Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic condition. But that doesn’t mean you have to let UC symptoms disrupt your plans—or your life.
You may already know that UC symptoms usually come and go, and that when you have symptoms, it’s called a flare or a flare-up. You may also know that the absence of a flare is called remission. But that’s only part of the story.
More than symptom control
What you may not know about ulcerative colitis is that the true definition of being in remission means having no UC symptoms at all—not just having fewer or milder symptoms. And, in addition to the absence of UC symptoms, your doctor should also be able to see evidence of healing in the lining of your colon. Only then are you considered to be in remission.
Unfortunately, however, many patients with ulcerative colitis have low expectations about symptom control and treatment, and often mistakenly think they are in remission when they are not. In fact, in a survey of patients with UC, the majority (58%) indicated that, for them, remission meant living with some UC symptoms. In addition, 74% of patients surveyed said that they thought it was “normal” to have flares.
Patients also said that they don't report all their flare-ups to their physicians, and the majority (70%) stated that they don't feel there is much more they could be doing for their condition beyond what they already are. What this means is that many people with UC are just accepting symptoms they may not have to live with.
The important thing to know is that talking to your doctor about any and all flares can help you get the treatment you need for the best chance of achieving remission. After all, the goal of ulcerative colitis treatment is to get you to remission—with no UC symptoms.
The key to remission: reducing inflammation
Both physicians and patients look to treatment to help get the symptoms of ulcerative colitis under control. However, the main treatment goal for people with UC is achieving remission. And the real key to remission is reducing inflammation.
Inflammation plays a big role in ulcerative colitis. In fact, the word “colitis” means “inflammation of the colon” (the suffix “-itis” at the end of a word means “inflammation of”).
Inflammation is the immune system's normal response to infection or injury. In normal circumstances, inflammation is a good thing—it walls off the injured or infected area and allows an increased blood supply to develop and help heal damaged tissue. As a result of this increased blood supply, the area gets warm and the surrounding tissue swells.
But in ulcerative colitis there is a “glitch” in the immune system, like a switch that gets stuck in the “on” position. Inflammation is constantly defending the body, even when there’s no foreign invader to fight off.
This chronic inflammation can damage surrounding tissue.
As long as inflammation is ongoing, symptoms may return. But when inflammation is reduced, you may see a reduction in symptoms.
