Weight Loss and Malnutrition in Ulcerative Colitis

Case study assessment
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Question 1
Weight loss depicts a state of diminishing reduction in the total mass due to loss
of fluid, adipose tissue, muscle tendon, fluid loss, and overall connective tissue. They can
either occur unintentionally or due to malnourishment. In a disease state, weight loss results
inform reduction of the caloric intake which is a significant serious medical condition.
Malnutrition associated disease causes health burden to the patient and affects the outcome
of the disease as well as the patient quality of life. The link between malnutrition and
morbidity is increased (Singh et al., 2011). Disease states such as inflamed bowel disease
often represent an increased level of load on the gastroenterologist’s workload on the body.
The observed malnutrition in ulcerative colitis depicts and signifies increased weight loss.
The ulcerative disease state of the patient has significantly contributed to weight loss. The
ulcerative state is marked by persistent diarrhea and abdominal pain as observed from the
patient case study. Ulcerative state occurs due to inflamed and tiny spores which produce
pus and mucus. The typical symptoms of ulcerative colitis are depicted by the loss of
appetite and diarrhea and lead to poor maintenance of healthy weight due to loss of food
(Moran, Leslie & McLaughlin, 2013).
Further weight loss reflects the underlying physiological state of the patient. The
associative disease being faced by the patient reflects the marker for the disease. The
occurrence of bowel inflammation leads to changes in hormones such as leptin and ghrelin
(Donnellan, Yan &Lal, 2013), which have a role in managing hungry pangs and lose of
balance. Elevated increase in the inflammatory signals is associated with poor nutritional
status thus leading to low body weight and loss of body weight (Loftus et al., 2011).
Studies have shown that loss of appetite has been reported in about one in five
people with Crohn disease and one in 10 people having ulcerative colitis. Further, appetite
problems are even worse among patients of inflammatory bowel disease. Appetite has been

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shown to improve the remission process. Factors such as depression among the patients
have been shown to play a key role in affecting food appetite. There is nutrient-drug
indication causes changes in the food intake and thus lead to a decreased level of food
consumption (Rubin et al., 2013).
This low weight is a common problem among patients diagnosed with inflamed
bowel disease and has been found in about 80% of hospitalized patients for Crohn disease
experience loss of weight. Among patients outside the hospital, about 20%-40% of the
patients experience weight loss, thus the patient physiological state is a prerequisite factor
on weight loss management of the patient (Bewtra et al., 2013).
Question 2
Pain pathway reflects on how the function of the neurons connects the brain and
spinal cord. During pain induce, the endings of the nerves on the pain site sense impulses
through the axons to the spinal cord. The new axon, initiates synapses response which is
projected through the brain. This necessitates travel of neurons in the spinal cord and form
synapses with neurons in the thalamus part of the brain. This leads to organization of
information and sends back to the cortex sensory part for processing of information. The
information is interpreted and directed to the motor cortex thus sending information to
thalamus site.
Morphine use has the potential of producing analgesia effect through its
pharmacological effect. They act on the receptors located on the cell membranes. The
presynaptic actions are able to inhibit the release of neurotransmitter considered to able a
major effect on the nervous system. The morphine acts on the central and peripheral nervous
system. The central nervous system has an effect on the spinal cord, while in the peripheral
nervous system acts on the opioids. The effect occurs when they produce effects on the
neurons which act on the receptors located on the neuronal cell membranes, thus producing