Ulcerative colitis or popularly known as “UC” is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory bowel disease consists of different types of disease that can have a negative impact on your gastrointestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis mainly happens when inflammation or swelling occurs on the lining of colon and rectum.

When this inflammation happens, it causes the production of small sores on the lining of colon which are known as ulcers. The overall process of swelling begins at your rectum and then starts spreading. This swelling is the reason why the overall movement of bowels is swift and happens very frequently. Looking at the cells of your lining, then they are completely dead and are replaced by ulcers. This production of ulcer can cause other health problems as well like bleeding, pus, and mucus as well.

This health problem is something which can happen at any age, but we look at the numbers, then it concludes that this problem commonly happens between 15 to 30 years of age. When humans cross the age of 50, then there is an increase in bid especially in men.

Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis

The intensity of symptoms of ulcerative colitis will be different from person to person. These symptoms can change as the time goes by. When someone is diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, then they will face some mild symptoms or even no symptoms during the initial stages. As they are symptoms, then you should know that things can take a serous turn, therefore here is a list of symptoms that you can look out for:

• Increased abdominal sounds
• Rectal pain
• Malnutrition
• Bloody stools
• Fever
• Eye inflammation
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Joint pain
• Joint swelling
• skin problems
• Decreased appetite
• mouth sores

What causes Ulcerative Colitis?

According to different studies and research it is said that Ulcerative Colitis mainly happens when the immune system goes overboard.

Different factors that can include the development of ulcerative colitis:

Genes

The genes that you have to play a role in determining the chances of having ulcerative colitis. If you are suffering from an immune disorder, then the chances of having another are quite high.

Environmental Factors

There are different types of unwanted items present in the environment in the form of viruses, bacteria, and antigen that can activate our immune system

Different types of Ulcerative Colitis

We can organize ulcerative colitis depending on the gastrointestinal tract it affects

Extensive Colitis

As you might have guessed it by the name, extensive colitis or pancolitis is a serious type of ulcer colitis which mainly affects the whole colon.

Ulcerative Proctitis

Here the rectum is the part which faces swelling or inflammation. We can also say that ulcerative proctitis is a mild type of ulcerative colitis.

Left-sided Colitis

In left-sided colitis inflammation happens somewhere in between the upper side of the bold and the last portion of it which is popularly known as the sigmoid color. Another name for left-sided colitis is distal ulcerative colitis.

Proctosigmoiditis

The name might be difficult to pronounce, therefore you can just say that is a type of left-sided colitis which causes inflammation in sigmoid colon and rectum.

Diagnosing Ulcerative Colitis

There are different types of tests which your doctor can advise according to the symptoms of your Ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is like other bowel related diseases like Crohn’s disease. You can also be advised to do different types of tests to understand the situation in a better way.

Tests For Diagnosing Ulcerative Colitis

Stool test is also something your doctor can ask for which mainly helps in finding different markers related to inflammation, bacteria, and blood.

Blood tests are a very common diagnosing option when it comes to ulcerative colitis. When it comes to blood tests, then the first thing we look for is a reduced level of RBCs. There are some other tests as well which can help in determining the inflammation. Apart from all of this you can be asked to take some antibody tests as well.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy, if you have heard this world for the very first time, then it is a type of endoscopy. Here the doctor will be using a flexible tube and send it to your rectum for examining places like sigmoid color and some descending colons as well.

Endoscopy is another diagnosing technique that the doctor can use to examine your small intestine, stomach, and esophagus.

Biopsy consists of a program where your colon tissues will be examined.

Colonoscopy, here the doctor will use a scope which also has a light attached to it and will be sent to examine your colon and rectum. Again, this is a type of endoscopy as well.

Ulcerative Colitis and Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is opted by a lot of doctors because it helps in checking how intense the situation is. When the doctors is satisfied that going down this route is important, then they will advise you to hop on a liquid diet for the sake of colonoscopy. After this you will also be asked to fast for a small duration.

In most cases you will be given some laxatives at least on the evening before colonoscopy. This is important because it will help in getting rid of any type of waste that is present in your rectum and colon and makes sure that things are clean for better examination.

For colonoscopy your doctor will just lay you on the side and provide you with some sedative that can help in relaxing you. After consuming sedatives, the doctor will continue with the procedure by inserting the colonoscope from the back (anus). The colonoscope is very flexible and offers great length which means it can reach different regions of your gastrointestinal tracts. This wire-like thingy also has a camera to it which allows the doctor to see everything inside. When this procedure is happen the doctor is on a search to find what are the different signs of swelling and if there is any growth of polyps. Apart from this, the doctor might as well take some tissues for deeper examination.

If the results show that you are suffering from ulcerative colitis, then the doctor will create a program in which you will be examined to keep an eye on the rate and intensity of the inflammation and if there are any damages to your intestine along with healing.

Apart from ulcerative colitis, colonoscopy is a great tool which can help in diagnosing colorectal cancer too.

Time to visit Physician

When it is confirmed that you are suffering from ulcerative colitis, then these are the symptoms that you can look out for:

• Dehydration
• Cramps in abdominal area
• inflammation on your skin and joints
• Bleeding in the rectal region
• fever
• High intensity pain in abdominal area
• sever case of diarrhea which is not the easiest to treat

Here are some of the symptoms that you may have a look on:

In case you are not diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis and are facing some of the symptoms, then it is highly advised that you see a doctor and get some tests done if needed to make sure you are taking the correct step accordingly because if you avoid it and just treat it carelessly, then it can come back and haunt you with some severe health problems. When you see a doctor at the correct time before anything serious, then you can take vital steps towards the treatment and help yourself from getting into serious conditions.

Final word

If you have reached this part of the article, then you have some good amount of information regarding Ulcerative colitis and what are the types, symptoms, and diagnosing techniques used here. There are always some more points about ulcerative colitis that we might have missed because fitting everything in one article is a bit difficult. Before taking any step regarding your health make sure you are talking to a trustworthy doctor.