Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis: Understanding The Causes

Every disease usually has a cause but ulcerative colitis is a disease without a specific cause. Many theories exist about the origin and the development of the disease but the theories fail to prove what exactly is the root cause of the disease. The disease is neither proved to be contagious nor caused by an infection. It is believed that abnormalities of the immune system propel ulcerative colitis causes, but doctors dont know whether these abnormalities are a cause or a result of the disease.

The immune system is composed of immune cells which protects the body from bacteria, fungi and other foreign invaders. In a normal case, exposure of the human body to harmful foreign bodies and parasites leads to the activation of the immune system. But it is not so in the case of a person suffering from ulcerative colitis. Here activation of the immune system takes place in the absence of any known invader. This results in inflammation and ulceration.

Ulcerative colitis is a disease that occurs in people of any age, but it usually begins between the ages of 15 to 30 years and less frequently later. It affects men and women equally. It also has a genetic link because some people have genetic tendency to develop the condition. Eating habits and sensitivity to certain foods may also be causes that trigger symptoms in some patients. The condition becomes worse if the stress to live with ulcerative colitis persists. Moreover, smoking can actually decrease the risk of ulcerative colitis.

Diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping are the main symptoms of this disease . Anemia, rectal bleeding, loss of appetite, fever, eye irritation, dehydration, painful spasms and fatigue, ulceration in the digestive tract, bloating, and mucus in the stool are certain other symptoms. About 2 million of the total population in the U.S. suffer from this disease which is rarely found in Asia and South America. It has also been found that Jewish people tend to have more incidence of colitis than non-jewish people.

Medications as well as surgeries are available to treat ulcerative colitis. The treatment depends largely on the severity of the disease. So every patient has to undergo a treatment entirely different from the other. Though there are no medicines that cure the disease completely, those with mild or moderate symptoms are successful in using ulcerative colitis medications or alternative therapies,

Surgery is reserved for severe cases when all medications fail to cure and the complications are not being prevented. Apart from the severity of the disease, it depends on the patients needs, expectations and lifestyle as well the recommended treatment for him.

Medications taken regularly may reduce acute attacks and flare ups. In conclusion, it can be stated that though prevention is better than cure, ulcerative colitis cannot be prevented because the cause is unknown.