Much like a toxic ex that just won’t quit,ulcerative colitis (UC)symptoms tend to fade away for a while and then come back with a vengeance. Enter: The UC flare-up.
UC is a type of chronicinflammatory bowel disease (IBD)that causesinflammationand ulcers in your large intestine. Sometimes, this bowel inflammation is worse than others (aka a flare-up). When they kinda disappear for a while, it’s called remission.
Most people with UC have certain triggers that cause flare-ups. So if you have UC, understanding these triggers and flare-up symptoms can help you best manage them. Here’s how.
What causes ulcerative colitis flare ups in the first place?
The experts aren’texactly surewhat causes UC, but they think it’s prob anautoimmune condition. Autoimmune conditions are basically what happens when the body’s defense mechanism is a little overzealous and attacks healthy tissue. Your body means well, but it causesinflammation.
In the case of UC, scientists think that the immune system might accidentally mistake perfectly harmless bacteria in the colon for serious threats, which causes the whole region to essentially swell up.
Though they don’t know exactly what contributes to flare ups, a few possibilitiesinclude:
Ulcerative colitis flare up symptoms
UC symptomstend to changebased on how intense the flare-up and the location of intestinalinflammation. Symptoms mightinclude:
Flares can happen weeks, months, or even years apart and can vary a lot in severity.
Tips to prevent ulcerative colitis flare ups
Now that you know what causes flares, how tf do you stop them? Here are sometips that might help:
1.Soothe stress
Sincestressseems to be a big trigger for flare-ups – as well as a number of other health probs – finding ways to relax can do your UC and overall health a favor.
Here’s what might help:
2.Take meds
Prescription medication can help manage yourcondition,including:
OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also help manage pain. Avoid ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin, though, as they affect your gut and may potentially worsen UC symptoms.
3.Adjust your diet
We’ll be real, there’s nogo-to diet to prevent UC flare-ups. However, there are some foods you might want to avoid.
While fiber is typically recommended in a healthy, well-roundeddiet, it might trigger a UC flareup. Minimizing your fiber intake might help calm things down a bit.
The experts also think it mayhelp to avoid:
A2015 research reviewsuggests that a liquid diet could benefit people with IBD, including those with severe UC. The idea is that since severe UC can cause people to have issues absorbing nutrients, liquids can help you get lots of nutrients as easily as possible.
But we don’t really have enough evidence to be sure. So before you start downing soup and smoothies, talk with your doc.
And TBF, a2019 reviewconcluded that the research on the link between UC and diet just isn’t there yet. So as of now, the pros can’t say conclusively what will help.
Since everyone’s triggers can vary a lot, it’s a good idea to track yours in a food diary. When in doubt, a medical pro can help you out with this.
P.S. Staying hydrated, especially with electrolyte-rich liquids, also seems to help. That’s because people withUCoftendon’t absorb electrolytes very well.
4. Surgery
Those with colon cancer, extreme complications from UC, or severe side effects from taking meds, may needsurgeryto treat their UC.
Surgery for UCinvolvesremoving the colon and rectum in a procedure called a proctocolectomy. Since you still need to use the bathroom post-surgery, the surgeon will attach the end of your small intestine to a hole in your abdominal wall. A bag is then attached to the opening to help you go.
5.Naturalremedies
Win: A2019 research reviewfound that takingprobioticsalong with aminosalicylates significantly boosted the time between flares. Even though we need more research to know for sure, it may be worth with adding some probiotics or a littlekombuchato your life if you have UC.
Meanwhile, a2018 reviewfound that curcumin, aka an active ingredient inturmeric, led to higher remission rates in combo with the aminosalicylate mesalamine.
If you have a nutritional deficiency from UC, your doc may recommend that you take certainsupplementsor vitamins to fill in the gaps.
It’s also worth understanding what seems to trigger your flares so you can work to avoid these.
When to see a doctor
It’s a good idea to see a doc on the reg to help monitor and manage your UC. Regularly monitoring your UC symptoms, flares and triggers with a doctor can help you identify patterns that help you determine the best mode of treatment.
But in rare cases, you might need medical intervention ASAP. Head to the doctor right away in the instance of:
Even though there’s not a cure forUCyet, there are ways to manage your symptoms and live well. Minimizingstress, taking meds, working with a doc and avoiding any known triggers might help prevent or reduce flare-ups.
With a solid management regimen, you could have slim-to-no UC symptoms for months to years at a time.
