 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
The Importance of Bowel Health
By the word "bowels" we describe the intestines including the duodenum, small
bowel, large bowel or colon, the rectum and anus.
A number of different important functions are performed by the several parts of the
bowels.
The duodenum is responsible for serving as a common pool for mixing the food
contents with the bile (produced by the gallbladder), pancreatic enzymes, bowel
enzymes and hormones, in order to achieve digestion.
The small bowel performs the important function of absorbing all the nutrients and
water. It also possesses special cells that secrete hormones that are important for
the regulation of the function of not only the bowels but also the pancreas,
stomach, liver etc.
The large bowel or colon absorbs the water and useful electrolytes (salts) that are
important for the balance ( or "homeostasis") of the whole body.
The rectum and anus are the final parts of the bowels and healthy function of
those parts ensures that we can have normal bowel movements without problems
with constipation, incontinence, pain, bleeding or infection.
Any dysfunction, disease or problems at any part of your bowels can cause
symptoms not only from the bowels but from other systems of the body and can
make you seriously ill.
BOWEL PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON: Almost one in five people in Western
societies will suffer from Irritable Bowel, Constipation, Haemorrhoids, Polyps,
Diverticular Disease or anal infections such as perianal abscesses or fistulas.
Inflammatory bowel disaese (Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's disease).
Colorectal Cancer is the second commonest cancer in the UK, causing 10,000
deaths every year.
By the word "bowels" we describe the intestines including the duodenum, small
bowel, large bowel or colon, the rectum and anus.
A number of different important functions are performed by the several parts of the
bowels.
The duodenum is responsible for serving as a common pool for mixing the food
contents with the bile (produced by the gallbladder), pancreatic enzymes, bowel
enzymes and hormones, in order to achieve digestion.
The small bowel performs the important function of absorbing all the nutrients and
water. It also possesses special cells that secrete hormones that are important for
the regulation of the function of not only the bowels but also the pancreas,
stomach, liver etc.
The large bowel or colon absorbs the water and useful electrolytes (salts) that are
important for the balance ( or "homeostasis") of the whole body.
The rectum and anus are the final parts of the bowels and healthy function of
those parts ensures that we can have normal bowel movements without problems
with constipation, incontinence, pain, bleeding or infection.
Any dysfunction, disease or problems at any part of your bowels can cause
symptoms not only from the bowels but from other systems of the body and can
make you seriously ill.
BOWEL PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON: Almost one in five people in Western
societies will suffer from Irritable Bowel, Constipation, Haemorrhoids, Polyps,
Diverticular Disease or anal infections such as perianal abscesses or fistulas.
Inflammatory bowel disaese (Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's disease).
Colorectal Cancer is the second commonest cancer in the UK, causing 10,000
deaths every year.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
HEALTHY LIVING AND THE BOWEL
A healthy diet is the key to good function of the bowels. It has been shown in many
studies that a diet which is rich in vegetables, fruits and fibre and low in fat promotes
bowel health and decreases the risk of bowel problems.
Five daily servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended, although
Mediterranean populations with an average of nine servings daily have less bowel
problems than Northern Europeans.
Fibre helps the bowel contents move faster through the bowel lumen and allows less
time for bowel bacteria to act on the food constituents. Prolonged action of bacteria
on the bowel contents has been shown to result in production of carcinogenic
substances. Also fibre gives bulk to bowel contents and helps the colon to expel
stools with minimal effort, in other words to avoid constipation. Constipation is the
underlying cause of many troublesome anorectal conditions such as haemorrhoids,
anal fissures, rectal prolapse etc.
All fruits and vegetables qualify as a source of fibre apart from potatoes which
provide mainly carbohydrates.
Fibre can also be found in brown bread, bran, musli, cereals.
Fruits and vegetables are not only a source of fibre but also vitamins and other
important anti-oxidants which have a protective effect against cancer of the bowel.
Adequate drinking of water is important. One of the functions of the colon is to
absorb water, so people who are dehydrated are likely to develop problems with
constipation.
Regular consumption of "live" yogurt (only the one with bio-cultures such as the
traditional Greek yogurt!) which contains organisms called "probiotics" has been
shown to have a beneficial effect on a number of bowel conditions including Irritable
Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
It has been shown that physical exercise helps the bowel keep a normal level of
movements and function. A sedentary lifestyle predisposes to constipation and
problems such as haemorrhoids.
