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.
Exercise-Induced Asthma Treatment
As a part of the 10% of the global population that suffers from asthma, you have lived your life knowing that you must take extra care of your health. However, with asthma affecting your fitness goals, you may wonder what you can do to comfortably workout. You might not want to hang up your running shoes just yet. Exercise-induced asthma can be disruptive for anyone. But there is a way of treating your asthma without necessarily giving up on your fitness regime. Let’s take a look at exercise-induced asthma treatment options.
Learning About Exercise-Induced Asthma
Any form of strenuous activity causes shortness of breath. However, asthma makes matters a lot worse, and for someone who is not aware of the symptoms, not treating asthma creates long-term problems.
What is Exercise-Induced Asthma?
The term itself is contradictory since it indicates that exercise somehow causes asthma.
This form of an asthma attack that occurs during exercise is more commonly known as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Unlike the phrase exercise-induced asthma, this term explains how exercise triggers bronchial constriction. This constriction leads to a narrowing of the airways, thus causing different symptoms that lead to an asthma attack.
Symptoms of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction include:
- Chest tightness.
- Shortness of breath.
- Wheezing.
- Coughing.
Coughing is a common symptom, so if you have asthma and begin coughing mid-way through your workout, this might indicate EIB.
What Happens During Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction?
Symptoms of the condition typically occur a few minutes into your exercise routine. These symptoms evolve from mild to severe if you ignore your symptoms for 20 to 30 minutes. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes for the symptoms to become worse.
Sometimes, people with asthma also experience a second wave of symptoms. This occurs 4 to 12 hours after they have stopped exercising, which is why people must stop working out if they feel any symptoms.
What Causes This Condition?
Several triggers can make EIB worse, such as:
- Exposure to smoke and fumes.
- A recent asthma episode.
- A cold.
- High pollen count.
- Pollution levels.
- Exposure to various irritants.
But, if you exclusively feel an asthma attack during your exercise, this occurs because of your body’s expected reaction to any high-impact activity.
When you begin exercising, you begin breathing faster because your body demands more oxygen. As you breathe deeper, you begin inhaling through your mouth, which causes your throat to become dryer and cooler. The dry and cold air causes your airways to narrow, constricting them.
As a result, your body reacts by going through an asthma attack.
How to Treat Exercise-Induced Asthma
Your primary goal is to prevent further attacks and relax your airways so you have a lower chance of experiencing pain. Here are some tips and tricks you can follow:
1. Use Pre-Exercise Drugs
Speak to your physician about using asthma medication. Medicine such as Albuterol prevents airways from spasms for up to two to three hours. Ask your doctor about the correct procedure when using an inhaler, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about medication and care.
2. Remember to Warm Up and Cool Down
Warming up and cooling down are not only beneficial for muscle health; a good 10-minute warm-up gets your body slowly but steadily used to the increased heart rate, so you feel well-prepared when beginning your exercise. Cooling down prevents any sudden attacks since your airways spasm when your body begins breathing in cold air.
3. Do Not Exercise in the Winter
If you must, exercise indoors. Find a gym or go swimming in a pool indoors. While you might be tempted to workout outdoors so you can breathe in fresh air, any form of strenuous exercise will affect your lungs. Even if you go for a brisk walk outside, wear a scarf around your mouth and breathe through it. Having a scarf on will at least give you a warmer surrounding to breathe in.
4. Do Not Exercise if You’re Sick
Even something like a bad cold can create more significant problems. Let your sickness subside and keep yourself warm while recovering from an upper respiratory issue. Do not run or exercise if you have a cough, and regain your strength before doing any outdoor exercise.
5. Try Swimming
A heavy workout with weights and cardio is not the only exercise option. Swimming is a wonderful choice if you want to stay lean and strong. When swimming indoors or outdoors, be aware of any chemicals that may cause a reaction. Chlorine is a common denominator when it comes to triggers. You’ll want to find a pool that uses reduced chemicals.
Conclusion
Your workout journey should not have to stop because of something like asthma. With the information given above, you will experience a better, open feeling when working out. You’ll feel more energized, too, knowing that you won’t have to worry about any coughing fits while doing intense cardio!