There's More To It: What Your Doctor Can Find During Your Colonoscopy
If you've been postponing your colonoscopy, now's the time to schedule your appointment. Colonoscopies are the best way to identify colon cancer while it's in the early stages. If you're not at risk for colon cancer, you might not think you need a colonoscopy. That's not the case though. You can get colon cancer, even if you don't have any known risk factors for the disease. But, there are other reasons to get a colonoscopy. You might not realize this, but a colonoscopy can identify other ailments as well. Here are three health-related conditions a colonoscopy can diagnose.
IBD
If you have trouble with your bowel movements, it's time for a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy can pinpoint the problem. This is especially true with regard to irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBD, affects the digestive tract. Two types of IBD include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease can affect all areas of your digestive tract. It can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue. But, depending on the severity, Crohn's disease can also affect the liver and other areas of your body. A colonoscopy can identify this medical condition.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is also in the IBD family of medical disorders. Ulcerative colitis causes sores inside the colon. If you have abdominal cramping or loose and bloody stools, schedule a colonoscopy. You could have ulcerative colitis.
Polyps
If you've never had a colonoscopy before, you could have polyps hiding in your colon. One of the problems with polyps is that they don't give you warning signs. That means you won't notice any abdominal discomfort or changes to your bowel movements. But, that doesn't mean you shouldn't take polyps seriously. Some polyps can turn into cancer. That's why you need routine colonoscopies. These tests help find polyps before they can turn into cancer. In most cases, polyps can get removed during your colonoscopy. That way, your doctor can test for cancer tissue.
Hemorrhoids
If you've noticed some mild bleeding when you have a bowel movement, there's a chance you have hemorrhoids. External hemorrhoids are easy to identify. That's because they develop around the outside of your rectum. Internal hemorrhoids aren't as easy to identify. That's where a colonoscopy comes in handy. If you have internal hemorrhoids, your doctor can find those during your colonoscopy.
Don't take chances with your colon health. Routine colonoscopies can identify problems you might not know you have. If you need to schedule a colonoscopy, contact a medial clinic, such as Gastro Health.