Latest news with #ulcerativecolitis
Health Line
14 hours ago
- Health
- Health Line
Can Ulcerative Colitis Be Deadly?
Key takeaways While ulcerative colitis itself is not fatal, it's a chronic disease that needs to be properly managed to prevent serious health complications. Potentially serious health complications that can result from UC include toxic megacolon, a perforation in your bowel, primary sclerosing cholangitis, colorectal cancer, and heart disease. UC is a chronic condition that, for most people, requires lifelong treatment, and the only way to cure the condition is by having surgery to remove your colon and rectum. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a lifelong condition that you need to manage. It's not deadly on its own, but it is a serious disease that can cause some dangerous and potentially life threatening complications, especially if you don't get the right treatment. UC is one form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation in the inner lining of your rectum and your large intestine (also known as your colon). The other type of IBD, Crohn's disease, can affect any part of your digestive tract. When you have UC, your immune system mistakenly attacks your intestines, and these attacks lead to inflammation and sores, or ulcers, in your intestines. Treatments are available for UC. Most people with UC have a full life expectancy. However, according to one 2003 Danish study, complications can increase the risk of an early death. Ulcerative colitis complications While UC itself usually isn't fatal, some of its complications can be. Potentially serious health complications that can result from UC include: toxic megacolon a perforation (hole) in your bowel primary sclerosing cholangitis colorectal cancer heart disease Toxic megacolon The most serious possible complication related to UC is toxic megacolon, which is swelling of your colon that can cause it to rupture. This condition affects up to 10% of people with UC. Some studies show that the death rate among people hospitalized with toxic megacolon is around 6.5%. However, the death rate drops to less than 2% in people with IBD who receive an early diagnosis and prompt medical care. Bowel perforation A hole in your bowel is also dangerous. Bacteria from your intestine can get into your abdomen and cause a potentially life threatening infection called peritonitis. Primary sclerosing cholangitis Primary sclerosing cholangitis is another rare but serious complication of UC. It causes swelling and damage around your liver and in your bile ducts, which carry digestive fluid from your liver to your intestines. Scars can form and narrow your bile ducts, and this can eventually cause severe liver damage. In time, you can develop serious infections and liver failure. These conditions can be life threatening. Colorectal cancer According to a 2001 research review, people with UC have up to an 8% chance of developing colorectal cancer within 20 years of their UC diagnosis. In comparison, the review noted that the risk among the larger population was 3% to 6%. More recently, a 2023 review article noted that rates of colorectal cancer among people with UC are decreasing but are still higher than the rates in the larger population. Colorectal cancer can be fatal if it spreads to other parts of your body. Heart conditions According to a 2022 study, UC is associated with a greater risk of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. And a 2023 study suggests that people with IBD are at a higher risk of death from these types of heart conditions.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gavin and Stacey star Laura Aikman reveals mystery illness that nearly ended her career - and how she was told to give up acting to save her health
Gavin and Stacey star Laura Aikman has revealed she was struck down by a mystery illness that left her so unwell, she was advised to give up acting altogether. The actress, 39, who played Smithy's girlfriend Sonia in the hit BBC sitcom, suffered from painful and undiagnosed symptoms for years. Laura then finally discovered she was battling ulcerative colitis, a chronic autoimmune condition that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon. She told The Sun: 'It took me a long time to get diagnosed. Before I got the diagnosis I was very, very unwell and I didn't know why. 'I'd been to the doctors a lot and they kept telling me that it was probably piles, without examining me, and giving me cream because I had blood in my stool. Nothing worked. