She works closely with the national charity for inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's and Colitis UK) and is the UK Lead for Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement in gastroenterology. Prolific in all aspects of gastroenterology, she takes a special clinical interest in inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis). She has been awarded numerous prizes for her outstanding work in medicine. She received further clinical training in gastroenterology at the renowned St Mark's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust and University College Hospital, as well as the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam.Īt the forefront of her field, she is Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, a member of the British Society of Gastroenterology, particularly contributing to the Clinical Research Group, and on the Governing Board of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation, to name a few.
Having trained in medicine at Oxford University, being awarded a First Class Honours Degree, she completed her PhD at Imperial College in London in 2005. Professor Ailsa Hart is an internationally-renowned leading consultant gastroenterologist in London with over 20 years experience. If you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, you should visit a specialist who can plan a strategy to manage your condition. Whether you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, a prompt diagnosis and careful monitoring are essential to keep things under control and maximise your quality of life. Treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis depends on the severity of the symptoms and how much of the digestive system is affected. The symptoms of the disease can conspire to seriously impact a person’s daily routine and hamper their ability to achieve their goals. On top of this, many people experience a diminished ability to enjoy food. This can seriously impact on a sufferer’s quality of life. The main symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are very similar and include altered bowel habits, diarrhoea, and faecal urgency or incontinence. Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis The reasons behind this are not well understood and overall it is considered that the negative effects of smoking greatly outweigh the possible benefits. There is also some evidence to suggest that smokers suffer a milder form of ulcerative colitis – although this is disputed by other studies. Studies have shown that smokers are at an increased risk of getting Crohn’s disease, though intriguingly, those who smoke are less likely to develop ulcerative colitis. There is evidence of a relationship between smoking and IBD.
What’s more, ulcerative colitis usually just affects the lining of the bowel, meanwhile, Crohn’s disease can cause deeper inflammation of the bowel wall. Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, causes inflammation of the rectum and the colon.Īnother distinguishing feature is that whilst ulcerative colitis tends to affect a continuous section of the colon, Crohn’s disease may result in patchy areas of inflammation, leaving normal areas of gut in between. Sometimes they can lead to symptoms outside of the gastrointestinal tract such as joint pains or sore eyes.Īs might you might have guessed, both diseases cause inflammation of the digestive system – but exactly which part depends on the condition.Ĭrohn’s disease mostly affects the last section of the small intestine (ileum) and the beginning of the large intestine (colon), but it can actually affect any part of the digestive system. They are the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and can lead to similar symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, continence issues and fatigue. With both of these conditions on the rise worldwide, top gastroenterologist Professor Ailsa Hart explains the difference in support of Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week.Ĭrohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are estimated to affect around 300,000 people in the UK alone.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis both come under the category of inflammatory bowel disease, but they are not the same thing.
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