Early Detection Saves Lives Before you can fully understand early symptoms of colon cancer, it is important to understand where exactly it occurs within your body. A colon refers to the final part of the digestive system; specifically, it is part of the large intestine. The purpose of a colon is to help prepare your digested foods for excretion. It stores your waste as it waits to vacate your body and plays a very minor part in extracting nutrients in the final stages of digestion. What is Colon Cancer? As the name suggests, colon cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon. Cancer occurs when cells, instead of replicating at a regular rate, begin to divide rapidly, causing tumors to form, and disrupting healthy bodily functions. As cancers progress, the growing cells can travel to other regions of the body. [youmaylike] What are Polyps? Polyps are growths that can grow within the colon. Having polyp growth does not mean you will get colon cancer. While not all polyps are cancerous, almost all malignant tumors in the colon start as polyps. Upon examination, your doctor will be able to give you more information on what your options are. Generally, a physician will perform a colonoscopy to remove it. Once removed, a pathologist can examine the tissue to determine whether or not the sample is dangerous and if further actions need to be taken. Symptoms of Polyps Polyps are not something you can see. To know something is not quite right, you will have to monitor your regular bodily functions. The most commonly reported symptoms related to polyp formation are: Rectal bleeding: If you notice that your rectum is bleeding, this could be due to polyp formation. It is important to recognize that this is also a common symptom of other problems such as hemorrhoids or anal tears. If it happens persistently, you should consider visiting your doctor for an internal examination. Abdominal pain: When polyps are rather big, they can obstruct the bowel. In doing so, it can cause problems that manifest as cramps or other abdominal pain. Irregular-colored stools: Even if you cannot notice it directly, rectal bleeding can influence the color of the stool. You may notice some small red stripes in mild cases. In more serious cases, heavy bleeding may cause your poop to appear black. Before you start to worry, make sure these color changes are not simply due to a change in diet, medication, or supplement use. Anemia: If polyps continue to bleed for a prolonged time, they may cause the development of an iron deficiency. Anemia can manifest in several ways, including fatigue, shortness of breath, feeling dizzy, fainting, or having abnormally pale skin. Common Early Symptoms of Colon Cancer Polyps themselves are, again, not a direct indication of colon cancer. While cancer can develop from a polyp, there are other symptoms which separate the benign and malignant development. Symptoms of colon cancer are different for everyone, but the most commonly reported signs are: Changes in bowel movements: Particularly, you want to pay attention to the consistency of your stools. If it looks different or you develop constipation or diarrhea for an extended time, talk to your doctor. Rectal bleeding: You might pass bloody stools. Abdominal pain: Any type of discomfort, such as cramps or gas, should be monitored. Fatigue: Feeling weak or consistently tired despite adequate rest can be a sign of many medical problems. Weight loss: Unexplained weight loss may be a sign of a lack of nutrition due to a malfunctioning digestive tract. Essentially, if your intestines are not able to properly absorb nutrients from food, you will not get enough nutrition from the food you eat. The “feeling” of a full bowel: Sometimes, even after passing a bowel movement to the highest extent possible, some patients report feeling like their bowel is not “empty”. While this is a normal sensation to experience from time to time, it can be a sign of an underlying colon problem. When to See a Doctor If you notice any of these symptoms mentioned above consistently, you should schedule an appointment with a licensed physician. Even if your abnormalities are not cancerous, they can be a sign of another serious medical condition that should be addressed. The earlier you recognize a problem, the better chance you have of getting access to effective medical intervention.
What Are the Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease?
Considering how common Lyme disease is, it is surprising that more people are not aware of its early symptoms.
Lyme disease is a common vector-borne disease; it is transmitted through fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year.
Although it is not as rampant as the common cold or the flu, Lyme disease is still problematic. Symptoms of Lyme disease include loss of energy and tiredness. However, if treatment is withheld for longer, the symptoms often lead to further serious health issues that take time to resolve.
Here are some symptoms you should be aware of.
What Are the Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease?
As it is for any disease or infection, Lyme disease symptoms do not erupt all at once. Instead, they develop gradually and can take weeks, if not days, to fully infect you.
For the first stage, here are some of the symptoms you may experience within the first week to the first month.
Stage 1
1. A Red Circular Rash
Also known as an erythema migrans, this rash is circular and appears on the skin in a bulls-eye formation. The rash typically occurs in the area where a bug may have bitten you. This rash can spread to about 12 inches and can be scary-looking. But it is not particularly painful or itchy. More often, the rash only feels warm to the touch.
This red circular rash is a confirmed sign of Lyme disease. However, you may even develop Lyme disease without the rash, so you must keep up with all the other symptoms of the disease.
2. Overall Stiffness, Pain and Chills
These symptoms are hallmarks of Lyme disease. While you may regard them as signs of a cold, these symptoms are typical of your body’s reaction to any foreign contaminant.
Your body redirects your internal energy toward getting rid of what is infecting you. With your body fighting off the illness, this causes overall stiffness, headaches, joint pain, fever and chills. You may also experience muscle stiffness and a lack of energy.
3. Swollen Lymph Nodes
Unfortunately, it is unclear why Lyme disease targets the body’s lymph nodes. We know that the bacteria transmitted through the tick bite travel to the nodes to hide. Perhaps because the system suspects a foreign body, bacteria triggers your immune response and causes your lymph nodes to swell.
Your lymph nodes are located in different body parts, mainly the armpit, chest, neck, abdomen and groin. When infected with Lyme, the lymph nodes in your neck, armpits and groin are always more likely to swell. They may become sensitive to the touch and may feel larger than usual.
Stage 2
4. Increased Red Circular Rashes
Alongside the rash that occurs from the bite, you will also find more rashes appearing on your body. This typically occurs within the first four months after being bitten, and the rash only increases if you have not been treated.
However, it may also occur if you have not had the rash before in the early localized period within the first four weeks.
5. Numbness
The pain and stiffness will gradually increase to weakness, numbness and the inability to move your facial muscles. Again, because your body is still trying to drown the effects of Lyme disease, your extremities will not be able to get the strength they need to move.
Also, considering the weakness you will feel, you may also experience fainting spells and headaches.
6. Heart Palpitations
Your body will be working overtime to keep all your functions up and running. As such, you will feel the occasional bouts of rapid heartbeats.
If you have any heart conditions, it would be wise not to skip the doctor’s visit. Also, if you have a family history of heart problems, you will want to get in touch with a medical professional immediately. Lyme disease can cause serious heart issues in rare cases, and you should catch this problem beforehand.
Consequences of Not Treating Lyme Disease
If Lyme disease is not promptly treated, it leads to a myriad of health issues that take months and even years to heal. Your joints, nerves, heart and brain suffer, all because of an infected tick bite.
Why stop yourself from getting treatment?
If caught early on, Lyme disease can easily be controlled and treated. All it takes is some pre-emptive action on your part. So, pay attention to your body. You never know what it may be trying to tell you.