5-ASA: An anti-inflammatory drug that acts on the lining of the colon to reduce inflammation. Also known as 5-aminosalicylic acid or mesalamine. Lialda® (mesalamine) is a type of 5-ASA.
Abdominal Pain: A common symptom of ulcerative colitis. May also be described as cramping in the lower abdominal region. Can vary in intensity and duration.
Anemia: Any condition in which the number of red blood cells, the amount of red blood cell protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the bloodstream, and the volume of red blood cells are lower than normal. Some people with ulcerative colitis may have anemia due to loss of blood through bloody diarrhea.
Anus: The opening at the lower end of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where solid waste is eliminated from the body.
Barium Enema: An exam in which a barium phosphate solution is administered by enema while a radiologist takes x-rays of your lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The barium solution makes it easier to see the lining of your colon and rectum on the x-rays. The results help diagnose patients with inflammatory bowel disease and other digestive disorders.
Biologic: A drug made from a living organism that is used in the diagnosis or treatment of disease.
Bowel: Also known as the intestine, this is the part of the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus. It consists of 2 major sections: the small intestine and the large intestine.
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Chronic: A term used to describe a disease or condition that shows little change or slow progression over a long period of time.
Colon: The large intestine; the lower part of the bowel that connects to the rectum.
Colonoscopy: Exam in which a narrow, flexible tube is inserted into the colon by way of the anus, allowing a doctor to examine and photograph the inside lining of the colon.
Corticosteroids: A class of steroids that reduce inflammation.
Crohn’s Disease: A type of inflammatory bowel disease marked by patchy areas of inflammation anywhere in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the anus.
Diarrhea: Frequent and watery bowel movements.
Digestive System: The organs and intestines, including the stomach, the colon, and the anus, that help the body break down and absorb food and liquids.
Diverticular Disease: A disease that occurs in the intestinal tract, especially the colon, when pouches form in the large intestine and bulge out or become inflamed.
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Electrolytes: Electrically charged salts, including sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, that are found in the body’s fluid. They play an important role in carrying nerve impulses and helping muscles contract.
Enzymes: Produced by cells within the body and designed to cause a chemical reaction. Of the thousands of enzymes within the human body, many are involved in the digestive system.
Extraintestinal: Outside of the intestines. Ulcerative colitis symptoms sometimes appear in areas of the body beyond the digestive system. These symptoms may include joint pain and skin rash. Lialda is not indicated to treat these symptoms.
Flare or Flare-up: A return or worsening of ulcerative colitis symptoms.
Fulminant: A term used to describe a rapid and severe appearance of a condition or symptoms related to a disease.
Gastroenterologist: A doctor who specializes in diseases of the digestive tract.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract: The large, muscular tube that extends from the mouth to the anus.
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Immune System: The complex group of organs and cells that protects the body against infection and disease.
Inflammation: The body’s response to injury, which includes pain, swelling, redness, and heat. Inflammation is the body’s attempt to clear out whatever caused the injury (for example, bacteria) and repair damaged tissue.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A disease characterized by inflammation in the small or large intestine (colon). The term usually refers to either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Intestine: Also known as the bowel, this is the part of the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus. It consists of 2 major sections: the small intestine and the large intestine (colon).
Lactose-intolerant: The inability to digest foods or liquids containing milk and other dairy products.
Large Intestine: The broad, shorter part of the intestine, consisting mainly of the colon and rectum, which absorbs water from digested materials and processes waste.
Lower Colon: The lower part of the colon right above the rectum.
Lymphoma: A type of cancer that begins in white blood cells in lymph nodes; one type is known as Hodgkin’s disease.
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Mesalamine: An anti-inflammatory drug that acts on the lining of the colon to reduce inflammation. Also known as 5-aminosalicylic acid or 5-ASA. Lialda is a mesalamine.
Mucus: Thick fluid produced by the membranes that line certain organs of the body.
Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Drugs commonly used to treat acute and chronic pain, including aspirin and ibuprofen. Undesirable side effects of this class of medication include stomach bleeding and gastrointestinal ulcers.
Probiotics: Live micro-organisms available in some foods, such as yogurt and dietary supplements, that may provide a health benefit.
Rectal Bleeding: The passage of blood often mixed with stool, which may originate from the anus, rectum, or higher up in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Rectum: The last part of the digestive tract, from the colon to the anus. Acts as a storage area for fecal waste.
Relapse: The return of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement.
Remission: A period of time when the symptoms of a disease go away. In the case of ulcerative colitis (UC), your doctor should also be able to see evidence of healing in the lining of your colon during a procedure called a colonoscopy.
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Side Effects: An undesirable result of a drug, such as nausea, headache, or dizziness. Other side effects can be more serious in nature.
Sigmoidoscopy: An exam that’s similar to a colonoscopy, but limited to the lower part of the colon.
Small Intestine: The narrow, longer part of the intestine, which digests food and absorbs nutrients.
Stool: Feces or the materials evacuated from the bowels.
Sulfasalazine: A drug used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis. It works inside the intestine by helping to reduce inflammation.
Trigger: Something that initiates or starts an action or prompts a result.
Ulcer: A lesion or sore on the skin surface or on the inner lining of an organ.
Ulcerative Colitis (UC): A chronic disease of the colon that is of unknown cause and is characterized by diarrhea with discharge of mucus and blood, cramping abdominal pain, and continuous inflammation of the colon lining with patches of ulcers (sores).
Urgency: A sudden and possibly uncontrollable need to have a bowel movement.
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