Colon Health Ontario Canada

What are the colon-related health problems?

Many health problems can affect the colon such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Diverticulosis, and Colon Cancer. 

What is the nature of each problem?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) mainly affects people in their second or third decades of life, although older patients can be affected as well. It manifests as repeated attacks of abdominal pains, bloating, loose motions, bleeding per rectum, or excess mucus in the stools. During these attacks, patients suffer very low energy and power and tend to sleep a lot. Examples of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can affect people at any age but tends to influence those in middle age. Patients suffer mainly from bloating, abdominal pains, alternating constipation, and diarrhea or loose motions.  They tend to have a huge relief after passing gases or stools.

Diverticulosis is common in the fifth or sixth decades of life and presents mainly as constipation and abdominal pains. Sometimes it presents as acute attacks that mimic appendicitis, but on the left side of the abdomen when it is tagged then ad a diverticulitis.

Colon Cancer: usually affects middle-aged and elderly people.  Family history can be positive in some cases but not all of them. It can present as any symptom such as constipation, diarrhea, blood, and mucus in the stools, however, the progression of symptoms over time, and the tendency to lose weight with a poor appetite raise the suspicion of having colon cancer

How would I know if I have any of these colon disorders?

There is no single test/ radiology or X-ray that can differentiate between the different types of colon disorders, however, the presence of the constellation of symptoms and signs that match certain diseases can prompt your physician to look for the appropriate blood work or scope to diagnose your condition.

What are the incidence rates of the different colon diseases in Canada?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Canada, each year there are about 10,200 new cases, of whom 5700 are diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and 4500 with ulcerative colitis.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has a high prevalence among Canadians, and according to the reputable Canadian medical and research journal: Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology article published in May 2012, it is estimated that about 5 million Canadians suffer from IBS during one or more times of their lives In this study, Ontario showed as high as 2500 new cases for each 100,000 Ontarians to have IBS.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3352839/ 

Diverticulosis: according to Statistics Canada, each year over 130,000 Canadians are diagnosed with diverticulosis, and 13,000 are admitted to the hospitals for this disease.

Colon Cancer: Colorectal cancer ranked the third most common type of cancer in Canada. And almost 22,000 Canadians are diagnosed with colon cancer each year. 

How to protect yourself from colon diseases?  Role of Naturopathic Medicine

As you see, many Canadians are afflicted by colonic disorders, which not only cause pain and suffering, but it have a huge burden on the healthcare system in Canada and cause a lot of work absences and economic burden. The prevention of colon disorders lies mainly in supporting a healthy environment of the colon that includes proper nutrition, adequate water intake, and most important avoidance of chemicals that can negatively affect the colon's health and function. Naturopathic Medicine plays a great role in the prevention of colon diseases as well management of existing disorders working hand in hand with conventional medical doctors. Licensed Naturopathic  Doctors have the aptitude to look for the root cause of your colon problem, find the best way to prevent colonic disorders, and work with you to recover your colon health. They use many treatment modalities, such as improving your diet, guiding you to the best eating habits, prescribing herbal supplements and nutritious products that support your colon, searching for possible food sensitivities, and using specific treatment techniques such as intravenous therapies, and acupuncture.

Still, need more information? Have questions?

You can submit your question(s) or contact  the clinic at this link:

https://www.ontarionaturopathicclinic.ca/site/contact-naturpathic-dr-grimsby-niagara