{"id":4369,"date":"2019-02-25T03:57:06","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T03:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=4369"},"modified":"2022-02-07T08:10:55","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T08:10:55","slug":"10-causes-of-ischemic-colitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/10-causes-of-ischemic-colitis\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Causes of Ischemic Colitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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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\u2019s 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.
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While it\u2019s 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.
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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.
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Here are 8 potential causes of ischemic colitis.
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1. Following a High-Cholesterol Diet<\/strong>
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Following a high-cholesterol diet can put you at a much higher risk of developing ischemic colitis<\/a>. This is because it\u2019s a condition caused directly by the restriction of blood flow to the colon \u2013 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.
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Sometimes cholesterol is caused by your diet \u2013 if you\u2019re following any type of diet that\u2019s obviously high in the so-called \u201cbad fats\u201d, 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.
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If you follow a high-cholesterol diet, switch to a healthier one \u2013 even if you don\u2019t consider yourself at risk of developing ischemic colitis yet.
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2. Atherosclerosis<\/strong>
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Atherosclerosis <\/a>is a medical condition that causes the impaction of the arteries in the body by deposits, and this can help to restrict blood flow to various parts of the body \u2013 including the lungs, heart, and colon. It\u2019s when it happens in the colon that this causes ischemic colitis. This can seem a lot similar to cholesterol, and while the one condition might very easily cause the other, they aren\u2019t the same \u2013 and there are several other different risk factors for atherosclerosis.
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Atherosclerosis is a serious and separate condition, and it\u2019s one of the foremost causes of heart attacks and strokes; if you suspect that you might have atherosclerosis or have a family history, make an appointment with your doctor in order to discuss the best course of action.
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While it should be considered very serious, the condition can be treated if it happens to be spotted early enough.
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3. Low Blood Pressure<\/strong>
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Low blood pressure can be a potential cause of ischemic colitis, and if symptoms are particularly severe it can lead to hospitalization. Normal blood pressure measures at approximately 120 over 80; sometimes a little higher or lower than this number is considered to be normal, but anything severely higher or lower warrants concern.
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The reason why low blood pressure <\/a>can cause ischemic colitis in the first place is because of the fact that low blood pressure can restrict the blood flow to certain parts of the body \u2013 including the colon, which is the type of case where it will directly cause colitis.
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When it\u2019s low blood pressure behind it, it can often be a lot more dangerous because of the fact that you\u2019re at an increased risk of other health problems too \u2013 including a heart attack or coma. See a doctor if you suspect you have low blood pressure.  
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4. Vascular Disease<\/strong>
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Issues with blood pressure aren\u2019t the only potential vascular disease that you can develop which can potentially cause ischemic colitis; there are several types of vascular diseases that can affect the colon, and anything that really affects the blood or the blood flow in such a way that there isn\u2019t adequate blood flow to the colon (or the rest of the body overall) can be seen as a potential cause for colitis<\/a>.
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Because of this, anyone who has ever had a history of vascular disease in their own health or their family history can automatically be considered to be at a higher risk of developing colitis \u2013 and should keep a closer eye out for symptoms, which can include general digestive upsets or pain after eating.
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Vascular disease can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks or strokes: Always take care if you suspect that you might have vascular disease.
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5. Drug Use<\/strong>
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Drug use can be a potential cause of colitis, and happens most commonly with methamphetamines <\/a>and cocaine because of the way that these types of drugs affect the heart and blood vessels; for example, both of these drugs can lead to an increased heart rate \u2013 which is part of what causes the unnatural \u201crush\u201d effect of the drug. This effect can quickly turn into the dysfunction of the heart, whereby the heart can no longer pump enough blood to reach the extremities \u2013 including the colon.
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Other symptoms of this can include feeling faint or fainting spells, and often times abdominal bleeding can be considered a common symptom that you\u2019ll see with more advanced stages of colitis, as can happen with chronic and frequent drug use.
