What Can Go Wrong in the Colon?

The colon is for many people, a difficult place to keep free of problems.  Most people do not realize, however, that 70% of the immune system is in the digestive tract and that, not only is it important to keep that area free of problems, but doing so will lead to greater health and vitality.  The colon is the body’s way of cleansing itself and getting rid of all the toxins that it encounters every day.  If the colon is not clean, how can the body be clean?

There are many things that can go wrong with the colon ranging from mild constipation to dangerous conditions like a prolapsed colon or total colon deterioration from the abuse of laxatives.  It is very important to make sure you are not suffering from any of the diseases that are detailed below. Beginning a colon cleansing program when you have a pre-existing condition could cause serious detriment to your health.  If you are suffering from any of the diseases or disorders listed below, it is important to use Digestion Health’s Digestion Repair before embarking on any type of colon cleansing program.  Below is a list of the possible ailments associated with the colon and their causes.

Acid Reflux/Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease/GERD/Heartburn/Indigestion
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD or GORD) is the backflow of gastric juice or gastric acid into the esophagus.  Findings in GERD include inflammatory changes in the esophageal lining (mucosa), difficulty swallowing and chronic chest pain (heartburn).  Occasional heartburn is not considered GERD, but rather patients who experience acid reflux more than two times per week are considered to be sufferers of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.  Untreated, the condition could worsen into stricture formation, Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal ulcers and possibly even lead to esophageal cancer. Indigestion is a pain or burning similar to heartburn, but is a milder symptom of these conditions that is generally caused by eating too fast or eating high-fat foods. 

Allergies
According to wikipedia, an allergy is “an immune malfunction whereby a person’s body is hypersensitized to react immunologically to typically nonimmunogenic substances.” There are hundreds of immune responses in the body that are considered allergic, and thousands of substances that are known to cause allergies. 

Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition that is characterized by inflammation and infection of the appendix.  The appendix is connected to the base of the colon (cerum) and develops embryologically.  Currently, the function of the appendix remains controversial in the medical field.  Most physicians believe, however, that the appendix lacks any kind of significant function and is just an organ whose original function has been lost during evolution.   Appendicitis is caused by a lack of fiber intake and good bacteria.  Appendicitis in mild cases may resolve itself without treatment, but generally requires removal of the inflamed appendix with surgery.  Untreated appendicitis is extremely dangerous and usually results in death due to shock or peritonitis (infection of the two-layered membrane that covers the entire abdominal cavity) when the appendix ruptures.  Appendicitis generally occurs in childhood, and can be prevented if children are given good bacteria, especially after having been on an antibiotic. 

Arthritis
Arthritis is a group of conditions that essentially affect the health of the bone joints in the body.  Arthritic diseases, which include psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis are considered autoimmune diseases.  Septic arthritis is caused by a joint infection and osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease.  All types of arthritis can be caused by strains and injuries caused by repetitive motion, sports, overexertion and falls. 

Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body to substances and tissues that are commonly present in the body; basically the body attacks its own cells.  Almost all autoimmune diseases appear without warning and most patients suffer from fatigue.  The medical community still debates the causes of autoimmune diseases, but they are most common in women as nearly 79% of all autoimmune disease patients in the USA are female.

Candida
Candida is a genus of yeasts that cause fungal infections in animals and humans.  It grows in medical laboratories as a large, round, white cream.  Candida dubliniensis is a Candida species which presents a great problem to HIV positive patients that are receiving antifungal drugs. 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a syndrome of unknown origin that affects the central nervous system, immune and many other systems and organs.  Patients that contract this syndrome claim to have severe symptoms such as pain, muscle weakness, loss of brain function, orthostatic intolerance, hypersensitivity, immune and in a few cases, life-threatening cardiac and respiratory problems.  These symptoms are made worse by extremely low stamina that causes great suffering. 

Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, which results in the loss of liver function.  Cirrhosis is usually caused by damage from toxins, metabolic problems, chronic viral hepatitis or other causes.  Some of the most common toxic causes are alcohol and certain drug abuse (aspirin).  Cirrhosis is not reversible, but the treatment of the causative disease will slow or can even halt the damage. 

Colitis/IBS
Colitis is also knows as a spastic colon or irritable bowel syndrome.  It occurs when the inner lining of the colon becomes inflamed mostly due to stress.  There are four types of colitis: ulcerative colitis, pseudomembranous colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fulminant colitis. 

Ulcerative colitis is a more severe form of colitis in which ulcers appear in the mucosa of the inner lining of the colon.  These sores are caused by an inflammatory disease of the bowel that usually affects the distal end of the large intestine (end farthest away from the center of the body). 

Pseudomembranous colitis is a bacterial infection of the colon that is caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile.  It is characterized by extremely offensive-smelling diarrhea, high fever and moderate to severe abdominal pain.  It has been known to cause toxic megacolon (extreme inflammation of the colon due to a combination of digestive diseases) or even be fatal.  In most cases of Pseudomembranous colitis, the patient has recently been in antibiotics which can rid the body of normal bowel bacteria that is essential for proper digestive health.  Also the natural flora in the body helps keep the presence of Clostridium difficile under control.  Half of the cases are not associated with risk factors, but diabetics and elderly are generally more at risk than others. 

Irritable bowel syndrome (also known as spastic colon) is a group of functional bowel disorders which are fairly common.  Depending on the exact problem with the condition of the bowel movements, there are three forms of IBS: diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), constipation-predominant (IBS-C) and alternating stool patterns (IBS-A).  There seems to be an overlap of IBS with stress, fibromyalgia (unexplained bodily pain), chronic pelvic pain and mental disorders.  No good medical explanation exists for this phenomenon, but it does strengthen the argument that there is a neurological and psychological component to IBS.

