If you suffer from abdominal pain, diarrhea, or rectal bleeding, you may be one of the over 900,000 Americans who lives with ulcerative colitis (UC).
What is ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that leads to inflammation and the formation of small ulcers throughout your rectum and colon. The inflammation causes frequent and loose bowel movements. You may also find blood, mucus, or pus in your stool. Other symptoms of ulcerative colitis include:
You may feel urgent needs to defecate but be unable to have a bowel movement. The condition also disrupts your nutrient absorption and may lead to anemia.
Your symptoms can range in severity, and you might have periods of remission without any symptoms, as well as flare-ups when your symptoms are even more severe.
What causes ulcerative colitis?
Medical researchers haven’t identified the exact cause of ulcerative colitis, but they believe it’s due to an overactive immune system. You may have a genetic predisposition to the disease and environmental factors such as bacteria, viruses, and antigens could trigger your symptoms and cause a flare-up.
Your risk of ulcerative colitis increases if you have other immunologic disorders or if you have a family member who also has the condition.
If you have symptoms of ulcerative colitis or another gastrointestinal disease, make an appointment at Park Gastro NYC today by calling the practice or using the online scheduling tool. The earlier you get a diagnosis and start treatment, the higher your chances of avoiding severe disruptions to your health and wellness.
© 2024 Park Gastro NYC. All rights reserved.