The colon is the large intestine (bowel) and the rectum is at the end of the bowel where stools are stored.
The main symptoms of ulcerative colitis include recurring diarrhoea, which may contain blood, mucus or pus, needing to empty your bowels frequently, abdominal pain, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Symptom severity varies, depending on the extent of the inflammation, but can have a significant effect on everyday living. You may go for weeks or months with few symptoms, even none at all in remission, then get flare-ups where the symptoms are much worse, with symptoms elsewhere in their body, such as painful and swollen joints or skin, mouth ulcers and red eyes. When severe, you may become dehydrated, breathless, feverish and pass blood.
It affects one in 420, is often diagnosed in the late teens with a family history and in certain ethnic groups, suggesting genetics are a factor. It’s also more common if you live in urban areas.
The cause
This is unclear, but is probably an autoimmune condition – your immune system fights tissues, mistakenly seeing them as ‘foreign’. Usually, there’s no specific trigger, although gut infections or stress may be relevant.
See your GP promptly. They will examine you and arrange blood and stool testing, and refer you to a specialist for further tests, including CT or ultrasound scans and the support of a care team. Once you have been diagnosed, the specialist will be available when you have a flare-up.
Esta historia es de la edición February 08, 2022 de WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 08, 2022 de WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Patchwork PROJECTS
Easy ideas to show off English paper-piecing techniques
Night train to BERLIN
Germany's exciting and varied capital is now reachable by train from the UK
French FANCY
Raymond Blanc's right-hand man, Benoit Blin's favourite bakes
Are you missing out on BENEFITS?
Here's how to find out what you are eligible for
TRAY bien
All-in-one tray bakes, packed with flavour
We took a grown-up GAP YEAR!
Who says taking time out is just for students?
'I'm obsessed with reality TV!'
THIS WEEK'S COLUMNIST Author and presenter Louise Minchin
What to eat and do for A HEALTHIER GUT
Fix those problems and boost your wellbeing
Picture palaces
In an age of cinema complexes, we celebrate five historic and beautiful picture houses that have stood the test of time
'My diet during Bake Off is cake and alcohol!'
Dame Prue Leith on the popular baking contest