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 Different Symptoms of Addiction?
In the United States, substance abuse affects around 20 million people. Most of these are due to alcohol, marijuana, and prescription pain relievers. Continual substance abuse can lead to negative effects and addiction.
This article will explain what addiction is, as well as the causes and symptoms of addiction, and explore different treatment options. We will also look at options for patients, as well as friends, family, and caregivers.
What is Addiction?
Addiction is a mental health disorder that has detrimental effects in many areas of a person’s life. It is characterized by a persistent, uncontrollable chemical dependency wherein the person craves and seeks the substance they are addicted to.
They repeatedly use these substances or engage in behaviors that can disrupt their daily life. Despite harmful consequences, this compulsive behavior cannot be controlled. As an effect, it can ruin relationships, be it marriages, friendships or families, and can be life-threatening not only to the person affected but to the people around them.
There are around 70,000 drug overdose deaths yearly in the United States, with an increasing rate of 4% per year, which is very alarming.
Causes of Addiction
There are many causes of addiction, and many factors that contribute to it. Genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of addiction.
Genetics can explain about 40% to 60% of the risk for addiction.
Environmental factors such as the home environment, presence of physical or verbal abuse, peers, employment, and academic achievement can also play a role in the risk for addiction. How drugs are viewed by parents, peers, and the community also has an impact on the occurrence of addiction.
Other factors that can affect the incidence of addiction are mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety.
Common Symptoms of Addiction
Addiction can have subtle symptoms. Sometimes people do not notice that it is already happening until it is too late. People with addiction continuously crave the substance to the point that it becomes unhealthy or can interfere with daily activities.
If the substance is a medical drug such as pain relievers, they will still take it even if it is not needed or symptoms are not experienced anymore. When there is no intake of the substance, addicted patients can feel sick, fatigued, or depressed.
Depending on the substance, physical changes may also be observed. They may sweat, shake, or experience headaches. Seizures or chest pain can be experienced. Sleep problems can also occur, and depending on the substance, a person suffering from addiction may sleep too much or too little. It’s also common for dietary habits to change.
They cannot function properly and are constantly preoccupied with the substance. They do not interact with people well.
Another symptom of addiction that contributes to further damage is the increasing amount of the substance needed to experience an effect. This is called tolerance. This compounds the craving for the substance as addicted patients need more and more and the desire for the substance becomes insatiable.
The Importance of Seeking Treatment
If treatment is not done, addiction can continue to get worse over time. Physically, it can put a person’s health at risk due to the effects of prolonged use and the risk for overdose. This is dangerous because extreme cases can lead to death.
Emotionally and socially, addiction can affect relationships as people tend to stray from friends and family, especially when they are told to stop substance use. It can destroy marriages and friendships, especially if the person refuses to change their ways or if there is a lack of emotional support for the recovery of the addicted person.
It can also cause financial problems due to continuous consumption, and can lead to the loss of jobs, mismanagement of finances, and debt.
Finding Treatment Options for Addiction
Although it may not always be evident, many people are seeking help and treatment for addiction, whether it’s for themselves or their loved ones. It’s important for people with addiction to understand that they are not alone in this battle.
There are several rehabilitation centers where people can turn to for help. These treatment facilities have various programs that help care for and provide support for people with addiction. These facilities can provide behavioral therapy, counseling, and medical management.
There are more than 14,000 treatment facilities in the United States. The following are some of the options listed on the American Addiction Centers website:
- AdCare Rhode Island Outpatient
- Laguna Treatment Hospital (Laguna Beach, CA)
- River Oaks Treatment Center (Tampa, Florida)
- Recovery First Treatment Center (Miami, Florida)
- Greenhouse Treatment Center (Dallas, Texas)
- Desert Hope Las Vegas Treatment Center (Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Sunrise House Treatment Center (Lafayette, New Jersey)
Addiction is not a death sentence, nor is it something to be ashamed of. It is treatable and people can recover from this condition. People must receive the support that they need as soon as they can so that they can overcome this condition.