Both Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis cause similar symptoms which include:

• Diarrhea
• Rectal bleeding
• Urgent need to move bowels
• Abdominal cramps and pain
• Sensation of incomplete evacuation
• Constipation
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Weight Loss
• Fatigue
• Night sweats
• Loss of normal menstrual cycle

Both illnesses are marked by an abnormal response by the body’s immune system. The immune system is composed of various cells and proteins which protect the body from infection. In people with Crohn’s disease, however, the immune system reacts inappropriately – mistaking benign or beneficial cells and bacteria for harmful foreign substances. When this happens, your immune system can do harm to your gastrointestinal tract and produce the symptoms of IBD.

Prescribed medications are often used to treat ulcerative colitis that strive to control the inflammation that is a main cause of ulcerative colitis symptoms and induce remission. The medication your doctor prescribes may depend on whether you have mild, moderate, or severe ulcerative colitis.

Depending on your ulcerative colitis symptoms, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medications for you, such as:

• Antidiarrheals
• Pain relievers
• Nutritional supplements
• Over-the-counter medications are often suggested to be taken as a supplement to your prescription—not instead of it.

Surgery may be a consideration if the disease doesn’t respond to medication.

At the Surgery Group of LA, we know how trying and painful Chron’s and Ulcerative Colitis can be. Combining state-of-the-art medical facilities with compassionate, patient-centered care, we work hard to determine effective treatment for every patient so that they find relief. Call us today to schedule an appointment with a colorectal surgeon in Los Angeles.

This year, it’s estimated that more than 95,000 people will be diagnosed with colon cancer, and around 50,000 people will die from the disease. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death in men and women in the U.S., and it is also the third most common form of cancer.

While 90% of new cases of cancer are often diagnosed in those who are age 50 or older, the disease can impact anyone, depending on the number of risk factors that apply to you. Here are the top colon cancer risk factors that you’ll want to know about.

• Quitting bad habits
• Making healthy lifestyle choices
• Being physical active