10 Causes of Ischemic Colitis

Ischemic colitis is a chronic health condition that causes a lack of blood flow to the colon, and it can lead to severe issues with digestion and a considerable amount of pain. It’s not as rare as you might think, and statistics say that as much as 1 in every 2, 000 emergency room visits is due to ischemic colitis.

While it’s a condition that normally occurs in older people, it can sometimes occur in children and adults too. Symptoms of ischemic colitis can include moderate to severe stomach pain (usually on the left side), and other digestive issues; blood in the stool indicative of bleeding might also occur as a more severe symptom of the disorder.

If you suspect that you might have ischemic colitis, see your doctor as soon as possible for them to recommend the best possible treatment option.

Here are 8 potential causes of ischemic colitis.

1. Following a High-Cholesterol Diet

Following a high-cholesterol diet can put you at a much higher risk of developing ischemic colitis. This is because it’s a condition caused directly by the restriction of blood flow to the colon – and while there are numerous different things that can restrict the flow of blood, one of these things is the impaction of the blood vessels in the body by plaque, which is the cholesterol deposits that eventually make themselves home in the blood.

Sometimes cholesterol is caused by your diet – if you’re following any type of diet that’s obviously high in the so-called “bad fats”, your diet could be the cause. But cholesterol can also sometimes be caused purely by genetic factors, and require a combination of medication and lifestyle changes to control.

If you follow a high-cholesterol diet, switch to a healthier one – even if you don’t consider yourself at risk of developing ischemic colitis yet.