Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease may affect the same organ, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end.

Some people eat food with little thought to its journey through their system. But for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the process of digestion may get a lot more consideration.

Ulcerative colitis is a condition that falls under the category of IBD – inflammatory bowel disease. The disorder involves the presence of long-term inflammation and ulcers in parts of the digestive tract, usually the rectum and the innermost layers of the large intestine (the colon).

Ulcerative colitis can prove to be a both physically and mentally challenging disease. Difficult, sometimes embarrassing symptoms can add stress to an already painful condition. However, medical treatment options and lifestyle choices can help control the disease and lead to long periods of remission.