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Common ulcerative colitis symptoms include chronic diarrhea, blood or mucus in the stool, abdominal cramping with an urgent need to go, and fatigue; some people also have weight loss, low-grade fever during flares, and symptoms outside the gut such as joint pain, skin changes, or eye irritation. Severity and location in the colon affect symptoms, and warning signs like heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, dehydration, high fever, a rapid heart rate, or a sudden worsening mean you should seek urgent care. There are several factors to consider; see below for fuller details that can guide your next steps and when to contact a doctor.

Ulcerative colitis is dangerous when inflammation is uncontrolled or complications develop, such as severe flares that do not improve, heavy or ongoing bleeding, toxic megacolon, bowel perforation, severe dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, serious infection, blood clots, and the long‑term increased risk of colorectal cancer. Seek urgent care for severe abdominal pain or swelling, high fever, heavy rectal bleeding or black stools, rapid heart rate, fainting or dizziness, low urine output, or a sudden sharp worsening of symptoms. There are several factors to consider and steps that lower risk, including timely treatment and surveillance, so see the complete details below.

Ulcerative colitis is located in the large intestine, specifically the colon and rectum; it begins in the rectum and spreads upward in a continuous pattern, affecting only the inner lining and not the small intestine or other digestive organs. There are several factors to consider that can influence symptoms, treatment options, and monitoring. See below for the complete answer and important details that can guide your next steps.

There are several factors to consider, and neither condition is universally worse; impact depends on severity, where the gut is affected, complications, and how well treatment works. See below for key differences that shape next steps, including that ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon with a higher colon cancer risk and surgery that can be curative, while Crohn's can involve any part of the digestive tract with deeper, more unpredictable complications like strictures, fistulas, abscesses, and malnutrition, plus when to seek urgent care.

There are several factors to consider. Risk is highest in ages 15 to 30 and 50 to 70, in people with a first-degree family history of IBD, those of Ashkenazi Jewish or Northern European ancestry, and in urban or industrialized settings with Western-style diets; non-smokers and former smokers are more affected, and frequent NSAID use, early-life antibiotics, certain gut infections, and coexisting autoimmune conditions can add to risk, though many with these risks never develop it. If you have persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, cramps, urgency, fatigue, or weight loss, talk to a clinician promptly, and see below for important nuances on lower-risk groups, symptom timing, and next steps that could guide your care.

Bleeding happens because chronic inflammation in ulcerative colitis erodes the colon’s surface, forming shallow ulcers and fragile surface blood vessels that rupture with bowel movements; rectal involvement often makes the blood bright red. There are several factors to consider. See below for how the amount of bleeding reflects disease activity, common triggers that can worsen it, and when to seek urgent care, along with treatments that can reduce or stop bleeding.

Ulcerative colitis can lead to constipation when inflammation slows colon motility, increases water absorption, and when rectal involvement causes spasms or outlet resistance that makes emptying difficult. Medications, reduced fiber or fluids during flares, dehydration, and long-term scarring or narrowing can compound the problem. There are several factors to consider, and some warning signs call for prompt care; see the complete answer below for details on causes like proctitis and tenesmus, medication effects, safe symptom relief, and when to contact your doctor.

Fatigue in ulcerative colitis is multifactorial, caused by chronic inflammation taxing energy, anemia from blood loss, nutrient deficiencies, disrupted sleep from bowel symptoms, pain, medication side effects, and emotional stress; it can persist even in remission. There are several factors to consider. See below for key details, including treatable causes like iron deficiency, when persistent tiredness may signal complications that need urgent care, and practical next steps to discuss with your doctor.

There are several factors to consider. In ulcerative colitis, chronic inflammation disrupts digestion and the gut microbiome, speeds intestinal transit, and heightens colon sensitivity, leading to more bacterial fermentation and trapped gas; food triggers and some medications can add to this. Important nuances include how gas differs in flares versus remission and which warning signs mean you should seek care. See the complete answer below to understand these details and decide on next steps for diet changes, medication review, or when to contact your doctor.

Ulcerative colitis causes joint pain because the same immune inflammation that damages the colon circulates through the gut–joint axis, triggering inflammatory arthritis in either peripheral joints that often flare with gut symptoms and usually do not cause lasting damage, or in the spine and pelvis that can behave independently. There are several factors to consider that can change next steps, including cytokine activity, medication or withdrawal effects, nutrient deficiencies, and red flag symptoms that warrant prompt care; see the complete answer below for what to do and which treatments help.