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. It wasn't until she saw a homeopath that the pieces started to fall into place. She said: 'And then I went to a homeopath and she asked me all of these questions about when I'd been poorly and she was like, "Listen, I've written out a timeline here of when you've not been working, and that is when you've been at your most unwell".' Laura said she was even asked if she could consider doing another job - but insisted acting was her 'whole personality.' She admitted the stress of not working between roles worsened her illness - and led to her feeling like she was letting everyone down when she attended family events and people would ask what she was up to. The star added that she had to actively find other things in her life that gave her self-worth or made her feel important, so she could keep going regardless of whether she was working or not. Despite the health scare, Laura stuck with acting and is now enjoying one of the biggest years of her career. She's currently starring in BBC gangster drama This City is Ours and Disney+'s Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, where she plays whistleblower Lana Vandenberghe. She also returned as Sonia in last year's Gavin and Stacey Christmas special - and starred as Dyan Cannon in ITV's Archie, a role that saw her face beamed across billboards in Times Square. But Laura says her path to success hasn't been easy. Speaking on the Women & Wellbeing podcast, Laura opened up about the pressure she felt early in her career. She said: 'When you're starting out, you're like, I have to be everything they want. I have to change who I am to fit. I need to be perfect. 'I kind of struggled up until I was maybe in my mid-twenties with what people wanted me to be as a girl, a woman, in this industry and how I needed to present myself. 'I can remember going to auditions and needing to do the lines exactly as they wanted in the blandest way possible, to try to fit whatever I thought the mould was. 'I probably wasn't getting the best parts when I was doing that. I never would, when I was younger, even speak to a producer. 'I would just try to stay under the radar, do my job. 'I'm sure I missed out on loads of work because I did absolutely zero networking. But it was that kind of thing — you're lucky to be there, shut up, look pretty, leave. Find everyone very funny, especially the men, and then go home.' Now approaching her 40th birthday, Laura says she's finally found freedom and no longer feels she has to prove herself through how she looks. She explained: 'I feel like where I am now people are almost disinterested in how I look. 'I've been so lucky with the parts that I've played recently where, even though some of them have been very glamorous women, it's not about me looking beautiful. 'It's about how that person presents themselves.' Still, she admits she doesn't take anything for granted, saying: 'I feel like possibly the last few years I've been able to play some bigger roles in slightly higher profile shows. 'You go through those peaks and troughs in your career where you think, "Oh, maybe this is it", then it isn't. So I thought, "Oh, maybe" at the moment, and then I'm sure I'll slide back down again soon.' Laura grew up in a showbiz family. Her father, Stuart Aikman, and her mother, actress Jean Heard, helped pave the way for her early start in the industry. She made her big-screen debut in Surviving Picasso opposite Anthony Hopkins in 1996, and has since appeared in Casualty, Death in Paradise, The Split and more. She married actor Matt Kennard, 43 — who's appeared in Emmerdale and Coronation Street. Away from the cameras, Laura has trained as a counsellor with the mental health text service Shout, offering support to people in crisis. She said: 'It's brilliant. You can do a shift whenever you want. People text in when they're in crisis. 'Obviously that's more helpful to society than me getting a job in a TV commercial.' She also concentrates on exercising for her health, not just for her body image, to help deal with her ulcerative colitis. She added: 'I drink less now. I'm no saint, I absolutely get smashed at least once a year, I just fall completely off the wagon. But I will always leave a night out early these days. 'I'm just a bit more boring than I used to be. But overall, it really makes me feel much better.' When she is not working, Matt, who she married six years ago, encourages her to relax. She said: 'He is so chilled out and very even-keeled, he's a cool guy. 'I think he has also been really instrumental in encouraging me to allow myself, if I've not got anything on, to be like, 'Why don't you go to the cinema?.' 'I'm like, "Just go and spend money on a day when I haven't got a job?". He'll be like, "Yeah, just go and do something nice for yourself".' 'I think you can be so fooled by hearing other people talk about what they do, to think that they're perfect — and they're not. They're probably falling spectacularly off the wagon. 'So I think be kind to yourself when you're not feeling good and just try and do the things that make you feel good.'
