Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease in which the surface of the gastrointestinal tract becomes persistently inflamed and ulcerated. The major symptoms of ulcerative colitis affect the innermost lining of the large intestine—the colon—and the rectum. Understanding the symptoms, causes of ulcerative colitis, and available treatments is crucial for managing the disease and improving one’s quality of life.
Recognising the Symptoms
The intensity of symptoms varies among individuals, but common signs include:
- Chronic Diarrhea: Most of the time, consists of blood or pus.
- Abdominal Discomfort: Cramping and pain in the stomach area.
- Pain and Bleeding from the Rectum: Pain in the anal region while passing blood with stool or bleeding from the anal regions.
- Urgency: Frequent urgent needs to have a bowel movement.
- Fatigue and Weight Loss: These symptoms are caused by an inability of the body to absorb nutrients efficiently.
Symptoms can be transient, with periods of active flare-ups followed by periods of remission.
Understanding the Causes
Although the exact cause of ulcerative colitis is still unknown, some of the contributing factors include:
- Malfunctioning Immune System: Abnormal immune responses, which could attack cells lining the digestive tract.
- Genetics: Risk increases with a family history of the situation.
- Environmental Factors: Some of the extrinsic factors act as a trigger for the disease.
While neither stress nor diet directly causes ulcerative colitis, both are known to exacerbate symptoms of this condition.
Exploring Treatment Options
Treatment approaches the main issue: to decrease the inflammation and control the symptoms for longstanding remission. The various options of treatment are listed below:
- Medications:
- Anti-inflammatory Drugs: Corticosteroids, aminosalicylates.
- Immunosuppressants: Azathioprine, cyclosporine.
- Biologics: Infliximab and adalimumab.
- Lifestyle Modifications:
- Dietary Changes: The identification and exclusion of certain trigger foods.
- Stress Management: Techniques utilised to help in relaxation.
- Surgical Interventions:
- Proctocolectomy: A surgical operation conducted to remove the colon and rectum.
Up-and-coming treatments, such as vagus nerve stimulation, are currently in the process of investigation into their potential to modulate the brain-gut axis and reduce inflammation.
Finding Specialised Care in Ahmedabad
Searching for Ulcerative colitis treatment in Ahmedabad must be done under the counsel of a qualified specialist. The best colorectal surgeon in Ahmedabad, Dr. Avadh Patel, maintains individualised service to understand each patient uniquely.