Healthy life is possible only when we are free of all kinds of body ailments. While facing a health issue like colon diseases, one needs to figure out the right treatment and for this the right diagnosis is very essential. Finding out the abnormalities in the rectum and colon is possible while undergoing the procedure known as Colonoscopy. With the help of this procedure, the gastroenterologist is able to take examine the internal part of the colon. To do this procedure, a colonoscope with a camera is inserted into the rectum. This screening tool inserted into the anus and allowed to go deep into the rectum through the cecum, the initial part of the colon. This is usually recommended for patients who are above fifty years and above.
The reason for doing colonoscopy
There are many reasons why colonoscopy is done. It is mainly done to find out the reason for the cause of blood stained stool, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen and change in the bowel habits. It is also done when any kind of abnormality is found in the colon X rays or axial tomography scan.
People who have a history of colon cancer or those with a family history of non cancerous colon or any kind of colon problems that will be related to cancer of the colon are mainly advised to take periodical colonoscopies as they have chances of attaining polyps or colon cancer. Even an average healthy person who is at the age of 50 and above need to take regular colonoscopy for they need to check the colon polyps as they can become cancerous.
Mainly colonoscopy is done for the purpose of investigating the intestinal disorders soon after a CT scan. It is used to identify and treat the colon cancer polyps that are actually abnormal growths found inside the walls of the intestine. Those people with a history of colon polyps, ulcerative colitis or colitis and even colon cancer are mainly advised to take colonoscopy at regular intervals. Colonoscopy is mainly done when a person has:
Chronic or prolonged diarrhea
Pain in the rectum
Pain in the abdomen
Changes in the regular bowel habits
Sudden loss of weight
While experiencing a deficiency in iron or while anemic
When any kind of abnormalities is found in the CT scans of the intestine
When there is a family history of colon cancer, individuals have higher risks of getting colon cancer
Increase in Perforation:
Post Polypectomy bleeding:
Destruction of the good bacteria in the gut:
Complications of Cardiopulmonary:
Major Advantages of Taking Colonoscopy
Some of the advantages of using colonoscopy are that with this procedure, the diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma or the polyps can be found out easily. There is no radiation in this process. With the help of this procedure, detection of small lesions like the adenomas is done easily.
Dangers of colonoscopy
The major health risk of colonoscopy is increasing perforation. Intestinal perforation or gastrointestinal perforation is a medical condition, where there is a formation of a hole in the stomach wall or the walls of the small or large intestine. This will lead to leakage of the intestinal contents in the cavity of the abdomen. This condition will increase as age increases. The symptoms of perforation of stomach, duodenum or esophagus or severe pain which will gradually reach to the shoulder. The person experiencing this will look very painful, his heart rate will increase, will sweat a lot and has flabby belly. Usually this will lead to nausea, vomiting and even loss of appetite.
A minor risk of post polypectomy is the chances of bleeding. Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract to the treitz ligament can be termed as lower gastrointestinal bleeding or SCBB. It can happen at the small intestine and even colon. Symptoms of this condition are easy to find out as stool turns to black due to bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The reason for the black colored stool is because of the tainted blood stomach acid. This can cause anemia, paleness and fatigue.
The colonoscopy can kill the good bacteria found in the gut. This can be considered as a major health risk of doing colonoscopy.
Apart from cardiopulmonary complications there can be other risks happening such as desaturation of oxygen, cardiac arrhythmias and hypertension due to colonoscopy.
Even though a lot of complications can happen after colonoscopy, certain diseases do need this procedure. Overlooking into the side effects should be avoided and one must go for the many advantages colonoscopy provides. Living in wellbeing is possible only when we are ready to take the right steps to the treatment of any disease, even if it is a colon disease.