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mystery illness nearly derailed my career – I was told to give up acting, reveals Gavin & Stacey star Laura Aikman
AS a young actress, Laura Aikman would get so stressed about her career she was advised to walk away to rescue her health. The Gavin & Stacey star, now one of Britain's most in-demand actresses, suffered a mystery pain for years. 6 6 6 She was finally diagnosed with autoimmune disease ulcerative colitis, made worse by the worry she faced between roles. But Laura stuck with the job and is now having her best year to date, appearing in BBC gangster series This City Is Ours and Disney+ drama Suspect: The Shooting Of Jean Charles de Menezes, in which she plays whistleblower Lana Vandenberghe. Laura has also a found a work-life balance to keep her condition, which causes inflammation and ulcers in her colon, under control. The 39-year-old said: 'It took me a long time to get diagnosed. Before I got the diagnosis I was very, very unwell and I didn't know why. 'I'd been to the doctors a lot and they kept telling me that it was probably piles, without examining me, and giving me cream because I had blood in my stool. Nothing worked. 'And then I went to a homeopath and she asked me all of these questions about when I'd been poorly and she was like, 'Listen, I've written out a timeline here of when you've not been working, and that is when you've been at your most unwell'. 'She was like, 'Can you do another job?'. And I said, 'No, it's my whole personality.' 'It was a big wake-up call that it was literally making me unwell, the stress of not working and feeling like I wasn't good enough or didn't have anything going on. 'Blame and shame' 'I placed so much of my self-worth and my confidence and even who I was on being an actor and whether I was working. 'Going to family parties at Christmas, everyone's saying, 'What are you up to?'. Like, absolutely nothing. And it can feel like you're letting everyone down. Watch the moment Gavin and Stacey actress Laura Aikman's family found out she was in the finale after keeping it secret 'I think if all of your self-worth is wrapped up in working and then you're not working, you feel like you don't deserve anything. 'I had to actively find other things in my life that gave me self-worth or made me feel important, so I could keep going regardless of whether I was working.' Laura was back as bad girl Sonia in the BBC's hit Christmas special of Gavin & Stacey last year, while in 2023 her role as Dyan Cannon in Archie, an ITV series about Hollywood icon Carey Grant, saw her on billboards in New York 's Times Square. To outsiders, her career has hit the heights, but the North London -born actress says that for years she felt a cycle of 'blame, shame and punishment' because she was not quite 'perfect enough'. She told the Women & Wellbeing podcast: 'When you're starting out, you're like, I have to be everything they want. I have to change who I am to fit. I need to be perfect. 'I kind of struggled up until I was maybe in my mid-twenties with what people wanted me to be as a girl, a woman, in this industry and how I needed to present myself. 'I can remember going to auditions and needing to do the lines exactly as they wanted in the blandest way possible, to try to fit whatever I thought the mould was. 'I probably wasn't getting the best parts when I was doing that. I never would, when I was younger, even speak to a producer. 'I would just try to stay under the radar, do my job. I kind of struggled up until I was maybe in my mid-twenties with what people wanted me to be as a girl, a woman, in this industry and how I needed to present myself 'I'm sure I missed out on loads of work because I did absolutely zero networking. But it was that kind of thing — you're lucky to be there, shut up, look pretty, leave. Find everyone very funny, especially the men, and then go home.' With her 40th birthday coming up later this year, Laura has found a new sense of freedom. She explained: 'I feel like where I am now people are almost disinterested in how I look. 'So lucky' 'I've been so lucky with the parts that I've played recently where, even though some of them have been very glamorous women, it's not about me looking beautiful. 'It's about how that person presents themselves.' But she still never takes anything for granted, saying: 'I feel like possibly the last few years I've been able to play some bigger roles in slightly higher profile shows. 