Disorders of the Gastrointestinal System, 2nd Edition
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viduals to IBD (Abukhalil et al., 2022). To properly diagnose and treat inflammatory bowel disease, it is important to deter- mine the exact nature of the disease af- fecting the bowel. It is estimated that at least 3 million people are affected by UC or CD in the U.S. (CDC, 2022). EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE ALERT It was previously thought that smok- ing increases the risk of developing IBD. However, recent studies have shown that the etiology may be more complicated. The risk of developing UC is actually lower in smokers, but smokers have a higher risk of develop- ing CD. Researchers are quick to say that although IBD development and symptoms may be affected by smok- ing, trials using nicotine patches to try to mitigate the symptoms of UC have been inconsistently successful. More research is needed (Rowe, 2020).
CASE STUDY 9 Cathy is 19 years old and attends a presti- gious university on a full basketball schol- arship. She has been experiencing ab- dominal cramping and frequent bloody diarrhea that contains large amounts of mucus. She is losing weight and finding it difficult to play her best during basketball games. Cathy attributes her problems to the stress of keeping up with her academ- ic studies and the demanding schedule of practice and big- league games. She tries to hide her condition from her coach and friends but eventually becomes so weak that she faints during a practice session in the gym. Her coach insists that she re- ceive immediate medical attention. After a diagnostic workup, Cathy receives a di- agnosis of ulcerative colitis. Question Which of the following factors likely caused Cathy’s ulcerative colitis? a. Acidic diet. b. Altered immunity. c. Chronic constipation. d. Emotional stress. Answer/Rationale: The correct answer is b. Several theories exist regarding the cause of ulcerative colitis. One suggests altered immunity is causative based on the extraintestinal characteristics of the disease, such as peripheral arthritis and cholangitis.
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