Ulcerative colitis causes weight loss when symptoms reduce appetite and intake, when inflammation and chronic diarrhea impair nutrient and fluid absorption, and when the body burns more calories during active inflammation. Medicines, overly restrictive diets, and stress or low mood can further suppress appetite or tolerance, leading to unintended weight loss. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including red flags that warrant medical care and practical nutrition strategies that may change your next steps.

Ulcerative colitis is considered an autoimmune disease because the immune system mistakenly attacks the colon lining, causing ongoing inflammation even without infection; symptoms often improve with immune-targeted treatments, and risk is shaped by genetics and an abnormal response to normal gut bacteria. There are several factors to consider that can affect diagnosis, treatment choices, monitoring, and when to seek care. See below for important details that may guide your next steps.

Ulcerative colitis happens because an overactive immune response targets the lining of the colon and rectum in people with genetic susceptibility, along with shifts in the gut microbiome and environmental triggers; it is not caused by stress or diet, though those can worsen symptoms. There are several factors to consider that can affect your next steps, like what can trigger flares, how the disease pattern guides treatment, and when to seek care. See below for the complete explanation and practical guidance.

There is no medical cure today; removal of the colon can permanently eliminate the disease, but it is major surgery and not right for everyone. Many people achieve long, deep remission with modern therapies while research into microbiome, immune reprogramming, and precision medicine is moving closer to more definitive solutions. There are several factors to consider, including whether remission or surgery fits your situation; see below for important details that could affect your next steps.

Ulcerative colitis usually does not go away permanently; it is a chronic condition, but many people can have months to years of remission when symptoms are minimal or absent with the right care. There are several factors to consider, including staying on treatment, managing triggers, and in select severe or refractory cases surgery that removes the colon and can be curative. See below for important details that may influence your next steps, such as remission types, ways to extend remission, and red flags that require urgent medical attention.

Pneumonia happens when germs infect the air sacs in your lungs, most commonly after breathing in infected droplets, accidentally aspirating saliva or food, or less often when another infection spreads through the bloodstream. Risk is higher in young children, adults over 65, smokers, people with chronic heart, lung, or metabolic disease, weakened immunity, or recent viral illness like flu; there are several factors to consider. See below for key details on risks, prevention, symptoms, and when to seek care that could affect your next steps.

Fast relief in about five minutes: take 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey, use a menthol lozenge or chest rub, try a lidocaine throat spray, inhale warm steam, and practice slow, controlled breathing; combining two methods can work even faster. There are several factors and red flags that could change your next steps, including a cough lasting more than two weeks, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, colored or bloody phlegm, or weight loss and night sweats, so see the complete guidance below for when to seek care and how to prevent future coughs.

It depends on the cause: bacterial, viral, and atypical pneumonias can be contagious through respiratory droplets, while fungal pneumonia is usually not spread person to person. Contagious periods vary, such as bacterial often remaining contagious until 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics, viral from about a day before symptoms to 5 to 7 days or more, and atypical sometimes for weeks. There are several factors to consider for prevention, risk, symptoms, and when to seek care; see below to understand more.

Walking pneumonia is a milder lung infection that often lets you continue daily activities, most commonly caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, with gradual symptoms like a persistent dry cough, mild fever, and fatigue. There are several factors to consider that can affect your next steps in care. See below for how it differs from typical pneumonia, how it spreads, who is most at risk, when to seek medical attention, and what diagnosis and treatment options like antibiotics and recovery timelines look like.

A dry cough most often comes from 10 causes, including viral infections, postnasal drip, asthma, GERD or silent reflux, ACE inhibitor medicines, environmental allergies or smoke, chronic bronchitis, pertussis, and cough hypersensitivity, and treatments range from rest, fluids, humidified air and lozenges to nasal sprays or antihistamines, inhalers, acid reducers, medication changes, antibiotics, and targeted therapies. There are several factors to consider. See below to match symptoms to likely causes, choose safe home care and medications, and recognize urgent warning signs like trouble breathing, chest pain, high fever, coughing up blood, rapid heartbeat, or weight loss that should prompt medical care.

Sleep apnea after age 65: there are several causes, key risks, and warning signs to consider. Age related muscle tone loss, anatomical narrowing, weight gain, certain illnesses and medications, and back sleeping raise risk, while consequences include daytime sleepiness and falls, high blood pressure and heart disease, diabetes, and memory or mood problems; see below for symptoms, diagnosis, and urgent red flags. Treatments that work include CPAP, oral appliances, weight and position changes, positional devices, selected surgeries, and addressing contributing conditions and medications, with adherence and follow up improving outcomes. For the complete step by step guidance and details that can shape your next healthcare steps, see below.

