Ulcerative Colitis Information

You've been feeling an upset stomach for days. You experience dyspepsia - that burning sensation at your upper abdomen - together with bloating, belching and nausea. Curiously, you feel full even when you're just starting a meal.

These complaints are frequently heard from people with irritable bowel syndrome. Diarrhea with alternating constipation, gas and the presence of mucus in the stools are additional symptoms of the condition. Actually, irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common root causes of chronic indigestion. The digestive condition may stem from food, stress and even hormones. Most times the exact reasons are unknown.

You may have consulted a physician who prescribed some medications such as anti-spasmodics and counseled you on lifestyle changes. But are you familiar with aloe gel? It is a very valuable supplement to the allopathic regimen. If you're one of those with constant indigestion, aloe vera aids with proper digestion of your meals and eases your discomfort. It regulates the embarrassing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome which is most often uncontrolled diarrhea.

The efficacy of aloe has been documented in traditional medicine for the relief of dyspepsia, heartburn, ulcers and other irritating stomach conditions. Recent clinical studies reveal that indeed, aloe vera provides relief to people suffering from indigestion. A study conducted in Japan concluded that the herb works on the stomach lining to decrease levels of stomach acids -- the culprit behind indigestion and peptic ulcers.

What's more, aloe vera gel has been shown to be helpful in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis reveals inflammation of the digestive tract with symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea. A research done by Langmead in 2004 as reported by Mayo clinic revealed improvements in ulcerative colitis patients who regularly drank aloe vera gel. This is attributed to the anti-inflammatory properties of the aloe herb.

If you're suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and you're regularly drinking an aloe supplement, it is always best to inform your health care provider. Your other medications shouldn't have unsafe interactions with your aloe supplement.

A lot of aloe juice is being sold over the net. If you are purchasing, select one containing aloe gel. This transparent aloe extract is a non-toxic digestive healer as opposed to the latex of the inner lining of the leaf which contains aloin - an irritant.

穢 Lisa K. Moran, 2010

Ulcerative colitis can be considered as maddening illness. So it advised to know more about this as so far not much of the proper reports had been generated of it and the individuals who are bothered about this must know it. If a person is victim of Ulcerative colitis then processes like investigations, talking about the indicators or regarding the making of the decisions can be a feeling of discomfort for them. But Ulcerative colitis support collection is ready to help those people with their proper knowledge.

Concern and symptom of Ulcerative colitis: -

The main symptom can be the constant illness which further leads to the depression and causing nervousness. So for the help of such patients there are many doctors who are working for the counseling of the patients along with the help of UC support group. There are many ways getting the information regarding the Ulcerative colitis. If some information is not available with the doctors then it can be easily searched on internet. So the counseling from the UC support group can be very much helpful for the patients. If the illness is prolonged then there could be the facility of referring the person who had recently suffered from this problem. So some of the programs are mentioned below which are very much cooperative and attractive for the people: -

i. CCFA known as The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America which is non-profit association which provides the full knowledge and learning about the care of the Ulcerative colitis by providing the financial help and giving support to the patients and their respective families by having the sponsorships for the active members of the association. The CCFA is a big organization and currently as more than 50000 members with around 40 centers all over the world.

Proper knowledge and learning can be taken from the website and people can know how to deal with Ulcerative colitis by their support and make full investigation relating to that topic.

ii. There is a program running known as the UC Support Group Australia and Crohn's illness which helps in providing all the surgical treatments to the patients. So besides the need of the family it necessary to have the support of such groups for the chronic patients.

Do you have wheat or gluten intolerance? Wheat is a staple and nutritious diet consumed by many people around the world. Is it possible to have wheat intolerance?

Many people do not realise that the underlying cause for some of their ailments like bloating, abdominal cramp, eczema could be due to wheat intolerance. Wheat intolerance occurs when the person does not have the digestive enzymes to digest wheat thus making the person feel unwell. The symptoms of wheat intolerance are often similar with other ailments and are often overlooked. Symptoms such as aching joints, bloating, flatulence, fluid retention, eczema and joint pains can be relieved with medical help and by eliminating wheat from our diet. Many people find it difficult to eliminate wheat as it is found in many food products.

