Ulcerative Colitis vs. Crohn’s Disease: Understanding the Key Differences

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes Medically reviewed and verified by Kate Burke, MD, MHA Navigating the Differences Between Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) affects millions worldwide, with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease being the two main types. While these conditions share similarities, understanding their differences is crucial for proper diagnosis… Continue reading Ulcerative Colitis vs. Crohn’s Disease: Understanding the Key Differences

What Happens if Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is Left Untreated?

Medically reviewed and verified by Kate Burke, MD, MHA As an autoimmune condition, ulcerative colitis (UC) can be difficult to manage. Chronic inflammation in the body will disrupt its natural rhythms and processes. Fortunately, there are several ways to treat UC and live a life unrestricted by this condition. If left untreated, however, UC can… Continue reading What Happens if Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is Left Untreated?

Chronic Pain Flare-Ups Explained: What Are They? How Do You Recover?

If you live with chronic pain, you already know that there are some times when the pain is significantly worse than others. These sudden episodes of increased pain are known as flare-ups. The cause of flare-ups can be as diverse as the cause of the chronic pain itself and can vary depending on what type… Continue reading Chronic Pain Flare-Ups Explained: What Are They? How Do You Recover?

9 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Eat Your Way to Relief: 9 Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness If you’re living with a chronic illness, there’s a good chance your doctor has suggested altering your diet to help reduce or eliminate inflammation in the body. Increasing evidence suggests that there is a link between inflammation… Continue reading 9 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness

From tomatoes to turmeric: Can foods fight inflammation?

Inflammation is a hot topic. What’s it all about? And what’s the scoop on certain diets, foods and supplements, such as turmeric, when it comes to fighting inflammation? What is inflammation? Not all inflammation is “bad.” Acute inflammation is part of the body’s natural way of defending itself from foreign substances like viruses, bacteria, cuts and splinters.… Continue reading From tomatoes to turmeric: Can foods fight inflammation?

Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week: Are you #IBDAware?

Image courtesy of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America This week (12/1 through 12/7) is Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) wants to know what awareness means to you, asking, “Are you #IBDAware?” Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), affect 1.6… Continue reading Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week: Are you #IBDAware?

Patients as Partners: The Perceived Medical Condition Self-Management Scale questionnaire results

Back at the beginning of April, we launched a new blog series called Patients as Partners that highlights the results and feedback PatientsLikeMe members give to questionnaires on our Open Research Exchange (ORE) platform. This time around, we’re sharing the results of the Perceived Medical Condition Self-Management Scale (PMCSMS), a health measure that looks at… Continue reading Patients as Partners: The Perceived Medical Condition Self-Management Scale questionnaire results

“Listen to your body” – PatientsLikeMe team member Maria shares her story for National Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week

Ok, we’re going to switch things up a little bit. This week (Dec. 1st-7th) is National Crohn’s Disease and Colitis Awareness Week, and besides sharing about ways you can help, we thought we’d get personal and tell Maria Lowe’s story. Maria actually works at PatientsLikeMe as part of our Health Data Integrity and Research Teams,… Continue reading “Listen to your body” – PatientsLikeMe team member Maria shares her story for National Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week