What You Need to Know About Ulcerative Colitis Lisa Marie Conklin
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What is ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes irritation and ulcers, or open sores, in the intestine. This can result in painful symptoms, such as severe belly pain, cramping, and urgent bowel movements, that often leave you on the sidelines.
In the United States, the number of individuals with ulcerative colitis is estimated to be 900,000, says Kelly Cushing, MD, a clinical lecturer and gastroenterologist at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. That s much less frequent than common diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.