Treating Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is a fairly common condition, with an estimated 1 in every 600 people suffering from ulcerative colitis in the Western world. In the UK alone there are thought to be around 100,000 known cases of the disease.

The incidence is far lower in ‘less-developed’ nations, which may indicate that our refined diet may play a large role in the incidence of ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative Colitis is a digestive disorder and a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that’s common to the large intestines or colon.

Ulcerative Colitis is similar to Crohn’s Disease but sometimes confused with Irritable Bowel Syndome (IBS), which is a less problematic and less serious digestive disorder.

Symptoms Of Ulcerative Colitis

Diarrhea with traces of blood can be the first sign of the disease. If left untreated the amount of blood may gradually increase. Ulcerative colitis could also be present if there is an abnormal increase in the frequency of bowel movements, along with abdominal pain.

The condition can cause the colon to become extremely painful and inflamed and in some cases tiny ulcers can form on the colon lining. These tiny ulcers can become aggravated and bleed,  causing mucus, pus and a great deal of discomfort.

» read more: Ulcerative Colitis And Aloe Vera

Can Aloe Vera Help IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is sometimes known as spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, irritable colon or nervous stomach. - it is a condition that affects the functioning of the bowel and usually causes the sufferer mild to acute abdominal pain and unusual bowel habits.

IBS is reasonably common - around 40% of visits to gastroenterologists are because of irritable bowel syndrome. It is estimated that around 15% of the UK population has suffered from IBS at one time or another.

IBS can be quite difficult to diagnose and quite often a sufferer will not seek medical attention and just assume that he or she has a nervous stomach.

The condition is often described and classified as being a functional disorder that is controlled by the brain. Functional disorders are hard to identify exactly and so an endoscopy, x-ray, or blood test will not identify the condition. IBS is diagnosed from the characteristics of the symptoms rather than any physical examination.

Symptoms Of IBS

The symptoms of IBS are wide ranging and can cause mild to severe suffering. The usual symptoms are abdominal pain and discomfort - this usually occurs in the lower abdomin. Unusual bowel movements and chronic diarrhea, constipation, or both – either mixed or in alternation are other common characteristics.

Other less common symptoms include

• Bloating
• Nausea
• A Premature Feeling Of Fullness
• Heartburn

» read more: Aloe Vera And IBS