'You go through those peaks and troughs in your career where you think, 'Oh, maybe this is it', then it isn't. So I thought, 'Oh, maybe' at the moment, and then I'm sure I'll slide back down again soon.' 6 6 Laura grew up in an acting family. Her dad, Stuart Aikman — known as Stuart St Paul — is a stunt director and her mum Jean Heard is also an actress. She is married to actor Matt Kennard, 43, who has appeared in Emmerdale and Coronation Street. Laura got her big break in 1996 film Surviving Picasso, opposite Anthony Hopkins, before going on to appear in a string of movies as well as TV series including Casualty, Death In Paradise and The Split. Despite her struggles with confidence, she loves playing fiery and dominant women, saying: 'My dream is to play women that are as different as possible. "I feel happiest when I'm the furthest away from myself. These last few jobs have been big swings, especially Rachel in This City Is Ours. She's the ultimate Scouse girl, she's tough. 'I do think when you play someone like that and then you step out of it, there's part of you that's like, maybe I could be a little bit more tough. 'They sort of rub off on you a little bit, just like you learn from your friends.' Away from the camera, Laura has trained to become a counsellor with mental health text service Shout. Be kind to yourself when you're not feeling good and just try and do the things that make you feel good She said: 'It's brilliant. You can do a shift whenever you want. People text in when they're in crisis. 'Obviously that's more helpful to society than me getting a job in a TV commercial.' And she concentrates on exercising for her health — not just for her body image — to help deal with her ulcerative colitis. She added: 'I drink less now. I'm no saint, I absolutely get smashed at least once a year, I just fall completely off the wagon. But I will always leave a night out early these days. 'I'm just a bit more boring than I used to be. But overall, it really makes me feel much better.' When she is not working, Matt, who she married six years ago, encourages her to relax. She said: 'He is so chilled out and very even-keeled, he's a cool guy. 'I think he has also been really instrumental in encouraging me to allow myself, if I've not got anything on, to be like, 'Why don't you go to the cinema?'. 'I'm like, 'Just go and spend money on a day when I haven't got a job?'. He'll be like, 'Yeah, just go and do something nice for yourself'. And she has taken notice. Laura said: 'I think you can be so fooled by hearing other people talk about what they do, to think that they're perfect — and they're not. They're probably falling spectacularly off the wagon. 'So I think be kind to yourself when you're not feeling good and just try and do the things that make you feel good.' 6 Gavin and Stacey's Best Moments With the news that the show is set to make an exciting return to screens, let's take a look at some of the comedy programme's biggest and best moments... Smithy and Rudi's American Boy rap - No one will ever forget when James Corden and Sheridan Smith rapped perfectly word for word the Kanye West and Estelle hit American Boy as they walked across the car park on the phone to Gavin. Pam's Vegetarian faux pas - Despite loving a cheesburger, Pam found herself caught up in a web of unexpected lies when she claimed to be Vegetarian. She is forced to keep up the secret throughout the entire show and uses hubby Mick to help her scoff meat. She is later rumbled when Stacey catches her in the act as she scoffs ham in the kitchen. Stacey says to her: 'Is that ham, Pam!?… 'I've seen you, Pam. A scotch egg here, a bit of bacon there, putting those regular sausages into the Linda McCartney box'. THAT fishing trip - It remains one of the biggest mysteries in Gavin and Stacey history as to just exactly what did happen on the ill-fated fishing trip. Bryn appears to be hiding a secret as to an occurance between him and his nephew Jason which has left relations fractures. Ness' on-off boyfriend, Dave, is the only other person to know the whole truth. Bryn did appear to allude to him and Jason lying together naked to keep warm as he said to Dave: 'We're going to have this out, once and for all, man to man, you may know what happened, David, but you don't know why it happened! It was freezing cold, it was! And when you are that cold…' Islands in the Stream - No one can ever forget the classic Karaoke performance of Islands in the Stream. Nessa and Bryn performed the track in front of all their nearest and dearest. It saw the whole pub burst into some line-dancing as they enjoyed a boozy night out. The Xmas special proposal - In 2019, fans were left overjoyed when the show made a comeback but it ended on the ultimate cliffhanger. Nessa asked Smithy if she would marry him as she finally laid bare her feelings for him. Fans were gutted as the show then cut straight to the credits as they never found out just how Smithy answered. Will all be revealed in the brand new episode?