Wheat are made into bread, noodles, pasta and pies which is a staple diet for many, it is also found in sauces, thickening agent, tin soups, sausage and more. Though wheat is one of the main problems for people who suffer from gluten intolerance, wheat intolerance is not necessarily linked to gluten intolerance. People suffering from gluten intolerance are sensitive to the gluten, a protein found commonly in wheat, barley, rye and oats. A person with gluten intolerance could develop a inflammatory condition called Coeliac (Celiac) disease.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by a reaction to gliadin, one of the main proteins in gluten Coeliac disease is a lifelong inflammatory condition. It can affect a person at any age. You will be more susceptible to coeliac disease if it runs in the family. People with suffer from Type 1 Diabetes, thyroid problems and ulcerative colitis have an increased chance of developing coeliac disease. Diarrhoea, weight loss, fatigue are some of the common symptom of gluten intolerant. Poor absorption of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 could give rise to anaemia. Consult your doctor if you have some of the symptoms or if you are worried about coeliac disease. Coeliac disease can be diagnosed through blood test which is test to check for anaemia and test to detect antibodies which are often found in coeliac disease.

Wheat and gluten intolerance can be controlled with a proper wheat/gluten free diet. There is many other type of food available to substitute the sensitive food. With a desire to feel better and careful planning, you can have a normal lifestyle.

The purpose of the treatment that your doctor recommends in case you have a peptic ulcer caused by H. Pylori is to destroy the bacteria, to lower the quantity of acid from your stomach and duodenum and to preserve the lining of your stomach and duodenum.

Antibiotic treatment will kill the bacteria if taken for 2 weeks in combination of two drugs. Some of the most efficient antibiotic drugs are: Metronidazole, Tetracycline, Clarithromycin and Amoxicillin. Also, one of the antibiotic drugs might be switched with bismuth salicylate which coats and soothes the stomach, protecting it from the damaging effects of acid.

In order to reduce the level of acid in your stomach, the doctor will prescribe you: H2-Receptor antagonists (Famotidine, Cimetidine, Nizatidine, and Ranitidine) and inhibitors of the proton pump (Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, and Pantoprazole). By decreasing the quantity of acid, the stomach and duodenum will not be injured any more by it, and the pain will be reduced.

For protecting the line of your stomach and duodenum, you will receive antacids like TUMS and ROLAIDS that will preserve the lining from the acid's action.

Treatment must be followed exactly as the doctor has prescribed it. Also, smoking and drinking alcohol and coffee must be eliminated or at least reduced. Stress is also a factor that contributes to the extent of ulcer, so you should avoid getting stressed. Some herbs and even acupuncture can be helpful.

Also, a diet is recommended to be followed. Cranberries, apples, onions kill the H. Pylori; fruits and vegetable that are rich in fiber are also good for you. Try to see what kind of aliments are causing you discomfort after eating them and then reduce them from your diet. Another rule is not to eat within two hour of bedtime. Also, if you have a cold avoid using aspirin because it will only injure your stomach more.

There are some rare cases when treatment is not effective and other measures must be applied. Surgery is a solution for treating peptic ulcers but only the doctor will be able to pronounce whether you need a surgery or not.

Treating ulcer from its beginnings is essential for your life. Left untreated ulcer can give you anemia (the blood has a lack of blood cells and can not transport oxygen properly) and perforation, meaning that the ulcer injures your stomach until it goes through its wall. Also, hemorrhages can appear and even death.

According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), about half of Americans aged 50 years and above experience signs of hemorrhoids or piles. The disorder is characterized by discomfort, itching, and bleeding in the anus or lower rectum. It is caused by inflamed veins that swell. It is grouped into two kinds. It is an internal hemorrhoid if the inflamed veins are inside the rectum. It is external if it is under the skin that surrounds the anus. One who has this disorder can take over the counter medication, undergo a surgical procedure or try a non-surgical approach such as injection sclerotherapy for hemorrhoids.

