Triggers

Treatment for ulcerative colitis should focus on the overall health of the person rather than only the symptoms. Otherwise the untreated aspects will continue to prevent an individual from attaining health and wellness.

Some lifestyle choices that have become detrimental to us include: lack of physical activity, lack of emotional support, lack of self-worth due to depression, and lack of food awareness and proper eating routine. Making some of these lifestyle changes will allow us to reduce symptoms of UC by tackling the triggers from stress and diet.


Lack of physical activity:
Just look at how many weight loss programs are out there and we can conclude how much of a problem obesity has become especially in the developed countries. At the core of all these weight loss plans, it basically boils down to diet and exercise. Society as a whole have become more sedentary with the advancement of technology to improve our lives. This lifestyle has contributed to the obesity problems and chronic illness. No, this does not mean we were lazy and obese individuals and therefore we have colitis. I'm not suggesting I was the most active individual, but I did go to yoga and zumba classes several times a week prior to UC diagnosis.

Exercise is a great method to alleviate some of that stress in our fast paced lives and help with any emotional healing.

Lack of emotional support and stress:
Humans are social beings who need love for survival and to maintain basic functions. Lack of emotional support can lead to illness. Physiologically, when a person is under stress, specific proteins such as pro-inflammatory cytokines are released that promote inflammation within the body.  The brain increases ACTH which stimulates the adrenals to output cortisol and decrease DHEA, our anti-aging hormone. Increased cortisol decreases stomach acid and decreases pancreatic enzymes which leads to undigested food. Chronic stressors can have significant impact on the GI and overall health of an individual.

Emotional stress from work, family, traffic, etc can directly affect many body functions such as immune response or digestion. Surrounding ourselves with supportive people will be beneficial to UC individuals. Be sure to check out any local colitis support groups as it is hard for your loved ones to truly understand your symptoms.

Lack of self esteem:
In today's face paced cultures, people don't have time for illnesses, often times ignoring symptoms until they get so severe that they are forced to stop. Our body uses symptoms as a way to communicate to us that something is wrong, and I just refused to listen to mine. For me, I was in denial that my body was failing on me. It can be difficult to stay confident when faced with a disease like colitis. Finding the bathroom, being afraid of traveling, explaining to people why you can't eat certain foods is not something a 20 something year old should be worried about. Colitis has allowed me to slow down my pace of life. I am no longer thinking in terms of deadlines and time frames. This is helpful in reducing stress levels.

Lack of food awareness:
It's becoming rare for families nowadays to sit down around the dinner table to enjoy a proper meal. Without this daily routine, the important message of healthy eating can not be sent to our kids. It is becoming too easy to whip up something fast to satisfy our hunger from the endless processed foods available. It is up to individuals to be more conscious of what they are putting in their mouth. The food industry has transformed how we see food and it will be wise to avoid eating processed food all together if you have UC. Also many people will be sensitive to different foods, so pay attention to what your gut is telling you. Many people with UC do not tolerate dairy, sugar, spices, wheat (sometimes gluten).

Our bodies are all we have and should be cherished. It is the only vehicle we use to eat, sleep and communicate with our environment. We must understand the impacts lifestyle choices have on our body so that we can lie healthier lives.