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.
How to Treat a Headache
Headaches are very common, and you’ve likely had them at some point in your life. A headache refers to pain in your head, face, or the upper part of your neck that feels like either a dull ache, sharp pain, continuous pain, or throbbing pain. Some headaches can be severe enough to disrupt your daily activities and interfere with work. Don't worry though, we are here to talk about how to treat a headache. Thankfully, they can be managed through the use of medications and lifestyle adjustments.
Although there are over a hundred types, headaches can be broadly classified into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary headaches are headaches that do not arise as a result of an underlying medical condition. Examples include:
- Tension headaches
- Migraines
- Cluster headaches
- New daily persistent headaches (NDPH)
Secondary headaches, on the other hand, occur as a side effect of an underlying medical issue, including but not limited to:
- High blood pressure
- Trauma to the head
- Infections
- Tumors involving the head and neck
- Sinusitis
How Are Headaches Different From Migraines?
Migraines are a type of primary headache which are more intense and accompanied by symptoms. They are usually one-sided, involving the ear or eye on the affected side. Before the onset of the migraine, some symptoms, often referred to as “auras,” may occur. They include:
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Seeing flashes or spots
- Altered sensations of smell or touch
- Reduced mental alertness
These auras can occur from ten minutes to two days before the migraine sets in. Although auras are common, not all migraines are accompanied by them. The throbbing one-sided pain in the head that can be severe enough to disturb daily activity characterizes the pain as a migraine.
What Causes Headaches?
Headaches occur in response to your body’s nerves, sending pain input to your brain. These nerves can be triggered by several factors, which then send signals to the pain centers in your brain. Some of these factors include:
- Emotional and physical stress
- Strong scents from perfumes and other chemicals
- Alcohol use
- Alterations in sleeping or eating patterns
- Foods such as chocolate, cheese, and coffee
- Inhalation of smoke
- Bright lights or noise
- Poor head positioning or posture
- Exposure to allergens
Some headaches, especially migraines, have been said to be hereditary. Children of people who have migraines are up to four times more likely to have them than someone without a genetic link.
Headache Treatments
To treat headaches, you must first determine what your trigger is. The easiest way to know what your trigger could be is by recording when and where you typically get headaches, frequency durations, and any symptoms that present before it. Your doctor may request an MRI or CT scan to rule out tumors or other abnormalities within your brain in the case of a secondary headache.
The treatment of headaches can vary according to the type and trigger. Some may require simple behavior modification, while others may respond to only medication. There are a variety of treatment options available for the treatment of headaches.
Home Remedies
Not all headaches require the use of medication. Some can be managed by therapy and lifestyle modification. This is particularly true for headaches which are mild and often caused by stress. Employing stress management techniques, relaxation exercises, and breathing exercises can be of benefit in relieving headaches. Applying hot or cold head compresses, meditating in a serene environment, getting a massage, avoiding noisy environments, and switching off the lights could significantly improve your health.
Natural Remedies
Several natural remedies can help to treat and decrease headaches. Increasing your daily intake of water, limiting alcohol, and avoiding foods like fish, cheese, and beer, which are high in histamines, are just some of the natural ways to get rid of headaches. Peppermint and lavender essential oils and herbal remedies such as butterbur and feverfew are said to relieve headaches in children and adults.
Medical Treatment
Sometimes, medications are used to treat headaches. Some of them include triptans, which are typically used to treat migraines and can be taken when you begin to feel an aura. Others are given to treat symptoms linked to the headache, including NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen), acetaminophen, and antiemetics.
You can get most of these medications without a prescription. However, some of them may require one. These medications are most effective when used in conjunction with other non-medication recommendations.
When to See a Doctor?
In most cases, headaches are not life-threatening, and with knowing how to treat a headache, you can handle it at home. But, should you begin to experience any of the following symptoms, they may be an indication of a more serious underlying condition:
- Drowsiness
- Slurring of speech
- A sudden, persistent headache
- Eye or ear pain and neck stiffness
- Headache that occurs after trauma to the head
- Seizures