What is Colitis?
Colitis is an inflammation of the inner lining of a person's colon. A person
suffering from colitis may experience moderate to severe abdominal pain,
diarrhea and a high fever. While it can be difficult to determine the cause of
a person's colitis Roanoke, it is often the result of infection, an
inflammatory bowel disease or the loss of blood supply to this region of the
body. Because the colon is crucial to the body's ability to turn liquid waste
into stool it is imperative that a person who is having lower abdominal pain or
any of the other aforementioned symptoms immediately contact their primary care
physician.
Ulcerative colitis Roanoke and Crohn's disease are two of the most common types of
inflammatory bowel diseases that directly lead to colitis. A person suffering
from ulcerative colitis in Roanoke should be prepared for severe abdominal pain
and bloody bowel movements. In order to make an accurate diagnosis a doctor
will often have to perform an endoscopy to see inside a person's body before
sending blood, tissue and stool samples to a laboratory for detailed analysis.
Treatment for Colitis
While it should be noted that treating colitis is entirely dependent on each
individual's specific circumstances, the typical course of action includes pain
medication and a liquid diet. If the patient has had severe diarrhea they may
need to be treated for dehydration at a hospital. Once the initial treatment
has been administered, the patient will need to make lifestyle changes that may
include certain dietary restrictions.
A person with ulcerative colitis will
want to avoid any foods that trigger their symptoms. Because these foods can
vary from person to person, it may be necessary to keep a food journal that
tracks what a person is eating when the symptoms hit. Examples of foods that
have been shown to be triggers of colitis include spicy dishes, dried fruits,
carbonated beverages, alcohol, caffeine and refined sugars.
Just because a person suffers from colitis does not mean that they cannot eat the foods that they love. Instead, it means that they need to show more awareness and make adjustments to their diet. A healthy diet will consist of foods that are high in protein, have lots of healthy fats and contain complain carbohydrates.
