Colon Info

What is Inflammation of the Colon?

Do you know that your colon tells much about your overall health, more than you think it can? You colon or large intestine is responsible for most of the detoxification processes in your body. Whatever food materials that we cannot digest and no longer need all go to our colon and they stay there until such time that they are excreted out of our system. Therefore, it is important that we keep our colon healthy so it can function properly. So how can you tell if you have a healthy colon? One reliable way is through your bowel movement. Unhealthy bowel movements are often characterized by constipation or diarrhea. When you often experience either of these two symptoms, along with the appearance of undigested food, mucus or parasites in your stool, then you can say that you are suffering from an inflammation of the colon.

You might be asking what is inflammation of the colon and how does it happen? Colonic inflammation refers to the swelling and irritation of the large intestine. People who suffer from inflammation in the colon are often those who do not have sufficient liquid intake or those who lack fiber in their diet. Dehydration is one of the biggest factors that contribute to the inflammation of the colon. Even with high amounts of fiber in our diet, our body still cannot produce healthy stool if the colon is dehydrated. When this happens, the colon is typically irritated and can eventually swell.

It can be difficult to have colonic inflammation, especially when it has developed into sigmoid colon inflammation. You will have irritated bowel movements and you will have to deal with unhealthy stool each time you excrete waste products from your large intestine. It is important that you take colon inflammation treatment at the first sign of colon inflammation symptoms.

One natural colon inflammation treatment that you can resort to is aloe. Aloe Vera juice has been found to be very soothing to the intestines. If your doctor does not see anything wrong in adding this to your diet, then it helps to have a regular intake of pure Aloe Vera juice. You can also take fiber-rich foods and dietary fiber supplements but you will need to drink plenty of water. Adding more fiber to your diet without having sufficient amounts of water in your system can only worsen your irritated colon.

To keep yourself from experience an inflammation of the colon, drink lots of water everyday. Having a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables also helps.

Colon Bleeding: Causes, Symptoms, And Preventions

The colon is one of the major parts of the digestive system (along with the mouth, the stomach, the esophagus, the rectum, and the anus. It is vital to survival since it is where nutrients, vitamins, and water are processed and are, eventually, distributed to different parts of the body. Without it functioning the way it should, consequences can be fatal if not treated right away.

One of the most common symptoms of diseases related to the digestive tract and others is colon bleeding. The word symptoms should be emphasized since some people would mistake colon bleeding as a disease. Bleeding from the colon occurs as the result of different conditions. Some of these conditions are not serious, while some of them can be life-threatening since it can also be a symptom of colon cancer which is the 3^rd highest cause of death in the United States.

Bleeding in the colon, as mentioned earlier, might be serious or not. But that really depends on where the bleeding started. To be able to determine the gravity of the cause, consulting your doctor is really a must so that he will be able to diagnose where the colonic bleeding started and be able to treat it accordingly.

Some of the most common colon bleeding causes are the following:

1. Stomach acid
2. Infections associated with aspirin, alcohol, and other medicines, especially NSAIDs or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs which are used for arthritis or gout and blood-thinning medications
3. Ulcers
4. Benign tumors or polyps
5. Stomach cancer
6. Colon cancer
7. Hemorrhoids
8. Inflammation due to intestinal infections

The cause or causes of bleeding in the colon may be detected through the following tests:

1. Endoscopy
2. Barium X-ray
3. Angiography
4. Radionuclide scanning

Among all these tests, endoscopy is the main diagnostic technique in determining the cause or the causes of the colon bleeding. Other symptoms accompanying colon bleeding are the following:

1. Weakness
2. Shortness of breath
3. Diarrhea
4. Lethargy
5. Faintness
6. Cramps
7. Abdominal pain

In order to prevent colon disorders that cause colon bleeding, traditional practices like taking a lot of vitamins, especially Vitamin D, have a diet that is low in fat and high in fiber, avoid vices, and have a periodical check-up to ensure that your body systems are in tip-top shape. Constant exercise have also been shown to ensure that you have a healthy digestive system. Take good care of yourself. Always remember that prevention is ALWAYS better than cure.

Colon Cancer: Its Symptoms And Its Different Stages

Colon cancer is just one of the different types of cancer that is currently in existence. It affects the basic unit of the body, which is the cell. But what is colon cancer? How does it come into existence?

Colorectal cancer is something that is greatly feared since it is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the United States according to the American Cancer Society. It is also fairly common since according to the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, it affects about seven (7) percent of Americans.