Sclerotherapy is only one of the non-surgical treatments for hemorrhoids. In fact, it is one of the oldest techniques used for treating this condition. Other non-surgical treatments include rubber band ligation, cryotherapy and heat coagulation.

With this approach, the medical practitioner would inject phenol or quinine urea in liquid form. They are the ones referred to as the sclerosants. Their main goal is to get rid of the long-period but mild inflammation. The patients are usually requested to defecate before injecting the sclerosants. Defecating right after the treatment is strongly discouraged because it may reduce treatment's effectiveness. The area to be treated is usually lubricated and pain killer may be given.

The sclerosants must be injected to the hemorrhoids' base. It is not totally pain-free but the pain is experienced much shorter than the one experienced after a surgical procedure. This hemorrhoid management technique usually requires only a day for the pain to go away. It is an outpatient procedure but most doctors recommend that you have someone come with you and drive you home.

One of the benefits of this injection sclerotherapy for hemorrhoids is that the results are quick even if it is cheaper than other treatments. The inflammation would subside fast. One can see results at least a week after the fluids are injected. The hemorrhoids will come out of the body through the natural bowel movement, which must be pain and blood-free.

Another good thing about this therapy is that it is non-invasive. This is why it is one of the most recommended to the elderly suffering from the said disorder. Unlike surgical procedures, injecting liquids to the veins does not require much strength and excellent health.

Of course, any treatment has its downside. In the case of sclerotherapy, one may develop scars in the affected area when the inflammation is treated. Moreover, the medical practitioners limit the treatment to only three hemorrhoids per sessions. It cannot be used for very large inflamed veins or third degree piles, too. Aside from that the injected phenol is less effective on large piles, there is also a risk for blood clots. Another downside is that the benefits of this treatment are not permanent. The condition may come back after a year or so.

Additionally, the injection sclerotherapy for hemorrhoids may be great for the elderly suffering from piles but it is not for everyone. It cannot be administered to those who have other inflammatory bowel conditions such as the ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

The exact reason why colon cancer develops in some persons and not in others is not clear. The incidence of colon cancer is quite varied among different countries and within different ethnic groups inside the same country. Industrialized countries like United States, Canada, UK, Western Europe, Australia and Japan have a much higher incidence of colorectal cancer compared to the less industrialized parts of the world like Asia, Africa, and South America. Colorectal cancer represent over 9 percent of all cancers in men and about 10 percent of all cancers in women world-wide. In industrialized countries the incidence of colorectal cancer can be as high as 12 to 14 of all cancers, and in non-industrialized countries much lower rates of about 7 to 8 percent of all cancers diagnosed may be colorectal cancer.

Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third commonest cancer diagnosed in the United States. Each year over 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer and over 50 percent of these patients will die from colorectal cancer. Colon cancer incidence is not much different between males and females, however colon cancer is slightly more prevalent in women compared to men (ratio of 1.2:1) but the rectal cancer is more common in males (ratio of 1.7:1).

Even though we do not know the exact cause of development of colorectal cancer, scientists have recognized several factors that can increase the risk of development of colorectal cancer. A risk factor for a disease is any condition that makes a person more likely to develop that diseases. Some of the risk factors like dietary factors are modifiable by the person involved while some other factors like age are un-modifiable. These risk factors may act in combination, and this combination of risk factors may be associated with cumulative increase in the risk of development of colorectal cancer. The simple presence of one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean that someone will develop colorectal cancer. On the other hand absence of all risk factors does not mean that an individual will not develop colorectal cancer, but generally more risk factors you have higher is the chance of developing colorectal cancer. Environmental factors also may be playing a role in the development of colorectal cancer. People who migrate from areas of low risk to areas of the world with higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, they tend to acquire the risk of the country to which they are migrating. This finding suggests the presence of environmental factors causing higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. Changes in dietary factors associated with migration may also be contributing to this increase in risk associated with migration from low risk areas to higher risk areas.