Smoking has a negative impact on many systems of the body and bowel is no
exception. People with Crohn's disease do worse if they smoke and at King's
College we have shown in a study that people with Diverticular Disease (a very
common condition) have an increased risk by 2.8 times (or 280% !) to develop
complications of this condition than those who don't smoke.
Although moderate consumption of alcohol is not harmful, heavy use of alcohol has
been associated with an increased risk of cancer of the colon.
All parts of the bowel are very sensitive to stress. This is partly due to the fact that
the same molecules that are used to trasmit information and actions within the brain
(the "neurotransmitters" such as acetylcholine, GABA, serotonin, etc.) are also used
by the body as neurotransmitters within the bowel. This results in the phenomena
we have all observed occasionally: anxiety, depression and generally stress can
provoke attacks of severe diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, secretion of mucous etc.
Also it is well documented that stress plays a major role in the exacerbation of
Irritable Bowel Syndrome but also Inflammatory Bowel Disease such as Ulcerative
Colitis and Crohn's disease.
Therefore, last but not least, a state of internal peace and psychological well being
is necessary in order to have bowel health as well as health of the whole body and
mind.
A healthy diet is the key to good function of the bowels. It has been shown in many
studies that a diet which is rich in vegetables, fruits and fibre and low in fat promotes
bowel health and decreases the risk of bowel problems.
Five daily servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended, although
Mediterranean populations with an average of nine servings daily have less bowel
problems than Northern Europeans.
Fibre helps the bowel contents move faster through the bowel lumen and allows less
time for bowel bacteria to act on the food constituents. Prolonged action of bacteria
on the bowel contents has been shown to result in production of carcinogenic
substances. Also fibre gives bulk to bowel contents and helps the colon to expel
stools with minimal effort, in other words to avoid constipation. Constipation is the
underlying cause of many troublesome anorectal conditions such as haemorrhoids,
anal fissures, rectal prolapse etc.
All fruits and vegetables qualify as a source of fibre apart from potatoes which
provide mainly carbohydrates.
Fibre can also be found in brown bread, bran, musli, cereals.
Fruits and vegetables are not only a source of fibre but also vitamins and other
important anti-oxidants which have a protective effect against cancer of the bowel.
Adequate drinking of water is important. One of the functions of the colon is to
absorb water, so people who are dehydrated are likely to develop problems with
constipation.
Regular consumption of "live" yogurt (only the one with bio-cultures such as the
traditional Greek yogurt!) which contains organisms called "probiotics" has been
shown to have a beneficial effect on a number of bowel conditions including Irritable
Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
It has been shown that physical exercise helps the bowel keep a normal level of
movements and function. A sedentary lifestyle predisposes to constipation and
problems such as haemorrhoids.
Smoking has a negative impact on many systems of the body and bowel is no
exception. People with Crohn's disease do worse if they smoke and at King's
College we have shown in a study that people with Diverticular Disease (a very
common condition) have an increased risk by 2.8 times (or 280% !) to develop
complications of this condition than those who don't smoke.
Although moderate consumption of alcohol is not harmful, heavy use of alcohol has
been associated with an increased risk of cancer of the colon.
All parts of the bowel are very sensitive to stress. This is partly due to the fact that
the same molecules that are used to trasmit information and actions within the brain
(the "neurotransmitters" such as acetylcholine, GABA, serotonin, etc.) are also used
by the body as neurotransmitters within the bowel. This results in the phenomena
we have all observed occasionally: anxiety, depression and generally stress can
provoke attacks of severe diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, secretion of mucous etc.
Also it is well documented that stress plays a major role in the exacerbation of
Irritable Bowel Syndrome but also Inflammatory Bowel Disease such as Ulcerative
Colitis and Crohn's disease.
Therefore, last but not least, a state of internal peace and psychological well being
is necessary in order to have bowel health as well as health of the whole body and
mind.
Common Bowel Investigations
At the physician's disposal there are a number of useful tests and procedures for
investigation of bowel symptoms.
These are:
Endoscopic procedures: Colonoscopy, Sigmoidoscopy, Proctoscopy.
