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.
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.
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.
Back to top
Colectomy: A surgery in which all or part of the colon is removed.
Colon: The large intestine; the lower part of the bowel that connects to the rectum.
Colon Cancer: A malignant tumor affecting the inner wall of the large intestine.
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.
Colorectal Dysplasia: Abnormal, precancerous changes in the cells of the colon.
Corticosteroids: A class of steroids that reduce inflammation.
Cramping: A painful, random muscle contraction.
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.
Back to top
Fatigue: An overwhelming feeling of exhaustion and decreased ability for physical and mental work.
Fever: A rise in the temperature of the body.
Flare or Flare-up: A return or worsening of ulcerative colitis symptoms.
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.
Back to top
Immune System: The complex group of organs and cells that protects the body against infection and disease.
Immunomodulators: Drugs that alter immune responses in the body.
Immunosuppressants: Drugs used to slow the body's immune system in an attempt to block the occurrence of inflammation.
Indeterminate Colitis: A condition that has overlapping features of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's 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).
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.
Back to top
Malnutrition: Any disease-promoting condition resulting from inadequate intake of nutrients.
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.
Mucosal Lining: The moist tissue that lines the hollow organs and cavities of the body.
Mucus: Thick fluid produced by the membranes that line certain organs of the body.
Nutrients: Foods or liquids that give the body the chemicals necessary for normal functioning.
Probiotics: Live micro-organisms available in some foods, such as yogurt and dietary supplements, that may provide a health benefit.
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.
Back to top
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.
Sulfasalazine: A drug used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis. It works inside the intestine by helping to reduce inflammation.
Toxic Colitis: A severe complication of ulcerative colitis that involves damage to the entire thickness of the intestinal wall, causing normal contractions to temporarily stop.
Toxic Megacolon: A rapid widening of part of the colon.
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).
Back to top