Risk factors for the development of colorectal cancer include the following:

• Age over 50 years


• Increased fat intake


• Large intestinal polyps


• Family history of colon cancer


• Inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.


• Personal history of other cancers


• Sedentary habits and lack of exercise


• Obesity


• Diabetes


• Smoking


• Alcohol content


• Genetic colon cancer syndromes like Familial adenomatous polyposis or Hereditary Non-polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC)

Are you a victim of ulcerative colitis? Have you experimented with sulfasalazine, corticosteroids, immuno-suppressive drugs and even considered partial removal of your colon to treat your ulcerative colitis? The permanent solution is here. Aloe Vera. It is an all natural, non-toxic medicine with no negative side effects. It can rid you of the abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, fever, dehydration, arthritis, constipation, liver inflammation or skin sores; whatever your ulcer symptoms are. Aloe vera has the ability to heal internal diseases thereby reinforcing the health of your digestive system.

For the quick recovery from first degree burns aloe gel is the best external cure. It is also used to shrink warts and reduce pain caused due to shingles. Psoriasis, another skin disease can be treated with the use of aloe gel. Bleeding gums, denture somatitis and other dental problems can all be solved using Aloe Vera. Cleansing your bowels and clearing constipation are internal diseases that aloe-vera can cure. Its antioxidant properties are also much famed. In European alternate medicine aloe is used to cure heart burns and ulcers. It has also been speculated that it can be used in the treatment of diabetes. Patients who suffer from Irritable bowel disease (IBD) benefit significantly from use of aloe vera. Bowel residue accumulated in the colon is tackled by aloe when it is used regularly. Aloe-vera is also used to heal internal lesions and ulcers.

The soothing, anti-inflammatory capability of aloe is used to treat colitis, peptic ulcers and other irritations of the digestive tract. Another function of aloe vera is its acidity removal. Its anti-inflammatory fatty acids such as alkalize digestive juices keep acidity well under control.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are usually addressed together as irritable bowel syndrome because of the similarity of their symptoms and treatment.

A chronic pain in the abdomen, diarrhea and rectal bleeding are clear symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Another disease with similar symptoms is the Crohn's disease. Most medical journals together classify these diseases as the irritable bowel syndrome. These diseases can lead to weight loss and anemia as well. The Crohn's disease and the ulcerative colitis cause inflammation in the digestive tract and their symptoms are so similar that sometimes doctor's are unable to directly diagnose both at an early stage.

These two diseases are positively not caused due to any external infection and there is evidence that they are autoimmune disorders. This means that the body's own defense or immune mechanism starts acting against the digestive process and ulcers or small pus cells get formed and in acute ulcerative colitis perceptible rectal bleeding is noticed. The process of diagnosis normally involves a stool examination and also a colonoscopy which will establish the ulcerations. The cause of the disease is not known till date and the only alleviation from the symptoms is possible through medication. Usually anti-inflammatory drugs are administered to restore good health in the patients.

The aim of the medical practitioners is to limit the inflammatory response. As there is rectal bleeding in ulcerative colitis, oral iron therapy and even blood transfusion in rare cases may be needed. When the colon is affected there is discomfort. Normally pan colitis or universal colitis is a condition that involves the inflammation of the entire colon. This is an unhealthy condition to deal with and caregivers of the patients as well as the patients themselves get easily depressed and disillusioned by their state. Crohn's disease can also affect the liver, the joints, the lungs and even the kidneys at some time.

At this time it is known that both crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are rampant in Canada and many Canadians are known to be affected by the disease. They are often treated with Cannabis or medical marijuana. The irritable bowel syndrome caused by either crown's disease or ulcerative colitis can cause fever and vomiting as well as pain in the abdomen and rectum. The simplistic symptoms of these two ailments are easy to ignore, however an early diagnosis can save the pain and the disillusionment that comes from a chronic lifetime ailment.

