Comparing Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis

The main two that occur are Cohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

These two diseases are very similar.  

Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s are different: 

They are different though.  Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is usually in the first part of the large intestine, called the Ileum.  Cohn’s can attack anywhere in the digestive system.

 Both can affect other organs like the liver.  It is not common for physicians to categorically diagnose one or the other, and it may be that both exist.  They are different diseases that can be potentially be diagnosed by looking at the blood vessels around the digestive system, the patters of lesions that are caused, the location of the problems,  and some other technical determiners.  

Endoscopy, Colonoscopies, biopsy, and other testing methods are used to fine tune diagnoses.  

T Helper Cells and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

T Helper Cells are often referred to as T Cells.  They are rapidly becoming more and more talked about in the news.  These cells are part of the Lymph System which protects our bodies form invading organism.  The white blood cells surround and try to digest foreign organisms in our body.  T Cells do not really do the actual work.  They are the supervisory cells that organize the attack by the Lymph system and White Blood Cells.

 Without the T Cells, the attack by the body’s immune system is either non present, disorganized, or way over reacts.  IBD and UC are problems with the immune system.

Not as much with Ulcerative colitis, but especially with Cohn’s disease, these T Cells are affected.

When these diseases present themselves, there is always inflammation and often lesions that develop.

The inflammation that occurs in IBD is due to the immune system over reacting and thinking that everything is a bad microbe.  Thus it attacks even beneficial bacteria in the intestine, and other places.

The body keeps producing more little warriors so they can properly gang up on and surround the bad bacteria or organism it believes will harm us.  Overpopulation in an area is one cause of inflammation.

Scientists have located a specific area on a gene what is different in people with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.  The verdict is still out and research is being carried on now.    Particular drugs and pharmaceuticals have been approved by the FDA, and are in use to treat these immunological problems.

Other methods of treating bowel diseases

Other methods of treatment include steroids and immune building drugs.  In truth it takes a good diet and a lot of monitoring and care in order to keep these diseases under control.

Some Symptoms of IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases)

are cramping, bloody stools, Diarrhea, Fever, and Weight Loss. They can manifest as other digestive problems and can be very unique and different from person to person.

Since inflammation of the cells of the intestinal and digestive walls is the problem behind IBD, the treatments, whether natural or other are focused on reducing the inflammation.

Best Treatments for bowel diseases you can control

The best treatments are often keeping track of your digestive activities, stress, smoking, and habits.   By determining what in particular is the cause of your IBD  flaring up, you can reduce the effects by not eating  or “living” in a manner that increases the IBD.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases are not contagious, meaning you do not catch them form someone.

They are very heavily linked to hereditary and IBD runs in family lines, and higher in certain ethnic groups.   

Ulcerative colitis attacks the mucosal layer of the intestinal lining. 

 This layer is responsible for absorption of nutrients.   Cohn’s can attack all three layers of the walls of the digestive system.

Others Inflammatory Bowel Diseases are: 

·         Behcet’disease 

·         Diversion colitis 

·         Lymphocytic colitis 

·         Ichaemic colitis 

·         Collagenous colitis

Slide show comparing Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Slide comparing Diarrhea in Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis

Slide comparing Fever in Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis

Slide comparing Appetite in Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis

Slide comparing Weight in Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis

Slide comparing Fatigue in Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Slide comparing Tenesmus in Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Slide comparing Nutritional Deficiencies in Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Slide of tests used to diagnose IBD

Comparing Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis