College-Age Students Among a High Risk Population for Developing Ulcerative Colitis
RALEIGH, NC--(COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Dec 13, 2001--A combination of age, geneaology and genetics make certain college students a high-risk population for developing ulcerative colitis. Characterized by abdominal pain and diarrhea, ulcerative colitis is a debilitating disease of the large intestine that is four to five times more prevalent among young members of the Ashkenazi Jewish population—particularly those in the age range of 15 to 30.
“Unfortunately, ulcerative colitis often strikes during one of the most dynamic periods of youth,” said Gary Lichtenstein, M.D., director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “In addition to balancing academics and extracurricular activities, students diagnosed with this condition have to contend with painful and often embarrassing symptoms that force them to plan their schedules around the nearest restroom.”
While there is no cure for ulcerative colitis, the recent availability of Salix Pharmaceuticals’ new prescription treatment COLAZAL™ (balsalazide disodium) may provide patients with advantages over existing therapies. As the first FDA-approved development for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in the last decade, COLAZAL was developed with a novel formulation that expedites delivery of the drug’s active ingredients to the primary site of inflammation, the colon.
''This is a fundamentally important development for the thousands of young people who suffer with this disease on a daily basis,'' said Dr. Lichtenstein. “When the disease is active, symptoms may preclude students from such everyday activities as attending classes, visiting friends or simply leaving the house. Thankfully, this new treatment helps manage symptoms and induce remission (an absence of symptoms attributed to the colitis), which may help improve the person`s overall quality of life.”
Designed to relieve the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and induce remission, COLAZAL delivers the active anti-inflammatory medication directly to the colon—the site of this disease—where it appears to work topically. With other therapies, ingredients can be released too early or sometimes, not at all, causing whole tablets to pass through the colon.
Expert Advice for People With Ulcerative Colitis:
Like most chronic diseases, ulcerative colitis can change your lifestyle, but it doesn’t have to control your life. In addition to seeking proper medical advice and treatment, experts encourage students to educate themselves, their friends, family members and professors on the particulars of this disease. Because of the embarrassing nature of symptoms, students often find it easier to withdraw from social activities than to explain their condition. But experts say this withdrawal creates a sense of isolation that can have a negative impact on a person’s overall well-being and ability to heal.
The Crohn`s and Colitis Foundation of America also recommends the following tips for managing symptoms and alleviating some of the stressful feelings that arise when symptoms flare up.
Controlling the Symptoms of UC:
* Eat small portions at regular intervals (every three to four hours)
* Avoid caffeine, foods high in fiber and raw fruits and vegetables.
* Maintain a regular exercise program
* Limit alcohol intake - particularly when symptoms are active
* Communicate your needs and feelings with friends and family
For more information about ulcerative colitis and local support groups designed to help young patients, contact the Crohn`s & Colitis Foundation of America at 800-343-3637 or visit its web site at http://www.ccfa.org. If you or your physician would like more information about COLAZAL, visit Salix Pharmaceuticals’ website at http://www.salixpharm.com, or call (866) 669-SLXP (7597).
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, develops and markets prescription pharmaceutical products for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Salix’s lead product is COLAZAL.
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