Colitis (cont.)
Ischemic colitis
The colon can be thought of as a hollow muscle. It requires a supply of blood
to bring oxygen and
nutrients in order for the muscles to function normally. When the colon loses
its supply of blood and becomes ischemic (isch= restricted + emia=blood supply), it may become inflamed. Ischemia or lack of blood supply
causes pain, fever, and bloody bowel movements.
- As a person ages, the arteries that supply blood to the colon gradually
narrow and can cause ischemic colitis. These arteries narrow even faster if the
individual has diseases that promote narrowing of the arteries, for example,
diabetes,
high blood pressure, high
cholesterol and
smoking.
- Ischemia also may be brought on by
low blood pressure or
anemia (low red blood cell count) in association with the arterial narrowing, since these
further reduce blood flow.
- The blood supply to the colon may be compromised because the blood
vessels are mechanically obstructed, for example by a twisting of the bowel
(volvulus) or a
herniation of the colon
through a small opening in the tissues within the abdomen (an incarcerated
hernia).
Inflammatory bowel disease
Ulcerative colitis and
Crohn's disease are the two types
of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that give rise to colitis.
Ulcerative colitis always begins in the rectum and sigmoid colon and
frequently progresses over time through the ascending, transverse, and then
ascending colon. It is thought to be a disease caused by overactivity of the
immune system and usually causes abdominal pain, and bloody, diarrheal bowel
movements.
Crohn's disease may occur anywhere in the digestive tract - in the esophagus,
stomach, small intestine, or colon - though it is most commonly involves the small
intestine and colon. In Crohn's disease there may be "skip lesions," that is,
abnormal segments interspersed between normal segments. If segments of the colon
are involved, then symptoms of colitis may be present.
Next: Microscopic colitis »
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