Thecolonis the longest part of thelarge intestine.
Water and some nutrients are absorbed from food waste as it passes through.
When the inner lining of the colon becomes inflamed, it’s known ascolitis.
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Colitis causesabdominal pain, cramping,diarrhea, and other symptoms.
For some people, the symptoms come and go.
For others, they are constant.
This article explores the common causes, genetics, and lifestyle risk factors that can lead to colitis.
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Common Causes
The exact cause of colitis is not always clear.
However, the colon gets inflamed when yourimmune systemthinks it is being attacked by an invader.
The invader could be an infection, a disease, or even a medication you are taking.
To protect your body from it, your immune system sendswhite blood cellsto the colon.
These cells attack your colon’s inner lining, causing it to get inflamed.
Many people with colitis have abnormal immune systems.
The result of this is chronic inflammation.
Each of the following are known to cause an inflamed colon.
They are some of the most common factors seen in colitis cases.
This is often called infectious colitis.
Bacteria associated with food poisoning or from contaminated drinking water are common culprits.
Examples includecampylobacter,Escherichia coli(E. coli),salmonella,andshigella.
Clostridioides difficile, also known asC.
difficile or C. diff,isanother bacterium that can cause colitis.
For many people, this happens after takingantibiotics, which disrupt the colon’s bacterial balance.
C. diffinfectionis highly contagious.
It can easily be passed from person to person in hospitals, long-term care centers, and other options.
Parasites can cause colitis as well.
One of the more common parasites isGiardia lamblia.
you’re free to contract it from food or water.
Surgery is more common in Crohn’s disease than ulcerative colitis.
Ischemic Colitis
Inischemic colitis, the arteries that send blood to the colon can narrowed.
This can happen if the bowel gets twisted and cuts off blood flow.
It can also happen when a blood clot blocks an artery.
The symptoms of ischemic colitis can include bloody stools, fever, and severe pain.
When blood flow is cut off or reduced, colon tissue may begin to die.
Hospitalization may be required to correct the problem.
In some cases, surgery may be necessary.
However, older children can also get colitis this way.
Cow’s milk is the most common cause of allergic colitis in babies.
One of the symptoms can be blood in the stool.
Usually, treatment involves starting a diet that removes potential allergens.
Most cases will resolve as a baby gets older.
The average age at which it is diagnosed is between ages 65 to 70.
Taking methotrexate, which is used to treat several autoimmune or immune-mediated conditions, may also lead to colitis.
Sodium phosphate, which is a throw in of laxative, can cause colitis in some cases.
Certain forms ofchemotherapy(drugs used to treat cancer) can too.
Genetic Risk Factors
Many common causes of colon inflammation aren’t due to genetic factors.
IBD is one form of colitis that does seem to run in families, though.
There is not always a direct parent-to-child link.
Not everyone who has the genes associated with IBD develops the disease.
However, the foods you eat can contribute to the inflammatory processes that underly these diseases.
This means that for some people, the foods they eat can trigger or worsen their IBD symptoms.
Food triggers can vary from person to person.
Several studies have identified foods that commonly aggravate IBD symptoms, though.
They include fruits and vegetables, dairy products, spicy foods, processed foods, and fatty foods.
Foodborne illnesses and infections are common causes of acute colitis.
Ischemic colitis is a serious acute condition that shows up when blood flow to the colon is blocked.
Chronic forms of colitis include inflammatory bowel disease, allergic colitis, and microscopic colitis.
Using medications such as NSAIDs and methotrexate may also result in colon inflammation.
Smoking is one lifestyle factor that is well-known to contribute to intestinal inflammation.
It is also linked to a higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s disease.
The foods that have this effect vary from person to person.
If you know what foods aggravate your symptoms, do your best to avoid them.
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