What causes colitis is still a matter of much debate within the traditional medical community. Colitis is an inflammatory swelling of the large intestine -- the colon. Here are 5 common theories about what causes colitis:

1. 5 Common Theories About What
Causes Colitis
Dr. Albert Snow
Holistic Gastroenterologist

2. What causes colitis is still a
matter of much debate within
the traditional medical
community.

3. Colitis is basically an inflammatory swelling of
the large intestine -- the colon.

4. The basic function of the colon is to produce
stools by absorbing fluids and food residues.

5. Colitis belongs to a group called Inflammatory Bowel
Disease (IBD) and most forms of colitis are mild to
moderate, although an extreme condition known as
ulcerative colitis can become debilitating over time, caused
by the development of ulcers inside the colon or rectum.

6. This chronic condition seems to afflict mostly
people of all ages and can affect both sexes.
Crohn's Disease is perhaps somewhat a
better-known IBD.

7. Most members of the traditional medical
community will tell you that there is no cure
for IBDs, and many people suffer for many
years with the symptoms.

8. The most common symptoms of colitis include
abdominal pain, cramping, bloody stools,
diarrhea, fever, chills or dehydration.

9. Here are 5 common theories about what
causes colitis:

10. 1. Antibiotics:

11. The introduction of antibiotics in the 1950s
and its subsequent widespread use saw a
marked increase in the incidence of colitis.

12. It is well-known that antibiotics can adversely
interact with naturally occurring bacteria
within the digestive system, eventually
eroding the inner lining of the colon.

13. While suppressing normal bacteria, antibiotics can
furthermore aid abnormal growth of other bacterium, the
most widely known being Clostridium difficile, an
acknowledged producer of toxins that can lead to colitis.

14. This use of antibiotics destroys the mucosal
lining of the intestines, and I believe this to be
the primary cause of colitis, and that is the
focus of my treatment protocol.

15. This lining is imperative for the health of your
colon, as it protects the tissue in GI tract.

16. Once the lining has been damaged, your
body's digestive enzymes then work on
destroying this lining.

17. As the tissue is eaten away, it causes
symptoms like bleeding, bowel urgency, and
diarrhea.

18. In fact, there has been a marked increase in
gastrointestinal disorders since the 1950s due
to the fact that antibiotics were introduced
and popularized during that time.

19. As people began increasing their use of
antibiotics, more and more gastrointestinal
problems began surfacing in the general
population.

20. 2. Immune system:

21. Scientists at the Mayo Clinic have suggested
that a weakened immune system caused by
illness can lead to the digestive system
becoming inflamed, thus colitis.

22. Other scientists have offered that the
introduction of a virus or pathogens, such as
E. Coli, Listeria, Botulism, Salmonella, or
Shigella, can also be a leading cause.

23. 3. Blood supply:

24. Restricted or insufficient blood flow to the
colon can cause blood vessel inflammation.

25. The causes can range from common ailments such
as diabetes, hernias, infections, high blood
pressure or cholesterol, and sometimes just from
arteries narrowing due to the progress of age.

26. 4. Heredity:

27. In another finding, the Mayo Clinic also
suggested that heredity is a predominant
culprit leading to what causes colitis.

28. Their research points to the fact that possible gene
mutations can be inherited that can predispose
patients to developing colitis themselves, although
the genes in question have not been pinpointed.

29. However, statistics show that only 15% of
colitis sufferers have family members who
also have a form of IBD.

30. 5. Stress:

31. Although stress has not been singled out as a
direct factor in what causes colitis, it has been
emphasized that stress can be the root cause
of colitis flare ups.

32. Stress is commonly referred to as a trigger for
colitis.

33. Despite the disagreement between natural medicine and
traditional (Western) medicine about what causes colitis, I
know that colitis can be permanently cured with a
treatment protocol involving use of probiotics to rebuild
the GI tract.

34. Discover the Truth About Irritable Bowel Disease!
 How colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, and Leaky Gut Syndrome are all
symptoms of the same condition
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 The one primary source of all conditions
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