Know More About Colitis!

What is Colitis?
Colitis is a chronic bowel disease that causes inflammation in the lining of your colon i.e. the large intestine.

Prevalence in India -
Once prevalent in Western countries, colitis is on the rise in India among other Asian countries. The causes for this rise are mainly the degrading environment and the consequent changes in your genes. Colitis brings many changes to your lifestyle. Therefore, it is important to arm yourself with all the information about the disease to better manage it and lead the life you want.

What are the causes?
The common causes of colitis are -

• Infection due to virus, bacteria and parasites
• Decreased blood supply
• Allergic reactions

What are the signs and symptoms of Colitis?
The signs and symptoms of colitis include the following-

• Extreme pain before, during or after diarrhoea in the lower abdomen
• Aches in joints and muscles
• Tender abdomen
• Swelling of colon
• Redness on the colon surface
• Bleeding from stool
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Fever, fatigue
• Dehydration
• Eye and skin inflammation

What can you do to prevent it?
In order to prevent the occurrence of colitis, you can adopt a few steps. Precautionary measures mostly include dietary changes. You should avoid intake of certain foods to eliminate the symptoms of the disease.

• Avoid the consumption of dairy products
• Avoid eating spicy foods
• Avoid including vegetables like cabbage, dried beans, peas in your diet
• Refrain from drinking alcohol, caffeine and carbonated drinks
• Instead, include white bread, white rice, pureed vegetable soup, canned fruits, etc.

Depending on the diagnosis and the treatment, people do get better. Many people can build successive careers after getting treatments. However, initially, the symptoms will cause a problem in your daily life. It is important to know how you can identify the early signs and what you can do to manage or prevent them.