What are colon polyps?
According to WebMD.com, colon polyps are growths on the lining of your colon or large intestine, part of your digestive tract.
Are colon polyps dangerous?
Colon PolypsMost polyps are not dangerous. Most are benign, which means they are not cancerous. But over time, some types of polyps can turn into cancer. Usually, polyps that are smaller than a pea aren’t harmful. But larger polyps could someday become cancerous or may already be cancerous. To be safe, doctors remove all polyps and test them.
Celiac disease is a genetic disease, meaning it runs in families. Sometimes the disease is triggered or becomes active for the first time after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection or severe emotional stress.
Who is at risk?
Anyone can get polyps, but some individuals have increased risks more than others. You may have a greater chance of getting polyps if:
- You’re over 50 years old. The older you get, the more likely you are to develop polyps. symbol image you’ve had polyps before.
- Someone in your family has had polyps.
- Someone in your family has had cancer of the large intestine.
You may also be more likely to get polyps if you:
- eat a lot of fatty foods
- smoke
- drink alcohol
- don’t exercise
- Are Overweight
What are the symptoms?
Most small polyps don’t cause symptoms. Often, people don’t know they have one until the doctor finds it during a regular checkup or while testing them for something else.
However, some individuals experience the symptoms below:
- Bleeding from the anus. You might notice blood on your underwear or on toilet paper after you’ve had a bowel movement.
- Constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than a week.
- Blood in the stool. Blood can make stool look black, or it can show up as red streaks in the stool.
How does the doctor test for colon polyps?
The doctor can use four tests to check for polyps: Digital rectal exam. The doctor wears gloves and checks your rectum, the last part of the large intestine, to see if it feels normal. This test would find polyps only in the rectum, so the doctor may need to do one of the other tests listed below to find polyps higher up in the intestine. For barium enema, the doctor puts a liquid called barium into your rectum before taking x rays of your large intestine. Barium makes your intestine look white in the pictures. Polyps are dark, so they’re easy to see.
Sigmoidoscopy. With this test, the doctor can see inside your large intestine. The doctor puts a thin flexible tube into your rectum. The device is called a sigmoidoscope and it has a light and a tiny video camera in it. The doctor uses the sigmoidoscope to look at the last third of your large intestine.
Colonoscopy. This test is like sigmoidoscopy but the doctor looks at all of the large intestine and it usually requires sedation.
Who should get tested?
Talk to your doctor about getting tested for polyps if:
- you have symptoms
- you’re 50 years old or older
- someone in your family has had polyps or colon cancer
Treatment
The doctor will remove the polyp. Sometimes, the doctor takes it out during sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. The polyp is then tested for cancer.
If you’ve had polyps, the doctor may want you to get tested regularly in the future.
Prevention
Doctors don’t know of any one sure way to prevent polyps. But you might be able to lower your risk of getting them if you:
- Eat more fruits and vegetables and less fatty food
- Don’t smoke
- Avoid alcohol
- Exercise every day
- Lose weight if you’re overweight
Today, gastroenterology conditions can be treated effectively. We provide everyone a personalized gastroenterology treatment plan to meet your unique needs and improve your quality of life. Contact our gastroenterology and hepatology center to schedule a consolation with Los Angeles’ preferred Gastroenterologist– Dr. Tabib.
Dr. Tabib’s completed his postgraduate fellowship, residency, and internships at the UCLA/Cedar-Sinai Medical Center.
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Siamak Tabib, M.D., Inc.
8631 W 3rd St Suite 1015E,
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