserve biologics for people whose symptoms do not respond to other treatments.
• Dietary supplements. Since immune system malfunction can cause Ulcerative Colitis, supplements may help address some nutritional deficiencies.
• Antibiotics. If an untreated Ulcerative Colitis causes abscesses and ulcers, it may require antibiotics.
• Surgery. The doctor may recommend surgery for people with severe Ulcerative Colitis, and removing part or the entire colon of a person may be an option.

Complications of Ulcerative Colitis 

• Toxic megacolon. This complication is rare, but doctors consider toxic megacolon the most difficult-to-treat complication of Ulcerative Colitis. Toxic megacolon occurs when the colon is enlarged because of the inflammation. This enlargement results in the gas build-up because it prevents the colon from contracting the way it should. The colon is likely to burst as it swells with gas, and it can release harmful bacteria and toxins.
• Perforation of the colon. These can weaken the intestinal wall due to long-term inflammation and ulcers in the colon. Over time, perforation may develop as a result of these weaknesses. A perforation can allow bacteria and other contents in the intestine only to leak out into the stomach and cause peritonitis. Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum (lining of the stomach). This condition may fill the stomach with fluid. It can also lead to sepsis (blood poisoning) or a whole-body inflammatory response to the infection. One in three people that develop sepsis dies from the condition.
• Colorectal cancer. According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, around 5 to 8 percent of people with Ulcerative Colitis develop colorectal cancer. People with severe Ulcerative Colitis are most likely to be affected by the increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Those are people having symptoms for 8 to 10 years. People who have not received treatment for Ulcerative Colitis have a higher risk of colorectal cancer as we know the treatment reduces the symptoms. 
• Blood clots. Studies have shown that people with Ulcerative Colitis have thrombosis or an increased risk of blood clot formation. It is called deep vein thrombosis, when a blood clot blocks a vein in a limb. In other people’s cases, part of the blood clot breaks away and travels to the lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism. This is a potentially fatal complication. 
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis. It is a condition that involves damage and inflammation of the bile ducts. The bile ducts are tubes that transport digestive enzymes from the liver and into the digestive tract. Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis affects around 3 percent of people with Ulcerative Colitis. It generally only occurs when the disease is extensive and severe. Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis is a lifelong disease that is typically slow in progress. Still, the risk of some potentially life-threatening complications increases over time.

Preventing Ulcerative Colitis 

Doctors may recommend lifestyle changes to help a person better manage their Ulcerative Colitis. Good nutrition can play an essential role in managing the disease. Changes in diet can help reduce symptoms. Some of the lifestyle or diet modifications that may help a person manage their symptoms include:

• Drinking more liquid
• Avoiding carbonated drinks
• Replacing large meals with small but more frequent ones
• Tracking the food intake that may trigger flare-ups using a journal
• Limit high-fiber and high-fat foods such as popcorn, vegetable skins, and nuts while you have symptoms.

Vitamins and other nutritional supplements may be advised if the nutrients from your food intake are not being absorbed by your body. You must always inform your doctor if complementary or alternative therapies are in place, including dietary supplements and probiotics. This is important for ensuring safe care.

Ulcerative Colitis requires long-term management. It can cause significant emotional, financial, or physical stress to the person and even their family. If you or someone you know, like a family member, is having a hard time coping with the disease, do not hesitate to consult your doctor. Mental health counselors and online support groups are some resources that can help a person dealing with this disease.

Key Takeaways 

Ulcerative Colitis is chronic and can be a lifelong condition for most people. Flare-ups and periods with no symptoms can be both experienced. The doctor calls the period with no symptoms as remissions. Although very rare, some people have one attack of this disease, and it never occurs again.

In most cases, Ulcerative Colitis and its symptoms may spread to the colon over time. This disease can turn into colorectal cancer, but about half the people who get it survive, especially if detected and treated in an early stage.

• Ulcerative Colitis is when the lining of your large intestine or colon and your rectum become inflamed.
• It is part of the diseases or conditions called IBD or inflammatory bowel disease.
• It affects both men and women equally and seems hereditary in some families.
• Doctors are yet to determine the exact causes of the disease or how to prevent it.
• It can cause emotional, financial, and physical stress to the person having the disease and their loved ones.
• Medicines can control symptoms and slow down the progress of the disease in most cases.
• Lifestyle changes may be recommended by the doctors to help manage symptoms.

Disclaimer: If you have health concerns, issues, or a medical problem, It is essential to seek help from a doctor or medical expert. Do not ignore advice from health care professionals nor be confident to put it off just because of the information you have read in his article.