Ulcerative Colitis - Symptoms
The symptoms of ulcerative colitis may include:
- Diarrhea or rectal urgency. Some people may have diarrhea 10 to 20 times a day. The urge to go to the bathroom may wake you up at night.
- Rectal bleeding. The disease usually causes bloody diarrhea and mucus. You also may have rectal pain and an urgent need to empty your bowels.
- Belly pain, often described as cramping. Your belly may be sore when touched.
- Constipation. This symptom may develop depending on what part of the colon is affected. Constipation is much less common than diarrhea.
- Loss of appetite.
- Fever. In severe cases, fever or other symptoms that affect the entire body may develop.
- Weight loss. Ongoing symptoms, such as diarrhea, can lead to weight loss.
- Too few red blood cells (anemia). Some people get anemia because of low iron levels caused by bloody stools or intestinal inflammation.
Other conditions with symptoms similar to ulcerative colitis include Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and colon cancer.
Exercising When You Have a GI Disorder
Staying physically fit is a constant struggle for Stephanie Horgan, who, like millions of Americans with gastrointestinal disorders, has to plan her diet, her exercise routines, and her entire life around her condition. "I'm really active now, doing kickboxing, jogging, Spinning at the gym, and eating whatever I want," says the 26-year-old Chicago resident, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 18 and had three surgeries within a year. "But you never know when you're going to have...
Read the Exercising When You Have a GI Disorder article > >
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