February 6, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 15 Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are part of the collective set of conditions known as inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Although Crohn’s and colitis share similar symptoms, they are not the same and often require different treatment options. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are typically diagnosed by a gastroenterologist. Those aware of each condition commonly mistake one for the other and may not know what to look for during a particular IBD event. There are some distinct differences between the two conditions. Understanding the differences can assist patients who want to be actively involved in their treatment. Crohn’s disease inflammation can occur anywhere in the digestive tract. It may cause irritation from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis is typically relegated to the colon or the large intestine. Sometimes inflammation will also be present in the very end of the small intestines. Ulcerative colitis tends to spread progressively through the colon, while Crohn’s disease may occur in patches without continuous spreading. As a result, with Crohn’s disease there can be healthy tissue between two diseased areas. During a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, doctors can view the inflamed areas inside the colon. With Crohn’s disease, the walls of the colon often appear thickened and may look like cobblestone, thanks to the pockets of healthy tissue among diseased tissue. With ulcerative colitis, the walls of the colon are thin and the inflammation is evenly distributed. Individuals who have ulcerative colitis tend to bleed during bowel movements, whereas blood may not be Learn the differences between Crohn’s, colitis present in stool for those with Crohn’s. The name ulcerative colitis describes ulcers present in the mucous lining of the large intestines. These ulcers are quite shallow. However, patients with Crohn’s disease could have ulcers extending deep within the bowel wall. Another difference between Crohn’s disease and ulcer- ative colitis is that smoking tobacco seems to aggravate symptoms of those with Crohn’s while it eases symptoms for those with ulcerative colitis. However, smoking is not recommended to treat ulcerative colitis, as the negative side effects of smoking far outweigh any potentially positive consequences. The community is invited to attend “I Love Lulu,” a spring fashion show benefit scheduled for Feb. 7. This event, which is being sponsored by Araya Rebirth in Ridgewood, The Falco Group, The Silver Lining, Antoine’s Beauty Salon, The Style Due, and Femmebot, will be held at Femmebot Clothing at 203 East Ridgewood Avenue. ‘I Love Lulu’ benefit announced Tickets for this event are $10 each; $5 for students. Highlights of this evening will include special gift bags for the first 50 attendees, prizes, and the fashion show. One hundred percent of the admission sales and 20 percent of purchases will benefit the Epilepsy Foundation. See you there!