Ulcerative Colitis
Your colon, or big intestine, is a muscular tube that is hollow and used to process waste from the digestive system. Colitis refers to the inflammation of your colon. The big intestine's inflammation is referred to generally as colitis. Numerous factors, such as parasites, viruses, or bacteria, may be to blame.
Colitis can be chronic or acute. Colitis comes in a variety of forms, such as microscopic colitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's colitis (a form of Crohn's disease). Chronic inflammatory bowel illnesses include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (IBD).
The symptoms of ulcerative colitis can develop gradually and worsen with time. It may, however, also begin suddenly. Mild to severe symptoms are possible. Most patients experience periods of remission or times when symptoms are absent, in between flare-ups, when they experience symptoms. Remissions might last for a few days or many years. Long-term remission maintenance is the aim of treatment. Any age group can be affected by ulcerative colitis. However, a person over the age of 60 or between the ages of 15 and 30 has the greatest chance of developing it.
Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms and Causes:
Ulcerative colitis symptoms differ from person to person. Common ulcerative colitis symptoms include:
Diarrhea
Passing blood in your stool or experiencing rectal bleeding
Abdominal cramping and pain
Passing mucus or pus in your feces
Tenesmus is characterized by a constant desire to urinate.
Despite the fact that your bowel is empty
A pressing need for a bowel movement
What is the root cause of ulcerative colitis?
The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown. According to experts, the following elements may contribute to the development of ulcerative colitis:
Genes: It's possible for ulcerative colitis to run in families. According to research, having particular genes raises a person's risk of developing ulcerative colitis.
Immune system abnormalities: Immune system abnormalities may contribute to the development of ulcerative colitis. The large intestine becomes inflamed as a result of abnormal immunological responses.
Microbiome
The microbiome refers to the bacteria, viruses, and fungi that reside in your digestive tract and aid in digestion. People with IBD and those without have different microbiomes, according to studies. The connection between IBD and the microbiota is still being researched.
Environment
According to experts, a person's environment, including their surroundings and external circumstances, may contribute to the development of ulcerative colitis. Researchers are still investigating how people's circumstances determine how likely they are to develop ulcerative colitis through interacting with their genes, immune systems, and microbiomes.
Diet
The diet has a major role in ulcerative colitis. You run a higher chance of getting inflammatory bowel disorders if you consume a conventional American diet that is heavily processed.
Inflammatory foods include processed foods, factory-farmed meats, farmed fish, refined seed oils, refined sugars, and refined grains. Your immune system responds to eating these pro-inflammatory foods by producing an excessive amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines and less anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Long-Term Stress
Chronic stress is linked to ulcerative colitis. The complex relationship between the brain and gut is to blame for this. Gut health and gut-brain connections are impacted by psychological and physical stressors. Stress can harm the digestive system by modifying important inflammatory pathways. Additionally, it reduces blood flow across the mucosa, jeopardizing the integrity of the gut mucosal barrier.
Lack of sleep and other psychological stressors cause the brain's HPA axis to promote the creation of cytokines that are pro-inflammatory. Oxidative stress, sympathetic activity, and nuclear factor kappa B transcription factor are other inflammatory mechanisms (NF-kB). This may lead to altered gut flora and increased intestinal permeability.
Specific Medicines
Oral contraceptives, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medications can all raise your chance of getting ulcerative colitis. In patients with ulcerative colitis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently utilized. These medications have the potential to irritate and result in gastrointestinal bleeding.
Inflammatory bowel illnesses are more likely to develop when antibiotic use is prolonged. They are frequently employed in the management of IBD patients. However, due to their interference with the gut flora and influence on the intestinal immune system, antibiotic use may result in negative effects.
Ulcerative Colitis Complications
Ulcerative colitis carries significant risks and complications. These consist of:
Bowel Perforation: Prolonged inflammation weakens the intestinal wall, causing a hole to form and the gut to rupture. A lot of bacteria can stream into the abdomen through a hole and cause an infection.
A rare problem called toxic megacolon happens when the big intestine's deep tissue layers become inflamed. A dilated colon that is unable to adequately contract and pass intestinal gas along causes abdominal distention. To avoid the gut from rupturing, medical assistance should be sought very away because the distention may be severe.
Inflammation in Other Parts of the Body: Inflammation in the joints, eyes, skin, and liver can be caused by the immune system.
Dehydration and malabsorption occur when the large intestine is unable to absorb fluids and nutrients due to diarrhea and inflammation.
The severity and length of colitis both increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
RESOURCES:
https://www.nature.com/nrneurol/
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/ulcerative-colitis/
2022. NP. Malika Katrouche. All Rights Reserved.