There are several factors to consider. Colitis is more likely when cramps and diarrhea are chronic or recurrent, include blood or mucus, urgency or nighttime stools, weight loss or joint/skin/eye symptoms, and show elevated fecal calprotectin or lactoferrin. An infection is more likely with sudden onset watery diarrhea, prominent fever, nausea or vomiting after a clear exposure, and improvement within days. See below for key exceptions like C. difficile, red flags that need urgent care, and the tests and treatments that can guide your next steps.

An uncontrollable urge to sleep can follow a specific night-day reversal pattern, with fragmented nights and irresistible mid-afternoon sleep attacks, often pointing to minimal hepatic encephalopathy from liver dysfunction that alters ammonia and melatonin handling. There are several factors to consider, since narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and circadian rhythm problems can also cause profound daytime sleepiness, and liver-linked clues like confusion, slowed thinking, tremor, or a history of liver disease raise concern. See below for key red flags, how to track symptoms, lifestyle steps that may help, and when to seek medical care, which can affect your next steps.

There are several factors to consider. Most bright red blood on the toilet paper is from hemorrhoids or an anal fissure, with fissures causing sharp pain during and after a bowel movement while hemorrhoids are often itchy or painless. Less common but more serious causes include colorectal polyps or cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular bleeding, and infections; warning signs are heavy or ongoing bleeding, black or tarry stools, new bowel habit changes, weight loss, fever, or severe pain. See the complete guidance below for specific clues, home treatments, and when to seek urgent care so you can choose the right next step.

A small smear of bright red blood on toilet paper is often from minor causes like hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or irritation and usually improves with fiber, fluids, gentle cleaning, and sitz baths. There are several factors to consider. See below for important details on causes, self care, tests your doctor may recommend, and red flags like heavier or persistent bleeding, blood mixed with stool, dizziness or fainting, abdominal pain, weight loss, bowel habit changes, a family history of colorectal cancer, or any bleeding if you have cirrhosis.

Bloody diarrhea most often results from infections such as Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, toxigenic E. coli, C. difficile, or parasites like Entamoeba, but inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic colitis, medication or radiation injury, and colon polyps or cancer are also important, with hemorrhoids, fissures, and portal hypertensive colopathy less common. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Typical next tests include stool studies for bacteria, Shiga toxin, C. difficile, and parasites, inflammatory stool markers, blood work for anemia and inflammation, and when needed imaging and endoscopy such as CT, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy with biopsy, with red flags and timing guidance detailed below.

Stress constricts blood vessels and lowers nitric oxide, which undermines erections, while slow nasal, diaphragmatic breathing activates the vagus nerve to lower cortisol and improve blood flow. There are several factors to consider; see below for specific techniques like diaphragmatic, box, and 4-7-8 breathing, how to time them before sex, and how to pair them with exercise, diet, sleep, pelvic floor work, and mindfulness. Breathing helps most with stress-related or mild to moderate ED, but persistent problems or red flags like sudden ED, genital pain or lumps, or chest symptoms during sex need medical care. Important details that can shape your next steps are below.

Yes, allergies can cause a sore, scratchy throat by triggering postnasal drip and throat inflammation, often alongside clear, watery nasal discharge, itchy eyes, and seasonal patterns. There are several factors to consider, including how to tell it from an infection, effective at home and medical treatments, and when to seek urgent care; see below for key details that could guide your next steps.

Yes, stress can cause diarrhea by activating the gut-brain axis; hormones like cortisol and CRF can speed intestinal transit, heighten gut sensitivity, and shift microbiota, leading to loose, urgent stools. There are several factors and red flags to consider; see the complete details below for who is more at risk, practical relief steps like stress reduction and diet changes, and when to seek medical care to guide your next steps.

It is extremely rare to die during sleep from acid reflux, but it can happen indirectly through aspiration with choking or pneumonia, severe respiratory compromise, or cardiac events, especially in people with advanced lung disease, neurologic impairment, poor airway protection, or untreated severe GERD. There are several factors to consider, see below to understand more. Know the red flags like sudden severe chest pain, breathing trouble on waking, blood in vomit, weight loss, or difficulty swallowing and seek urgent care if present, while others should review the prevention and treatment options outlined below and talk with a clinician if symptoms persist.