Cancer is the state wherein the cell becomes abnormal and divides in a rapid manner without any control. When this happens, masses of tissues form. These tissue masses can either be benign or malignant and these are what we call tumors. Only malignant tumors can be considered as cancerous tumors at first diagnosis, but benign ones which are not cancerous can eventually become cancerous in time if they are not removed. The colon, on the other hand, is about six (6) feet in length and is responsible for absorbing nutrients, water, and electrolytes from the foods that we ingest, transporting them to the different systems of the body through the blood. When the normal process of this is disrupted, it can be deemed as one of the colon cancer signs.

The different signs of colon cancer also include a change in the normal bowel movement habits, constipation, diarrhea, blood in the stool which can either be bright red or very dark, a feeling that the bowel movement isn’t complete, narrower than usual fecal matter, frequent gas pains, cramps, bloating, vomiting, weight loss due to unknown reasons, and constant tiredness. These colon cancer signs can also be associated to colon disorders.

Rectal bleeding is the most common among the colon cancer early symptoms. Once you show signs of bleeding, you should immediately consult your doctor. This is because the bleeding is also usually association with hemorrhoids and, of course, it is always better to get yourself checked.

Colon cancer is diagnosed at different colon cancer stages. Stage 0 colon cancer is the phase wherein the cancer is detected really early and is found only in the linings of the colon. Stage 1 colon cancer is the phase wherein the cancer is already in the inner wall of the colon. Stage 2 colon cancer is the phase wherein the cancer which started in the colon has already spread to nearby organ tissues but not the lymph nodes yet. Stage 3 colon cancer is the phase wherein the cancer has already spread to nearby lymph nodes. Stage 4 colon cancer is the phase  wherein the cancer has already spread to various parts of the body, commonly to the lungs and the liver.

Generally speaking, the earlier the colon cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chance that it can get cured. According to an article published in the European Journal of Cancer, the location of the tumor has an impact on the colon cancer survival rate. In the U.S., the survival rate of cancer which originates from the transverse colon is 59 percent; 63 percent from the ascending colon, and 66 percent from the descending colon.

What You Need To Know About Colon Polyps

Colon polyps may seem daunting, and people who are diagnosed with them are left with a feeling of apprehension because they can potentially be the catalyst for cancerous cells to develop. What are they, really? How are polyps in the colon developed? Let’s take a closer look at what a colon polyp is so that you can determine for yourself if it is dangerous or not if ever you get diagnosed with it.

Colonic polyps are abnormal growths of tissues that projects from a mucus membrane. Polyps generally develop in areas where mucus membranes exist, like the stomach, the uterus, the bladder, the nose, the cervix, and the sinuses. They are sporadic by nature. Their appearance are either pedunculated, meaning they have stalks, or sessile, meaning they do not have stalks.

There are different types of colon polyps, namely:

1. Malignant
2. Hyperplastic
3. Adenomatous
4. Hamartomatous

Malignant polyps in the colon tend to progress into colon cancer polyps, hence, they can be fatal if not treated or removed right away; hyperplastic colon polyps are the result of the abnormal multiplication or the abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in a normal tissue; adenomatous colonic polyps are benign but can become malignant in time; and hamartomatous polyps in the colon are benign tumor-like formations that result from the defective overgrowth of tissues.

These colon polyp types are rarely associated with symptoms like rectal bleeding, pain, constipation, and diarrhea, which is sad since they present a major concern to anyone diagnosed as having them because they have the potential to become colon cancer polyps since even benign colon polyps can become cancerous over time depending on their developments. Since they are asymptomatic by nature, they are normally or are usually discovered when there are symptoms of colon disorders like the ones mentioned above through laboratory tests like DRE or digital rectal exam, Barium enema, colonoscopy, or sigmoidoscopy. Once they are discovered, it is advisable to have these colon polyps removed either with a biopsy forceps or with a polypectomy snare to avoid their potential into developing into cancerous tumors. Usually, a routine removal of these polyps is done after three (3) to five (5) years from the initial removal to ensure that they will not proliferate and become cancerous.

Not all people develop colon polyps, but the thing is, anyone can get them. People who are 50 years above, has a history of colonic polyps or colon cancer in the family, are fond of eating fatty foods, have vices like smoking and drinking, and live a sedentary life and, hence, have a great tendency to become obese, are more prone to having them. To avoid having them, you should live a healthy lifestyle and eat the right kind of foods. Always keep in mind that prevention is better than cure, and way cheaper, of course.