Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic disease that causes the large intestine and rectum lining to inflame and swell up. This disease often progresses to the point where it eventually develops sores in the linings. This chronic inflammatory bowel disease is a lifelong condition and can lead to small ulcers with pus and blood in the rectum and colon if not managed and treated.
Since it’s an inflammatory disease, the patients experience occasional periods of active symptoms, and those are referred to as flare-ups. These flare-ups are followed by the disappearance of the symptoms, a period called remission.
Ulcerative Colitis is a lifelong disease. Living with it means learning to promptly recognize the symptoms of UC flare-ups and manage them as best as possible. The key goal here is to increase the length of remission. Thus, managing and easing the symptoms and increasing the length of remissions is the basis of Ulcerative Colitis Treatment.
Recognizing the UC Flare-Ups
UC flare-up refers to the acute aggravation of bowel inflammation. It can happen between years, weeks, days and varies in severity from patient to patient.
What keeps the flare-ups at bay and increases the period of remission are medication and lifestyle choices. Most importantly, staying away from triggers ensures a decrease in the frequency of flare-ups.
Following are the most common symptoms that help a patient recognize that they are getting flare-ups:
Swollen and painful joints
Redness and irritation in the eyes
Mouth ulcers
Patches of red and swollen skin
Irregular and fast heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Fever
Blood in the stool
It’s difficult to identify the exact triggers behind the Ulcerative Colitis flare-ups. However, two of the most known suspects are gut infections and stress.
The Best Ways to Manage the UC Flare-Ups
As we mentioned earlier, Ulcerative Colitis is a lifelong disease, and the best way to live with it is to change your lifestyle and learn to manage the symptoms. Food, diet, and medicines are the top factors that help the patients minimize the frequency of UC flare-ups.
Put a Limit on Your Fiber Intake
Do not increase your fiber intake from more than 2 grams per serving. Instead, go for white rice, white pasta, white bread, cooked meat, eggs, tofu, cooked fruits, butter, etc.
Increase the Intake of Liquid Diet
A liquid diet helps the patients get all the nutrients without triggering flare-ups
Avoid Certain Food
To keep the flare-ups few and far between, avoid carbonated drinks, fried food, spicy food, dairy, raw fruits and vegetables, caffeine, and alcohol.
In addition to food, trust the medicines your doctor prescribes you. Amino salicylates, Tofacitinib, Corticosteroids, Biologics, Antibiotics, and Immuno-modulators effectively keep the inflammation at bay.
The Final Word
Ulcerative Colitis is an incurable, progressive disease. The only way to live a normal life with it is to keep the disease under control and prevent flare-ups for as long as possible. You may not be able to end UC flare-ups altogether, but a healthy lifestyle and medications (if there are any prescribed by your doctor) can make a world of difference. So, take charge and learn to deal with the disease and keep it under control.
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