Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is one of the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease. This chronic disease causes inflammation and ulcers in the lower intestine. The ulcers usually form in the lower sections of the intestine, including the sigmoid colon and the rectum; however, it can affect the whole colon. The more area of the colon that is affected, the worse the symptoms can become.

Although experts are not sure what causes ulcerative colitis, they speculate that it may be caused by the immune system attacking normal bacteria within the digestive tract. Other experts believe heredity can play a role in ulcerative colitis. This condition is common along family lines; however, even those with no family history can develop ulcerative colitis.

Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

The symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s vary depending on the amount of inflammation and the location of the inflammation. Most sufferers experience only mild to moderate symptoms. Additionally, many patients have periods of remissions when symptoms subside completely. During inflammation, you may experience:

• Abdominal cramping and Pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea with pus and blood
• Fever
• Failure to grow in children
• Fatigue
• Rectal bleeding and pain
• Weight loss

Severe cases of ulcerative colitis can cause complications. You may experience severe bleeding that can cause complicated anemia or blood clots. A perforated colon, which occurs when a hole develops in the colon, can cause pain and can lead to colon cancer. Inflammation can occur in your joints, eyes and skin. Additionally, you may experience sores inside your mouth. Finally, severe dehydration, bone loss and liver disease can occur with ulcerative colitis.

Holistic Treatment For Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

Are you unable to manage your symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s? Our functional medicine practitioners specialize in treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and can help you restore your GI health and experience a fulfilling life once again. We use a functional medicine approach to help identify root causes and create a customized treatment plan based on your health condition as well as family history, lifestyle, and diet.