What is Ulcerative Colitis?
When you suffer from ulcerative colitis, identifying the exact intensity of the disease is what is going to aid you in the treatment. When you have ulcerative colitis, it is very hard to predict how long it will be. People with mild ulcerative colitis have symptoms like diarrhoea or constipation and inflammation.
It is very important to pay attention to the specific symptoms in case of mild ulcerative colitis. The more aware you are, the better chances you have to be able to track the changes. In the case of mild ulcerative colitis, there can be a lot of changes in the symptoms. As the older ones might get worse, flare-ups can cause new symptoms as well.
Types of Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis can be classified into four types/stages given the severity of the inflammation. Ulcerative Colitis can be classified as:
1. Mild Ulcerative Colitis
Characterized by less than four bowel movements a day, no or less bleeding with stools, normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate, no symptoms of fever or anaemia
2. Moderate Ulcerative Colitis
Characterized by more than four stools a day, slight elevation in erythrocyte sedimentation rate
3. Severe Ulcerative Colitis
Characterized by more than six stools a day, Elevated in Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fever and anaemia
4. Fulminant Ulcerative Colitis
Characterized by more than ten stools a day, rectal bleeding, fever & anaemia, cramping & bloating, expanded colon
Causes Of Mild Ulcerative Colitis
The cause of mild ulcerative colitis is still unknown, but various factors are involved in the development of the disease includes:
- Abnormal Immune System
- Microbiome
- Genetics
- Environmental Factors (including diet)
Most people are diagnosed with mild ulcerative colitis which might progress into a moderate or severe stage if the symptoms are not adequately controlled.
Symptoms Of Mild Ulcerative Colitis
The patients with mild UC experience a varied range of symptoms, which they might experience during flare-ups. Common symptoms of mild ulcerative colitis include:
- Diarrhea
- Mild abdominal cramps
- Minimal or no bleeding with stool
The mild stage of UC means less severe inflammation, and thus patients experience less intense symptoms when compared to a severe case. In cases of mild ulcerative colitis, even the generalized symptoms of fatigue, fever, or vomiting are experienced with quite less intensity. But when neglected for a long period, the inflammation might spread to the intestine and severe complications might occur.
It is quite difficult to identify mild ulcerative colitis, as the patient might also experience a period with no symptoms or discomfort. It may last for weeks to months to years. However as ulcerative colitis is not curable, there is a sure chance that the symptoms will return at some point.
Final Words
The treatment goal for mild ulcerative colitis is to eliminate the symptoms and improve the patient’s life quality. Most mild ulcerative colitis patients are however at low risk for colectomy and thus necessary lifestyle changes can aid immensely in managing the disease.
Patients with mild ulcerative colitis are advised to avoid whole raw vegetables and adopt a vegan diet of soft non-acidic sweet fruits, steamed vegetables, and fresh fruits and vegetable juice. Patients with active inflammation should avoid nuts and seeds until they heal. Certain foods are known to worsen the symptoms and the inflammation of ulcerative colitis, even if it’s in a mild stage. Spicy food, foods with animal protein (such as meat, dairy and eggs) , carbonated drinks, foods that have sorbitol, etc can be a troublemaker and cause discomfort.
With High Crab Health, identify the right dietary and lifestyle plan with the help of our experienced professional health counsellor. With the right diet and lifestyle, we teach our clients how the body heals and therefore what changes are needed to create the right conditions to allow the body to heal itself.
FAQ
- What does mild ulcerative colitis mean?
A mild UC is less severe inflammation or less intensity of the disease. In this case, the patients experience less intense symptoms than the severe ulcerative colitis patients.
- Can mild ulcerative colitis be cured?
The lifestyle change depends on the severity and the infection type. When a proper diet and lifestyle are adopted, there is a chance that the mild ulcerative colitis can go away on its own.
- Is mild ulcerative colitis serious?
Even though mild ulcerative colitis isn’t fatal usually. But if not taken care of at the initial stage, it can turn into a serious disease and may cause life-threatening complications.
