Ulcerative Colitis is a major global health concern! According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), it’s more common in Northern Europe and North America. The NCBI study also reveals 9 to 20 Ulcerative Colitis cases per 1000 persons are reported annually. The inflammatory condition affects people of all ages. However, it’s more common among people aged 15 to 30 and less common between 50 and 70 years old.
What is Ulcerative Colitis
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting the large intestines. The condition causes irritation and painful open sores in the colon. Many times, it’s characterized by diarrhea with blood and cramping. Other symptoms are fatigue, nausea, weight loss, Anemia, fever, skin rashes, mouth sores, joint pain, and liver disease.
Though the effects of Ulcerative Colitis are felt in the Colon, the inflammation causing it often starts in the Rectum. When the inflammation in the colon is out of control, it spreads to other parts of the large intestines, including the Ascending colon, Descending colon, Sigmoid colon, and Transverse colon.
Who can Get Ulcerative Colitis?
Anyone regardless of age can suffer from this inflammatory bowel disease. That said, you have higher chances if you have close relatives with Ulcerative Colitis. This is because one’s genetics can influence the condition. You are also at risk if you’re Jewish, eat a high-fat diet, or frequently take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.
How to Best Treat Ulcerative Colitis
There’s still no cure for Ulcerative Colitis despite being a common IBD. This is according to MayoClinic and other health institutions and resource centers worldwide. Nonetheless, medication can be administered to calm the inflammation.
One can also opt for surgery if the inflammation worsens. Typical medications used to treat Ulcerative Colitis include Aminosalicylates, Corticosteroids, Immunomodulators, Biologics, and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.
