Prevent Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel disorder that causes sores and inflammation to occur in the walls of a patient’s colon and rectum. The most common symptoms of this disease are bloody diarrheic stool and abdominal discomfort. Skin lesions, anemia, loss of appetite, fever, weight loss, rectal bleeding and fatigue may occur as well.
This disease usually manifests itself in patients between the ages of 15-30, but can affect people of all ages and genders. There is no sure way of preventing ulcerative colitis since its cause is still unknown. You can, however, decrease both the frequency and intensity of ulcerative colitis through various methods.
Prevention Through Medication
Medication as a prevention method to the effects of ulcerative colitis includes using anti-inflammatories, steroids and immunosuppressants. Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the inflammation caused by several bowel diseases, and are therefore the first drug that doctors tend to prescribe to patients with ulcerative colitis. Sulfasalazine, mesalamine, balsalazide, and olsalazine are just some of the most common anti-inflammatory drugs people with ulcerative colitis could be given. These can be taken orally, as an enema, or as a suppository to help relieve pain caused by mild ulcerative colitis.
If these anti-inflammatory drugs do not help, or if your case of ulcerative colitis is more severe, steroids may be the next best medication to use. Corticosteroids decrease inflammation in a patient’s large intestine as well, but are much stronger and should therefore be taken with caution.
Immunosuppressants are prescribed to patients who are still not responding to previously mentioned medication. These drugs work by suppressing the patient’s immune system, which in turn cease inflammation caused by ulcerative colitis. Azathioprine is a commonly used immunosuppressants because it causes minimal or next to no side-effects in patients.
Prevention by Lifestyle Adjustments
Ulcerative colitis can also be prevented by medication-free ways. Following a strict ulcerative colitis diet plan, for example, can reduce the frequency of painful experiences dealing with this disease.
Proper hydration also helps prevent ulcerative colitis. You should try to drink a lot of water every day, and avoid drinks such as coffee, alcohol and carbonated beverages, which may make your diarrhea worse.
Individuals with ulcerative colitis, or any inflammatory bowel disease for that matter, tend to stray from exercising, but this shouldn’t be the case. Exercising can help control your ulcerative colitis symptoms and avoid diarrhea. Tai chi, yoga, breathing exercises and other simple activities should be done regularly to stay healthy.
Learning how to manage your stress may also help alleviate the signs and symptoms ulcerative colitis may bring about. A lot of stress may cause your regular digestive process to change, causing the stomach to produce more acids and empty at a slower pace. Some ways to reduce or control stress may be through exercises, relaxation and simple activities you could do any day, like listening to soothing music or reading a good book.
Prevention Through Probiotics
You may have already heard the term probiotics in finding out about methods of prevention of ulcerative colitis. This refers to the live bacteria you can easily find in yogurt, miso soup, tempeh and sauerkraut that may provide health benefits to the consumer. The theory behind the use of probiotics in treating ulcerative colitis is that the ‘good bacteria’ found in the stated food products prevent the ‘bad bacteria’ from sticking to the walls of the large intestine and affecting the quality of life of the patient.
Speak with your Los Angeles Colorectal Doctor about which Method is Best for You
If you are suffering from ulcerative colitis, the first and best thing you should do is consult your doctor. A colonoscopy and biopsy may be done in order to diagnose your condition. Blood tests and stool examinations may be done to check for low blood counts and bacterial infections. Once this is done, your doctor can then prescribe the proper medication to treat your ulcerative colitis and prevent it from coming back.
Try asking your doctor for different home remedies and procedures you can follow in order to prevent ulcerative colitis on your own. A dietician may be called upon to provide you with a specific list of food items that should and should not be consumed.
Do not go to the pharmacy alone to buy different drugs before seeing a doctor. Every case of ulcerative colitis can be different and needs to be treated according to an accurate diagnosis. Going to your physician is the safest way to treat and prevent your case of ulcerative colitis.