6 warning signs of colon disease

MSc.BSc.CKI Luu Xuan Phat, Department of Gastroenterology, Center for Endoscopy and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said colon diseases such as colitis, colon cancer… often have diverse manifestations, different depending on the location, age, gender and health status of each person. Below are some signs patients need to pay attention to.

Prolonged bowel disorders

Change in bowel habits is one of the most common signs of colon disease. Patients may have constipation, diarrhea or both alternating and prolonged conditions with abnormal stool shape.

Diarrhea related to colon disease is often accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, bloody stools or weight loss. If prolonged, it can easily increase the risk of complications such as electrolyte disorders, malnutrition, weight loss, exhaustion, affecting quality of life.

Symptoms of these bowel disorders mostly last for many weeks, recur frequently, or do not improve despite lifestyle adjustments.

Blood in stool

Blood appearing in stool is always an abnormal sign that needs to be checked. Patients may see bright red blood mixed in the stool, stuck on toilet paper or on the surface of the stool. In some cases, the stool is black like coffee grounds due to bleeding from higher positions in the digestive tract.

This symptom is also a manifestation of other diseases such as hemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis, colorectal polyps, diverticulitis, stomach ulcers or colorectal cancer. Therefore, patients need to see a doctor early to determine the cause and receive timely treatment.

An unusual mass appears in the abdomen

In some cases, patients discover that their abdomen has a hard, lumpy mass or a persistent feeling of tightness. Abnormal mass may be related to a tumor or intestinal obstruction. When abnormal masses appear or when the waist circumference rapidly increases in size, causing difficulty breathing or vomiting when eating a full meal, the patient needs to be examined and evaluated at reputable facilities.

Unexplained weight loss

Unintended weight loss is a warning sign of many chronic diseases, including gastrointestinal diseases. Unintentional weight loss can occur when colon disease causes prolonged inflammation, reduces appetite, increases energy expenditure or causes chronic diarrhea. This is also one of the warning signs that may occur in people with chronic inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal cancer.

Anemia, fatigue

Prolonged bleeding in the digestive tract, if left undetected, can cause the body to lose blood silently, leading to anemia. Patients often feel tired, dizzy, have headaches, have pale skin or have a reduced ability to work and do daily activities.

According to Dr. Phat, when symptoms of suspected colon disease appear, patients should not arbitrarily use antibiotics or anti-diarrhea drugs for a long time without a doctor’s prescription.

Depending on each case, the doctor may prescribe diagnostic methods such as blood tests, stool tests, ultrasound, CT scan or colonoscopy to determine the cause and develop an appropriate treatment regimen. Early detection helps improve treatment effectiveness, while reducing the risk of complications for dangerous diseases such as chronic enteritis or colorectal cancer.