Ulcerative colitis disruptive to many

CHICAGO, May 18 (UPI) -- Seventy-three percent of ulcerative colitis sufferers say feeling poorly has become a way life, according to a U.S. study.

Sixty-four percent said ulcerative colitis was disruptive when it comes to their relationship with a spouse, 75 percent said it was disruptive to their sexual relations, and 82 percent said it was disruptive to their emotional state, according to Dr. David Rubin of the University of Chicago Medical Center, who helped design the surveys.

More than two-thirds of ulcerative colitis patients report their condition is embarrassing to them, and 66 percent said they are reluctant to tell people.

Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation in the intestine, which can lead to severe abdominal pain and cramping, uncontrollable bloody diarrhea several times a day, fatigue and weight loss. However, it is a manageable disease with the appropriate therapy, according to Rubin.

The surveys were conducted by Richard Day Research and included a total of 1,975 people: 451 ulcerative colitis patients, 300 gastroenterologists, 309 rheumatoid arthritis patients, 305 asthma patients, 305 migraine patients and 305 adults from the general U.S. population who may have chronic health conditions.