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Doctors will usually pick up any drug use as a potential cause while they are conducting tests, and the worst they\u2019ll do is recommend lifestyle changes.
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6. Blood Clots<\/strong>
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A blood clot can be one of the potential things that impair the blood flow through the colon and act like another one of the direct causes of ischemic colitis. You can consider yourself at an increased risk of blood clots if you follow an unhealthy diet that\u2019s high in bad types of fats, or if you have been diagnosed with heart disease; the same is true if you are overweight, a smoker, or don\u2019t exercise <\/a>often \u2013 all of these factors can put you at a higher risk of developing blood clots, and this can lead to the risk of later developing colitis.
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While the condition can be managed, if blood clots are the cause, it\u2019s likely that your doctor will recommend some severe lifestyle changes \u2013 and might even recommend medication depending on what the cause behind the increased risk of blood clots is.
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Ideally, you should stay healthy.
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7. Colon Cancer<\/strong>
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Colon cancer<\/a> is one of the rarer causes of ischemic colitis, and for this reason, it shouldn\u2019t be the first possible cause that your mind jumps to when you\u2019re looking at a list of the symptoms \u2013 but if you suspect that you might be at an increased risk of developing cancer, might have it in your body already or have an existing family history of any type of cancers, then you should ideally make an appointment with your doctor and always treat it as a serious health condition.
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You are at an automatically increased risk of developing colon cancer if you live an unhealthy lifestyle, if you are overweight or if you are a smoker; any existing family history can also increase your risk and mean that you should make regular appointments with your doctor, even if you aren\u2019t showing any symptoms that something might be wrong with your health.
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8. An Overall Unhealthy Lifestyle<\/strong>
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An overall unhealthy lifestyle can be one of the foremost causes for an entire list of different health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attacks<\/a>, and strokes; among other things, following an unhealthy diet with an unhealthy lifestyle added on top of that can put you at a highly increased risk of colitis \u2013 and even if you don\u2019t develop colitis, it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ll develop some or other type of digestive condition during your lifetime if the lifestyle continues.
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Excess consumption of alcohol and being a smoker are two potential risk factors. A high-fat, high-sodium diet can also highly increase your risk of developing the same types of health conditions, and if you are currently overweight, the same applies.
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If you want to live a healthier life, make some lifestyle changes: Eat better, be more active and see your doctor a little more often for the best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Bowel Obstruction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people that develop ischemic colitis may experience the onset of a condition due to factors influenced by improper blood flow to the colon, resulting in the growth of a tumor, scar tissue from an operation or trauma, or a herniation of the colonic wall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These obstructions in the bowel may begin to limit blood flow to the colon, causing the onset of ischemic colitis. In many cases, the doctor will need to send the patient for a colonoscopy to discover the cause of the problem. The patient will undergo a minor procedure where the surgeon <\/a>inserts a camera into the colon through the rectum, allowing the doctor to inspect the blockage causing the problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the doctor and surgeon agree that surgery is a viable option to remove the blockage, they will book the patient in for the procedure. Most patients are out of the hospital in a few days, with the doctor monitoring their recovery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Recreational Drug Abuse<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some patients may experience the onset of ischemic colitis due to recreational drug use. Recreational drugs often undergo manufacturing in unclean settings that are nothing like the conditions used in the pharmaceutical industry. As a result, the drugs may get mixed with other compounds that cause problems in the gut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who use recreational drugs that affect circulation and normal heart function, such as cocaine and amphetamine, are at higher risk of developing an ischemic disease, such as ischemic colitis. These drugs affect the heart rate and circulation<\/a>, and prolonged use may end up causing problems with the delivery of blood throughout the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you use recreational drugs, consider stopping. While it might seem like fun at the time, you\u2019re placing yourself at developing health problems later in life. If you have addiction issues, consult with your doctor, and they will refer you to a rehabilitation clinic to help you recover from the effects of addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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