Radiologic investigations: Barium Enema, CT Scan, Magnetic Resonance (MRI)
Scan, CT Colonography, "Virtual Colonoscopy" etc.
Several blood and other laboratory tests.
Which tests are required and in what order is decided by the physician and depends
on the information from the history and clinical findings.
You can read about the investigations used in the detection and staging of
Colo-Rectal Cancer if you click on the link.
Common conditions affecting the Large Bowel (Colon & Rectum)
Cancer of the Colon & Rectum
Polyps
Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn's Disease
Diverticular Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Constipation
Endometriosis
Rectal Prolapse
Common conditions affecting the Small Bowel
Crohn's Disease
Coeliac Disease
Lactose intolerance
Abdominal Adhesions
Tumours of the Small bowel
Common conditions affecting the Anus
Haemorrhoids
Perianal abscess
Fistula in ano
Anal Fissure
Pilonidal Sinus
Incontinence
Anal Warts
Anal Cancer
At the physician's disposal there are a number of useful tests and procedures for
investigation of bowel symptoms.
These are:
Endoscopic procedures: Colonoscopy, Sigmoidoscopy, Proctoscopy.
Radiologic investigations: Barium Enema, CT Scan, Magnetic Resonance (MRI)
Scan, CT Colonography, "Virtual Colonoscopy" etc.
Several blood and other laboratory tests.
Which tests are required and in what order is decided by the physician and depends
on the information from the history and clinical findings.
You can read about the investigations used in the detection and staging of
Colo-Rectal Cancer if you click on the link.
Common conditions affecting the Large Bowel (Colon & Rectum)
Cancer of the Colon & Rectum
Polyps
Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn's Disease
Diverticular Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Constipation
Endometriosis
Rectal Prolapse
Common conditions affecting the Small Bowel
Crohn's Disease
Coeliac Disease
Lactose intolerance
Abdominal Adhesions
Tumours of the Small bowel
Common conditions affecting the Anus
Haemorrhoids
Perianal abscess
Fistula in ano
Anal Fissure
Pilonidal Sinus
Incontinence
Anal Warts
Anal Cancer
Common Bowel Symptoms
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal Distention
Rectal Bleeding
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Change of bowel habits
Increased production of wind
Anaemia
Tenesmus
Nausea
Anal Pain & Irritation
All the above symptoms are very common and in the vast majority of cases (more
than 95%) are caused by benign conditions, such as Constipation, Irritable Bowel,
Haemorrhoids etc.
However, it is not always possible to be sure in advance about the benign nature of
those symptoms, since other more serious conditions, such as bowel cancer,
inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease etc. may also initially present with
identical symptoms.
The physician or surgeon relies on the full patient's history, clinical examination, age,
family history and associated other symptoms or factors to decide what investigations
are necessary.
The information provided in this web site is only general and should not be
used for patient self-diagnosis. Bowel problems are complex and you should
always consult your doctor when you develop any bowel symptoms.
©COPYRIGHT OF www.bowel-health.com contents by Dr. Savvas
Papagrigoriadis. All rights reserved.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal Distention
Rectal Bleeding
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Change of bowel habits
Increased production of wind
Anaemia
Tenesmus
Nausea
Anal Pain & Irritation
All the above symptoms are very common and in the vast majority of cases (more
than 95%) are caused by benign conditions, such as Constipation, Irritable Bowel,
Haemorrhoids etc.
However, it is not always possible to be sure in advance about the benign nature of
those symptoms, since other more serious conditions, such as bowel cancer,
inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease etc. may also initially present with
identical symptoms.
The physician or surgeon relies on the full patient's history, clinical examination, age,
family history and associated other symptoms or factors to decide what investigations
are necessary.
The information provided in this web site is only general and should not be
used for patient self-diagnosis. Bowel problems are complex and you should
always consult your doctor when you develop any bowel symptoms.
©COPYRIGHT OF www.bowel-health.com contents by Dr. Savvas
Papagrigoriadis. All rights reserved.
Bowel Health
an informational web site by Dr. Savvas Papagrigoriadis, Department of
Colorectal Surgery, King's College Hospital, London, UK
an informational web site by Dr. Savvas Papagrigoriadis, Department of
Colorectal Surgery, King's College Hospital, London, UK
 |
 |
