What common symptom results from the inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the colon, which leads to various gastrointestinal symptoms. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a common symptom as the inflamed intestinal lining can bleed, particularly during flare-ups of the disease. This bleeding can manifest as rectal bleeding or blood mixed with stool, making it a significant and typical indicator of disease activity in ulcerative colitis.

The other symptoms listed, such as chest pain, persistent headaches, and fatigue, may occur in different contexts or conditions but are not specific to ulcerative colitis. While fatigue can sometimes be a secondary symptom due to chronic inflammation or anemia from blood loss, it is not as direct a result of the inflammatory process in the colon as lower gastrointestinal bleeding. In the context of ulcerative colitis, the direct consequence of inflammation is much more closely related to the bleeding from the intestinal lining.