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Colitis
Can colitis turn into cancer?
Colitis is considered a benign lesion clinically and generally does not transform into cancer. Therefore, patients do not need to worry too much. The diagnosis of colitis mainly relies on colonoscopy. Most patients undergo colonoscopy due to abdominal discomfort or abnormal stools. The abdominal discomfort is primarily in the lower abdomen or lower left abdomen, presenting as pain and distension. Abnormal stools can clinically manifest as changes in the frequency of bowel movements, changes in stool texture to harder or thinner, and so on. Most patients do not exhibit alarming symptoms such as bloody stools, weight loss, or decreased appetite. Colonoscopy is frequently used clinically and can generally serve to differentiate between colitis and colon cancer. Most patients can tolerate a colonoscopy, so there is no need for patients to resist undergoing this examination.
Which part to massage for colitis?
Firstly, one can massage certain areas of the abdomen, such as Zhongwan, Tianshu, and Liangmen, as well as the Guanyuan point in the lower abdomen. The massage should progress from gentle to firm, using the small fish edge for rolling techniques or the large fish edge for pressing techniques, and finally pinpoint massage on certain abdominal acupoints. The second area for massage is the distal extremities, such as the legs where you can massage points like Zusanli, Shangjuxu, Xiajuxu, Sanyinjiao, and Yinlingquan, and in the hands at points like Sanli and Neiguan, to alleviate symptoms of colitis. Of course, if the massage is performed by another person, back acupoints such as Weishu, Dachangshu, and Sanjiaoshu can also be massaged to effectively relieve symptoms of colitis.
What are the symptoms of colitis?
Colitis is relatively common in clinical settings, especially in the gastroenterology outpatient department, and it generally occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients. The disease typically begins with abdominal pain, diarrhea, or abnormal stools. The abdominal pain is characterized by episodic pain in the lower left or right abdomen, without persistent episodes and generally does not occur after the patient falls asleep at night. The diet is usually not related. Diarrhea manifests as watery stools or stools with a soft texture, without bloody stools. Abnormal stools are characterized by constipation, for instance, if the patient has not had a bowel movement for several days, with dry, sheep-dung-like stools that are difficult to expel. Typically, after a thorough colonoscopy, no colon tumors or polyps are found, but signs of congested and edematous colonic mucosa suggest a diagnosis of colitis. Generally, the condition isn't severe, and treatment primarily involves symptomatic management.
Colitis is what disease.
Colitis is caused by various reasons, leading to inflammatory lesions in the colon. Depending on the cause, it can be divided into nonspecific inflammatory changes and specific inflammatory lesions. It can be caused by bacteria, fungi, or parasites, with typical symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. Severe anemia and intestinal dysfunction may occur. Due to repeated diarrhea, an imbalance of acid-base equilibrium can happen. Patients generally see a gastroenterologist and require long-term treatment, as well as dietary adjustments.
What should you not eat with colitis?
So what foods should we avoid for patients with colitis? First of all, we should try not to eat milk and seafood, because milk and seafood are types of foreign proteins to the human body, which could potentially become allergens. Because colitis patients are likely to experience colonic allergies after consumption, resulting in worsened diarrhea, so it is advisable to avoid these foods as much as possible. Secondly, we should minimize the consumption of high-fat foods, because patients with colitis have poor digestive functions, particularly weak in digesting fats. Incompletely digested high-fat foods can cause "slippery gut" leading to diarrhea. Over time, the accumulation of fats can also induce complications such as fatty liver, etc. Therefore, foods high in fats such as lard, cream, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, etc., should be avoided or eaten sparingly. Third, it is important to eat less gas-producing food: because colonic inflammation in colitis, due to chronic and recurrent episodes, causes alternation of ulcers and scar fibrosis in the colonic mucosa, which reduces the elasticity of the colonic inner wall. Consuming more gas-producing foods, such as sweet potatoes and soybeans, may cause acute intestinal dilation due to the filling of gas in the intestines, or even lead to complications such as ulcer perforation. Fourth, eat fewer vegetables containing coarse fiber: the fiber in vegetables can absorb intestinal water and have a laxative effect, which might aggravate diarrhea. Therefore, foods high in coarse fiber like celery, crown daisy, cabbage, spinach, etc., should be consumed in limited quantities.
