A diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, or UC, can seem devastating. But this inflammatory disease can be controlled so you can live your life fully. In fact, nearly 30% of people experience remission. Find out how.
UC causes irritation and ulcers in the large intestine or colon. This disease belongs to a group of conditions called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and often causes diarrhea with blood, cramping and urgency. It's actually fairly common and, together with Crohn's Disease, can affect 1 in 250 people.
Most doctors and researchers believe that UC is the result of an overactive immune response. Even though it's the immune system's job to protect your body from germs and other dangers, sometimes it can attack your body by mistake and cause inflammation.
Essentially anyone at any age can get ulcerative colitis, including young children. However, you may be more likely to get it if you're aged 15 and 30, or older than 60, Jewish and eat a high-fat diet. Frequent use of NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) can also be a factor.
While your primary care provider can diagnose your ulcerative colitis, you should most likely see a gastroenterologist for your care. A pediatric gastroenterologist should be able to help you manage the care for your child.
If you're diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, you can expect to experience symptoms that range from mild to more severe. Symptoms can include:
In most case, UC can be managed with proper medication. Unfortunately there is not a particular diet that can work to control your UC though you should avoid the following:
Living with UC isn't always fun but you can live a full life by
