Colon - The Way Out
responsible for extracting food and salt from your solid waste before it is eliminated from the body. The colon is actually made up of four parts, the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon and the sigmoid colon. Known collectively as the large intestine, the colon is particularly susceptible to some forms of cancer and other medical conditions, and should be checked regularly if there is any suspicion of an ailment. There are several well known ailments that can affect the colon. Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Diverticulitis all affect the colon. Colitis is technically a group of conditions which are inflammatory and auto-immune that can affect the tissue of both the large and small intestines. Crohn's Disease can affect any part of the digestive system, though it most often impacts the colon. It can cause blockages that are so severe that they require surgical removal of portions of the colon. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional condition in which there may be severe disruptions to the normal function of the bowel. Although all of the conditions impacting the colon are serious and can cause serious complications, colon cancer is the most severe. Colon cancer typically presents with many of the same symptoms as the other ailments that impact the colon, which is why it is very important to get checked out by a physician if you are experiencing changes to your bowel movements or severe and chronic abdominal pain. Normally found in the form of polyps, if left untreated colon cancer can cause bleeding and can metastasize to the liver. Colon cancer is typically treated surgically, by removing the malignancy and then followed up by rounds of chemotherapy depending upon the number of malignant polyps. There are many cleansing products that are available to help keep the colon healthy. The best thing that you can do for your colon is to maintain a healthy diet and be sure to consult a physician if you are experiencing chronic discomfort. He or she can perform an endoscopy or other tests to determine the cause of the discomfort. Even if it winds up being nothing serious, it is always better to err on the side of caution than to risk serious illness in this vital part of your digestive tract.
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