Ulcerative colitis is considered a serious ailment. Unlike irritable bowel syndrome, it can take a lot of time money and effort to get it treated and not having a health insurance policy can make things difficult.

Ulcerative colitis is considered a serious ailment. Unlike irritable bowel syndrome, it can take a lot of time money and effort to get it treated and depending on the level of severity, treatment could end up being a costly affair. It is a condition very similar to Crohn's disease and is from a group of similar ailments collectively called Irritable Bowel Diseases (IBD). It causes ulceration of the bowels and blood in stool. It is a serious medical condition that might even require hospitalization. And given the ever-increasing cost of healthcare, ulcerative colitis will end up hurting a lot more than just your bowels! So if you have health insurance, now is a good time to use it. Less than one in thousand persons suffer from ulcerative colitis in the United States. If that sounds like a small number, we are talking a quarter million people here!

So how much insurance coverage do you need for ulcerative colitis? Well, that's hard to say, I don't want to throw a number here because it depends on several factors like severity, mode of treatment adopted, where the treatment is administered - small government clinic or up-market private hospital - and most importantly, the reaction of individuals to the treatment and costs can vary over a wide range. I can tell you nothing more informative than "a few dozen dollars to a thousand." Case-to-case differences exist and even within an individual, the symptoms of the disease are intermittent. Sometimes they are barely noticeable and sometimes they are severe. In some cases, the symptoms lessen gradually and eventually disappear on their own, but in some cases it requires medical intervention.

Treatments include chemotherapy, surgery and alternative treatments. So if the mode of treatment adopted is chemotherapy - do you benefit from you health insurance policy? Depends. Most of the health insurance policies I know do not cover the costs of drugs. I know mine doesn't. It covers only hospitalization and surgery charges but I have to buy my own drugs. But then again, it could depend on the way the terms and conditions are phrased and defined. If drugs are an inevitable part of the treatment, you might get reimbursed. I know for sure that most policies pay nothing in case of a relatively minor ailment like irritable bowel syndrome which has no more weight than a headache but crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can sometimes even lead to surgery.

Keeping to a strict diet plan has been proven to be effective in controlling Colitis attacks. A diet plan is just not a matter of watching what foods you eat, but a change in your eating and drinking habits as well.

There are very helpful methods in successfully keeping Colitis attacks at bay and maintaining a healthy digestive system as a whole. Here are some excellent guidelines to incorporate into your daily diet routine:

• Observe proper sanitary precautions when preparing, cooking, serving and storing food items as a preventive measure to keep bacteria and viruses from setting in. This should include washing your hands before eating or handling food in general.


• Drink plenty of fluids every day. This is not limited to just water, but can include even fresh fruit juices, vegetable juices, and black coffee and tea (keep away from flavored coffee or tea which are overloaded with sugar)


• Take in a superior multi-mineral vitamin daily to supplement regular food intake and replace lost nutrients


• Follow a diet high in fiber only when the disease is in remission but avoid this during an attack or relapse as fiber can act as an abrasive to the lining of the intestinal wall.


• Eat three heavy meals a day but if you do not feel like eating at all then take in smaller meals spaced at regular intervals like every 1 to 2 hours. It is important that the stomach contains food to digest in order to balance acid and alkaline levels.


• Foods high in fats or are very oily can aggravate the intestinal walls further and is a common trigger for attacks.


• Limit your drinking of alcohol to 1 glass per meal only, and control caffeine intake to only 1 to 2 cups daily as alcohol and caffeine are natural irritants.


• Avoid foods that contain lactose such as milk, soy, ice cream.


• Steer clear from foods that can be the source of too much gas in the intestines especially when there are bouts of diarrhea and abdominal pain.


• Recommended food add-ons such as fish oils and probiotics are popular suggestions which help in the treatment process of Colitis.