This is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the large intestine (colon and rectum). It can also cause small sores, called ulcers.
Symptoms
Diarrhea with bloody stools, rectal bleeding,mucous discharge, pain is unusual, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite and weight loss, Urgency the need to go to the bathroom, low levels of energy and fatigue and Flare-ups.
Causes
Causes of Ulcerative Colitis are not known exactly. It is not sure what triggers Ulcerative Colitis.
Heredity, You can develop the condition if you have a parent or sibling with the same problem. genetic makeup play very important role to develop Ulcerative Colitis.
Clinical Manifestations of Ulcerative Colitis
Diarrhea plus blood.
Frequent and small urine volume.
Colicky abdominal pain, urgency, tenesmus, and incotinence.
Mainly distal disease may have constipation accompanied by frequent discharge of blood and mucus.
Onset: Gradual.
Progressive over several weeks.
Self-limited.
Severity: from mild disease with four or fewer stools per day with or without blood to severe disease with more than 10 stools per day with severe cramps and continous bleeding.
Systemic symptoms: fever fatigue, and weight loss. Dyspnea, and palpitations due to anemia secondary to iron deficiency from blood loss, anemia of chronic disease, or autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
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Foods to Avoid with Ulcerative Colitis
Dairy- Lactose intolerance is a common issue affecting the general population as well as people with ulcerative colitis.
Caffeine- Coffee and tea as well as chocolate and other foods containing caffeine act as diuretices, causing water loss. They can trigger diarrhea or make existing diarrhea worse in people with Ulcerative Colitis.
Unhealthy Fats- A 2014 study showed women who ate a diet high in trans fats, such as those found in processed foods containing hydrogenated oils, had a higher risk of Ulcerative Colitis.
Carbonated Beverages- Many soft drinks or carbonated energy drinks also contain caffeine, which can worsen diarrhea.
Nuts and Seeds- Avoid high fiber foods like nuts seeds andcorn hulls as well as raw vegetables. These are hard to digest.
Spicy Food- A spicy meal can send anyone to the bathroom for emergency relief, and people with Ulcerative Colitis are no exception.
Large Meals- Large meal can put stress on the digestsive system as a whole and make inflammatory bowel disease symptoms worse.
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