From time to time, it is not unusual to have loose stools or diarrhea when going to the bathroom. However, excessively painful, urgent and recurring diarrhea, which may include blood or excessive mucus, is a red flag potentially indicating a more severe issue. One possible cause of those symptoms is an inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis (UC).
What Is Ulcerative Colitis?
Impacting about 750,000 people in North America, UC is an autoimmune disease that affects the large intestine—also referred to as the colon.Specifically, an abnormal immune response occurs in the lining of the large intestine, creating continuous ulcerations. This leads to abdominal pain, cramping, weight loss, fatigue or other difficulties with bowel movements.
Generally, the condition comes and goes. Acute attacks occur occasionally and can last from weeks to months. These attacks produce a range of uncomfortable, unpredictable and prolonged issues and may lead to a lower quality of life. As a result, individuals with UC need long-term, effective relief.
What causes Ulcerative Colitis?
The prospect of developing a disorder like UC can be scary. Fortunately, by understanding what causes it or triggers flares, lifestyle modifications and other treatment options can prolong symptom remission. UC flares may be triggered or worsened by several factors, including:
- Infections or bacterial imbalances in the gut
- Certain dietary choices
- Stress
- Exposure to harmful toxins
- Overuse of some medications
- Excessive alcohol consumption
The condition also has a genetic link. If a close relative was diagnosed with UC, then you are more likely to have it as well. Certain demographics are also at a higher risk of developing UC. Another leading risk factor is having an overactive immune system, which increases the overall likelihood of developing an inflammatory bowel disease.
Treatment Options for Ulcerative Colitis?
To address the root causes of UC, natural treatment approaches should include inflammatory-balancing botanicals, such as curcumin, Chinese skullcap and propolis. In addition, supplementation to help heal and strengthen the gut lining should be considered, which may include vitamin D, glutamine, omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics.
A highly stressful lifestyle may also contribute to the development of inflammatory bowel diseases like UC. Therefore, stress management, such as rest, good sleep hygiene and regular exercise, can help reduce symptom flares.
Other personalized lifestyle modifications may first require assessing dietary patterns to determine which foods exacerbate symptoms. These foods vary from person to person, and they may include high fat foods, dairy, or spicy foods, among others.
How Can You Start Healing Your Gut?
There are several common factors related to the development of UC, making it a complex disorder. A personalized session with our Functional Medicine Pharmacist Lianne Snyder to speak with you about this condition or your gut health in general will be the best way forward. Together, we can assess underlying causes while working to improve your diet, explore other treatment approaches and restore your health.
If you’re ready to get started, then you can reach Lianne at:
Call: 727-216-6374 | Fax 727-400-3247 | lianne@baylifepharmacy.com
4000 Park Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33709
We look forward to working with you!