Colon and Rectal Disorders

The colon is a major contributor to the elimination of wastes from the body. When it comes to this elimination process, the colon has many different roles. It carries waste products out of the body in the form of feces, absorbs electrolytes and water from undigested food and stores undigested food that the small intestine was unable to digest. In addition to all of that, the colon is also responsible for absorbing vitamins, maintaining a healthy fluid balance, and it also has to process fiber, which is an indigestible material. Through the digestive process, feces develops through the mixture of vitamins, fiber, water, mucus and bacteria that form in the large intestine. Often, this process is offset by the presence of disorders that can take place in the colon and rectum.

Cancer

• Cancer is one of the most common diseases in the world. It can take place in the colon and the rectum. When it emerges in the colon, it takes place in the upper part of the large intestine, and when it takes place in the rectum, it is located in the colon's last 6 inches. According to the American Cancer Society, over 150,000 people are diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer every year.

Prolapse

• Rectal prolapse is a condition that affects more women than men. When it takes place, the rectum ends up hanging down out of the anus because of it being stretched out. This is often times due to a weak anal sphincter muscle. A leakage of mucus and stool can be seen when rectal prolapse appears.

Constipation

• Over the course of time, the colon has a tendency to get backed up with fecal matter and mucoid plaque, which leads to constipation. This is also called an impacted colon. Often times, this is the result of eating a diet that is high in fat, low in fiber and low in water. When constipation is present, it can lead to irritability, stomach pain and hemorrhoids.

IBS

• Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition wherein the muscles in the colon do not function properly. This causes food to get pushed along too quickly or too slowly. The end result is alternating bouts of diarrhea, constipation and stomach cramps. This disorder can be treated by eliminating certain foods that stimulate the colon such as coffee, chocolate and fattening foods.

Diverticulitis

• Over the course of time, people have a tendency to develop little pouches on the colon lining that are called diverticula. When they just appear there and don't cause any problems, a condition called diverticulosis is present. When these pouches become infected and inflamed, it is then called diverticulitis.