Globally, colorectal cancer also called colon cancer or bowel cancer is the third leading cause of cancer. The frequency of colorectal cancer varies around the world; it is common in the Western world and rare in Asia and Africa. In countries where people have adopted the western diets has an increasing incidence of colon cancer.
The colon also known as the large bowel is the longest portion of the large intestine. The large intestine is the last part of the digestive tract, which is a tube that is about five to six feet in length; the first five feet make up the colon which then connects to about six inches of rectum, and finally ends with the anus. About three to eight hours after eating, by the time the food reaches the colon, the nutrients have been absorbed and the remainder is liquid waste product. The colon functions as a converter, changing this liquid waste into stool. The stool can spend anywhere from ten hours to several days in the colon before being expelled through the anus. It has been advised but not proven, that the longer the stool stays in the colon, the higher the risk of colon cancer.
Colon cancer includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. Many colon cancers are thought to arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon. These mushroom-like growths are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time. This process can take years which allow time for early detection with screening tests.
Symptoms Symptoms of the disease are numerous and non-specific. They include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, change in bowel habits, narrow stools, diarrhea or constipation, red or dark blood in stool, weight loss, abdominal pain, cramps, or bloating. Other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (spastic colon), ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis, and peptic ulcer disease can have symptoms that mimic colorectal cancer. Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer, other problems can cause the same symptoms, so checking with your doctor should be done immediately to be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
The risk of the cancer rises substantially after the age of fifty, but every year there are numerous cases reported in younger people. Individuals with a personal or family history of , polyps, or inherited syndromes (i.e., FAP and HNPCC), as well as patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, are all at higher risk and may require screening at an earlier age than the general population. A person with one first degree relative (parent, sibling or child) with colon cancer is two to three times as likely to develop the cancer as someone who does not have an affected relative.
The treatment depends on the staging of the cancer. When colon cancer is caught at early stages (with little spread) it can be curable. However when it is detected at later stages (when distant metastases are present) it is less likely to be curable. Surgery remains the primary treatment while chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be recommended depending on the individual patient's staging and other medical factors.
Want to know what the leading cause of marital strife is after money and infidelity? Would you believe snoring? This will come as no surprise to the wives and husbands of those who snore. Snoring causes frustration, divorce and even attempted murder. People will do whatever they must to ensure a good night's sleep, in fact I know of a lady who went to the expense of building and extra bedroom on her house just to get away from the noise!
A grumpy partner is not the worst thing about snoring though. It can have a disastrous effect on your health as well. Snoring may well mean you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in which you actually stop breathing for seconds at a time and finally wake up gasping for breath. This causes lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, disturbed sleep patterns and poor quality sleep.
Medical specialists are now claiming that sleep apnea and snoring may lead to cardiovascular problems. The link between snoring and poor concentration and car accidents is well established. Together with poor concentration, bad moods and drowsiness during the day, who wouldn't want to rid themselves of snoring as fast as they possibly can. To best do this we need to find out what are the main causes for snoring.
Snoring is due to the soft tissues in the mouth and throat vibrating. This can be due to many reasons.
Being overweight - The more you weigh, the more pressure gets put on your lungs, diaphragm and the muscles that help you breathe.
Sleeping on your back - Sleeping on your back causes the mouth to drop open.
Alcohol - Drinking causes heavy sleeping.
Sleeping Pills - Sleeping drugs also cause the snorer to sleep through their snoring.
Nicotine withdrawal - Smoking leads to withdrawal of nicotine from the bloodstream at night causing sleep disturbances and snoring
Based on these facts, some simple cures for snoring would be as follows:
1 - Make sure you don't sleep on your back. Sew some cotton reels to the back of your pajamas. - Cut down on the alcohol and cigarettes.
2 - Try and find alternatives to sleeping pills.
3 - Lose weight!
Effective as these simple changes may be, serious snorers are going to need more. Let's examine some of the more common "snoring cures" to see if they can provide any lasting results.
There are oral devices which physically depress the tongue, opening up the airway. Although some people find these devices helpful, others find them too uncomfortable to allow them to fall asleep. Some people swear by the snoring ring which uses acupressure when worn on the finger. Others disagree and say it didn't help at all.
Then there are the sprays, tablets and injections. These do not have a great success rate and are probably not even worth trying. The serious snoring cures are the C-Pap machine and of course snoring surgery. Of course these two options cost a lot more money. If your snoring is in fact sleep apnea, then these two alternatives may be the best choice.
From listening to clients and even from my own experience, snoring exercises are the best priced and most effective way to permanently end snoring. Exercises strengthen the throat muscles which prevents the soft tissues collapsing into the throat. Together with prevention strategies and a healthy lifestyle, these exercises may mean the end of snoring for many people.
Both Joann Cheong & Wendy Owen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Joann Cheong has sinced written about articles on various topics from Paralegal Legal Assistant, Fitness and Health. For More Information Click On . Joann Cheong's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
Wendy Owen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Care, Baby Shower and Fitness. Don't waste any more money on snoring gadgets and gizmos that probably won't work. Visit for the latest information on how to stop s. Wendy Owen's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.