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.
Treatment for Meniere's Disease
Meniere’s disease is very rare; it affects only 0.2% of the population in the U.S. While there is no cure, there are different treatment methods that help manage the condition and lessen symptoms. This article will explain what the disease is, what the symptoms are and possible treatments for Meniere’s disease.
What is Meniere’s Disease?
Meniere’s disease involves the accumulation of fluid in the inner ear, specifically the cochlea and the vestibular organ. The inner ear is responsible for balance and hearing, which is why the symptoms of Meniere’s disease are related to these abilities. However, there are many reasons for hearing loss, so it is not a direct indication of this disease.
Most people with Meniere’s disease are older. It usually affects people between the ages of 40 to 60. The occurrence of Meniere’s disease is roughly equal among genders, with some studies showing that females have a slightly higher chance of developing it.
Treatment for Meniere’s Disease
Currently, there is no known cure for Meniere’s disease. Treatment for Meniere’s disease will offer relief but is dependent on the symptoms of each individual person. Talk to your doctor about what option would be best for you. The following are some treatments for Meniere’s disease.
1. Lifestyle Changes and Remedies
Changing your lifestyle can have an impact on your overall health, as well as help improve specific symptoms. These changes can include changing your diet by decreasing salt intake and avoiding caffeinated drinks, alcohol and cigarettes.
2. Medication
Various medications can be used depending on which symptoms need to be addressed. Diuretics can be given to help reduce fluid in the inner ear. For patients who experience dizziness and tinnitus, medications such as betahistine can be given if diuretics do not solve the problem. Some medications can also be given as injections in the inner ear. These are usually reserved for severe cases and include the injection of steroids.
3. Medical Procedures
Hearing aids can be given to patients who are experiencing hearing loss. Other medical procedures include pressure pulse treatment or the Meniett device. This delivers pulses of pressure via an earpiece. The Meniett device is portable and noninvasive, which is why it is an option for people with Meniere’s disease.
For extreme cases or cases that do not respond to conservative management, surgery is offered by doing either endolymphatic sac surgery, vestibular nerve section or labyrinthectomy.
Endolymphatic sac surgery is done to decompress the endolymphatic sac and maintain the pressure within the inner ear. A vestibular nerve section involves cutting the vestibular part of the cochleovestibular cranial nerve. Labyrinthectomy involves the removal of parts of the semicircular canals and the vestibule.
Each of these surgeries has its own risks, with labyrinthectomy leading to complete hearing loss on the affected side, so it is only considered when no other treatment options are available.
Meniere’s disease may not be bothersome if diagnosed and managed early. Episodes of vertigo and hearing loss eventually stabilize in the later years. However, hearing loss can be permanent in some patients.
Thankfully, there are many treatment options for people with this condition. It is important to be aware of this disease so that affected people can be directed to the right specialists.
Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease has a classic triad of symptoms: vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss. Some symptoms, such as hearing loss, may occur slowly over time, whereas other symptoms, like vertigo, can occur suddenly.
Vertigo or spinning sensations that people experience can be very severe and may occur randomly. They bother most people because daily tasks can be affected. The duration of vertigo can vary — some episodes occur for minutes, while others last hours. Another thing that makes these vertigo attacks difficult to deal with is that they are unpredictable, and there is no way of knowing when they will occur.
On the other hand, tinnitus is what is commonly known as ringing in the ears. Some people can also experience buzzing, whistling, or hissing sounds.
Finally, hearing loss can occur due to the fluid buildup that affects the sensory cells of hearing. In Meniere’s disease, hearing loss often affects lower frequencies, although some people may experience permanent hearing loss.
Meniere’s disease can be debilitating. Aside from the unpredictable vertigo attacks, a small percentage of people with Meniere’s disease can experience a sudden sensation of falling, also known as drop attacks. These are also unpredictable and can be dangerous, as sudden falls can cause physical injuries.
Final Notes
Meniere’s disease can sometimes be hard to diagnose. Because the symptoms are common and happen for several reasons, they tend to overlap with other diseases. Furthermore, some people may think it is normal to have episodes of dizziness and not immediately seek treatment. Others may also not notice the presence of symptoms like hearing loss due to its gradual occurrence and progression.
This can delay a consult and prompt diagnosis. It is important that if you experience these symptoms, be seen by a physician so they can refer you to a trained ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.