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
6 toilet habit changes you should always see a doctor about
No one enjoys talking about bowel movements. But ignoring the signs your body is trying to send you can mean putting off a diagnosis you really need to hear. Just ask TOWIE star Chloe Meadows. The reality TV regular recently shared on Dr Oscar Duke's Bedside Manners podcast that she'd spent a decade silently struggling with bleeding, stomach pain and extreme fatigue before finally getting a diagnosis: ulcerative colitis, a chronic condition that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon. She lived with on-and-off symptoms for years, assuming they'd passed. It wasn't until age 26, when she became visibly unwell, that a blood test led her to A&E and finally, a diagnosis. Meadows' experience is an important reminder that when your toilet habits change – and stay changed – it's time to talk to your GP. Below, we break down six toilet-related red flags that experts say you should never ignore. And no, it's not just about your bowel movements; your wee, urgency levels, and even smells all matter, too. Whether you're suddenly constipated, dealing with constant diarrhoea, or noticing your stool looks different (narrower, paler or greasy), changes that last longer than a few weeks are worth investigating. The NHS advises that ongoing shifts in bowel habits could be linked to anything from diet and stress to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In some cases, persistent symptoms could be a sign of bowel cancer, so don't brush them off. When to see your GP: If your usual routine has changed for more than two to three weeks, especially if it's paired with stomach pain, fatigue, or weight loss. It might be bright red or dark and tarry; either way, it's not something to ignore. Bright red blood can come from piles or small tears, but darker blood might mean there's bleeding higher up in the digestive system. When to see your GP: If you see blood in your poo. You may be offered a stool test, or in some cases, a referral for further checks. If anything feels amiss and suddenly starts to sting, burn or feel uncomfortable, you might assume it's a urinary tract infection (UTI). And often, that's true. But it can also be a sign of kidney stones or bladder issues. Blood in your urine should also be taken seriously, even if it only happens once. When to see your GP: If you have pain while urinating, see blood or feel the urge to go far more often than usual. Needing the loo more often than usual (especially at night), feeling like you can't wait, or leaking a little when you cough, sneeze or laugh could signal an overactive bladder, prostate issues (in men), or pelvic floor dysfunction. These symptoms might feel embarrassing, but they're generally common and manageable with the right support. When to see your GP: If bladder leaks or urgency interfere with your daily life, or if you notice a sudden change in how often you need to go. A little mucus in your stool isn't always a worry, but frequent slimy stools can be a sign of infection or inflammation in your gut. When to see your GP: If mucus appears regularly, especially if it comes with bloating, pain or a change in bowel movements. If going to the toilet has become uncomfortable, painful, or feels like hard work, that's your body waving a red flag. Regular straining can cause or worsen hemorrhoids, but it might also signal bowel issues or even neurological problems affecting your pelvic floor. When to see your GP: If you're straining often, feel like you're not fully emptying your bowels, or notice pain during or after a bowel movement. If you're unsure, remember that everyone has their own baseline of what's 'normal'. However, there are a few simple signs to watch for as a guide. According to the Bladder and Bowel Health Service, healthy bowel movements should be soft, smooth and easy to pass; ideally at least three times a week. You should also be able to urinate without pain or discomfort. If you also notice you're often bloated, tired, straining, or notice blood or mucus, it's time to speak to your GP. Changes might be harmless, but they're always worth checking. Read more on bowel habits: This Poop Chart Will Tell You If Your Bathroom Habits Are Actually Healthy Or If You Need To See A Doctor ASAP (Buzzfeed, 4-min read) How 'blowing bubbles' and 'mooing' can help ease constipation, according to NHS doctor (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) Bowel cancer cases in young people rising sharply in England, study finds (PA Media, 4-min read)
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Fear of doctor meant TV star ignored symptoms of bowel condition for a decade
Chloe Meadows, former star of The Only Way Is Essex, revealed she ignored ulcerative colitis symptoms for about 10 years due to fear of doctors. Meadows first noticed blood in her stool, a symptom of the chronic inflammatory bowel condition, at age 16 but delayed seeking medical advice. At 26, after experiencing significant blood loss and being urged by her mother, Meadows had health checks but initially avoided a colonoscopy due to fear. While filming, Meadows was advised to go to A&E due to low blood levels and later experienced her 'longest flare-up' after a nerve-wracking scene on Towie. Marianne Radcliffe, chief executive of Crohn's & Colitis UK, praised Meadows as an ambassador, noting that over 300,000 people in the UK live with colitis.
