Colon – Diseases Of The Colon
Author: Sharon Albright

The colon or the large intestine extends from the cecum to the
rectum. Colon's main function is to extract water from feces.
Colon, also called large bowel, measures 1.5 meters in length.
There are various diseases of the colons like colitis, colon
cancer, constipation, polyposis, pseudomembranous colitis,
ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, diarrhea, and chronic
functional abdominal pain.

The colon consists of various parts. The cecum is found in
mammals, birds, and certain reptiles. The appendix is a part of
the cecum. The ascending colon is from the cecum to the hepatic
flexure and is present on the right side of the abdomen. The
transverse mobile colon is attached to the stomach with the
help of a wide band of tissue called mesocolon. A descending
colon is the part between the splenic flexure to the beginning
of the sigmoid colon. The sigmoid colon is between the
descending colon and the rectum. The rectum is the last part of
the colon.

The colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer and
the second most deadly one in the western world. Change in
bowel movements like constipation or diarrhea, lower abdominal
chronic pain, and blood mixed in feces are some of the early
symptoms. Sometimes, without giving any symptoms, the tumor can
enlarge and perforate the intestine or block it. Sigmoidoscopy
or colonoscopy is carried out to detect the presence of colon
cancer. A camera or a flexible fiber-optic camera is inserted
into the body through the anus to inspect the colon.

Colon cancer can occur due to hereditary reason. Improper
diet, consuming loads of meat, fatty food, and lack of fiber,
fruit and vegetables in the diet can all cause colon cancer. It
is usually the people of the western world who are prone to
colon cancer due to their nutrition-less diet. Even chain
smokers and drinkers are prone to colon cancer.

There are various ways of reducing the risk against colon
cancer. Some of them include eating fresh fruits and
vegetables, consuming calcium rich products, and daily
exercise. Aspirin is said to reduce the growth of colon polyps
and cancers of the colon, stomach, and esophagus. But it may
also cause bleeding of the intestine, and ulcer. The symptoms
are usually avoided by the people, but it is important to
consult the doctor immediately when such symptoms occur, since
the survival rates for early detection of colon cancer is five
times more than that of late stage cancer.


About The Author: Sharon Albright is the owner of
http://www.find-your-colon.info . Read more articles on Colons
and visit her recommended resources.