Can colitis be detected by an ultrasound?
Colitis cannot be definitively diagnosed with an ultrasound, as ultrasound is primarily used for diagnosing solid organs such as the liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas. For hollow organs, the diagnosis is obscured by gas and food inside the intestines, making ultrasound less effective. For patients suspected of having colitis, the best examination is a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy can clearly show the extent and severity of the inflammation. CT scans also hold diagnostic value as they can reveal thickening and edema of the colonic wall. CT scans are less painful compared to colonoscopies, which can be somewhat painful.
What medicine is used for colitis?
Colitis may involve choosing some medications that protect the intestinal mucosa and regulate the intestinal flora, along with other symptomatic treatments. If the intestinal inflammation presents as abdominal discomfort or significant illness, one might choose to use antispasmodic pain relief and antidiarrheal medications, which can generally achieve certain control. Ileitis is also relatively common clinically, with patients usually presenting with discomfort in stool or service and, after undergoing a thorough colonoscopy, inflammatory changes in the intestines are found, characterized by mucosal congestion, edema, and even scattered erosion and ulcer formation. Treatment options include oral medications, but in terms of diet, it primarily involves choosing clean, easily digestible foods and supplementing with some nutrients. Colitis generally presents with lower abdominal pain and discomfort in the lower left abdomen, typically occurring in paroxysmal attacks without specificity. (Please take medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)
Can colitis cause back pain?
Colitis is commonly seen in clinical settings and generally does not cause back pain. The typical symptoms include abdominal discomfort and abnormal stools. It may manifest as discomfort in the left side of the abdomen, such as bloating and abdominal pain. Abnormal stools can be reflected by an increased frequency of defecation, generally more than two to three times. The character of the stool may change; for instance, a patient who previously suffered from constipation may now experience watery diarrhea or have stools that are relatively loose, but generally, there is no accompanying bloody stool, commonly referred to as stool with blood. Symptoms can also include a decrease in appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Common causes of back pain are generally considered to result from the urinary system or spinal pathology, such as ureteral stones, kidney stones, or herniated lumbar discs, etc. It is recommended for patients to undergo further examinations to clarify these conditions.
Transverse colitis is located in the transverse colon.
If you are asking about the location of abdominal pain due to transverse colitis, let's first understand the anatomical position of the transverse colon. The ends of the transverse colon are located under the spleen and the liver. During a colonoscopy, when passing through the hepatic flexure or splenic flexure, cystic spots are often found, which are shadows of the liver and spleen. Generally, in patients who are short and stout, the internal abdominal fat tends to hold the free transverse colon relatively fixed, arranging it in a straight line like the Chinese character "一". For thin and frail patients, lacking support, the transverse colon can sag. In patients who have had abdominal surgery, the intestinal structure may be disordered. Therefore, the abdominal pain associated with transverse colitis generally centers around or below the umbilicus on either side.
Can moxibustion cure colitis?
For some cases of acute colitis, particularly those caused by exposure to pathogenic cold, dampness, and wind, moxibustion is quite effective, able to immediately alleviate clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. At this time, we can choose acupoints for treating acute enteritis, such as the Liangqiu point for moxibustion, as well as other points like Yinlingquan, Zusanli, and Yanglingquan. Additionally, local points on the abdomen can also be used for moxibustion. For example, using the Tianshu point for moxibustion can warm the meridians, promote circulation, disperse cold, and relieve pain. Other points like Daheng and Qihai can also be used, and if there is qi stagnation, regulating the Sanyinjiao can help relieve symptoms of colitis.