Fulminant colitis is basically the most severe form of colitis that begins rapidly and is extremely intense.  It is characterized by severe bloody diarrhea, fever, anemia and hypovolemia (decrease in the volume of circulating of blood).  In most cases of fulminant colitis, hospitalization is required.  It is also commonly seen in 5-15% of ulcerative colitis patients.

Constipation
Constipation is a condition of the digestive system and colon in which a person experiences hardened feces that are difficult to eliminate.  In extreme cases, constipation is extremely painful and can lead to fecal impaction, a disease in which the bowel is completely blocked.  Fecal impaction is a medical emergency and sometimes requires surgery to correct the problem and restore normal transit of the products of digestion.  It is primarily caused by insufficient dietary fiber, lack of exercise or not drinking enough water.  Laxatives are not a good solution as they generally are habit-forming, irritate the colon and can cause a serious deterioration of the colon if abused. 

Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s Disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract and it can involve any part of it; from the mouth to the anus.  It typically involves the last part of the small intestine as well as areas of the colon, with the other areas of the digestive system relatively unaffected.  It is often associated with auto-immune disorders such as arthritis.  Crohn’s disease should not be confused with IBS or colitis because they are not autoimmune diseases.  Furthermore, Crohn’s disease tends to affect multiple layers of the bowel lining, which can be very difficult to treat. 

Dilated Blood Vessels
Dilated Blood Vessels such as varicose and spider veins are often the result of an unhealthy colon.  Much like hemorrhoids, by increasing internal pressure by straining at the stool, the delicate blood vessels can be damaged.  Specifically, varicose veins are veins in the leg that are large, ropelike, twisted and can cause pain, swelling or itching.  Varicose veins are an extreme form of spider veins, which are small enlarged blood vessels near the surface of the skin. The veins in the legs have a difficult task to carry blood back to the heart; ergo they endure the most pressure.  At times, the pressure can overcome the strength of the one-way valves, gravity takes over and varicose or spider veins appear.  Protecting your health by protecting your colon can significantly reduce the risk of these dilated blood vessels.

Diverticulosis
Diverticulosis is a condition characterized with having inflamed diverticula in the colon and is also known as “diverticular disease.”  Diverticula are outpocketings of the colonic mucosa and sub-mucosa (mucus) due to weakness of muscle layers in the colon wall.  This is most common in the sigmoid colon (lowest part of the colon that empties into the rectum), which is a common place for increased bacteria breeding due to pressure.

Gallstones
Gallstones are crystalline bodies that are formed within the body by the abnormal secretion of bile components.  There are several different types of gallstones: cholesterol gallstones, pigment gallstones and stones of mixed origin.  Cholesterol gallstones account for about 80% of gallstones and are primarily made of cholesterol.  Pigment gallstones are small, dark stones made of calcium salts that are found in bile.  Gallstones can occur anywhere within the binary tree, including the gallbladder and bile duct.  When the common bile duct is obstructed, it is called choledocholithiasis. When the biliary tree is obstructed, it causes jaundice; when the obstruction of the outlet of the pancreatic exocrine system is present, pancreatitis is caused.  Gallstones vary in size and a gallbladder may develop a single stone, or many stones.  There are various causes, ranging from hormones to obesity to cholesterol problems, and the medical community has not settled on a direct cause of gallstones. 

Gastritis
Gastritis is a condition caused by inflammation of the lining of the stomach and means that white blood cells move into the wall of the stomach as a response to some type of injury.  This is not a condition that signifies ulcers or cancer, but it is rather simply an inflammatory disease of the stomach.  It can be caused by infection, bile reflux, and excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs such as aspirin. 

Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Gastrointestinal bleeding or hemorrhage is used to describe every form of hemorrhage in the gastrointestinal tract from the pharynx to the rectum.  The bleeding can range from almost undetectable to acute, massive and life-threatening bleeding.  It can result from anti-inflammatory drugs that do not contain steroids, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. 

Heart Disease and Cancer
While not directly related to poor colon health, heart disease and cancer are related to a low fiber diet.  A recent medical study stated that “if we could increase the per capita consumption of fiber by 13 grams, the risk of colorectal cancer in the US would decrease by 31%”.  Other types of cancer, such as breast cancer have been shown to be related to a low intake of fiber as well. Overall, wellness begins with proper colon health.

Hemorrhoids
Also knows as ‘piles’, hemorrhoids are dilated veins in the anus and rectum caused by insufficient dietary fiber.  Most commonly, the lack of fiber is not in fact the actual cause, but produces digestive material that is dry and difficult to move, thus leading to straining at the stool.  This inability to have a bowel movement that is not forced becomes a mental habit that is very difficult to break.

Hiatus/Hiatal Hernia
A hiatus hernia is a protrusion of the upper part of the stomach into the thorax through a tear or weakness in the diaphragm.  The symptoms include pains that are quite similar to heartburn in the chest and upper stomach.  Surgery is generally recommended.

Peptic Ulcers
A peptic ulcer is a benign ulcer of the stomach, called a gastric ulcer and is not a malignant tumor. About 4% of gastric ulcers end up being malignant, which is why ulcers of the stomach are controlled and closely watched.  They are generally caused by or at least worsened by aspirin and other NSAIDs.

Proctitis
Proctitis is inflammation of the rectum with symptoms of straining to empty the bowels, diarrhea and often bleeding.  It is very similar to hemorrhoids, but more commonly connected to ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. 

Prolapsed Colon
Prolapsed colon is also referred to as ptosis (falling or sagging) of the colon, or “fallen colon”.  It is a condition that occurs when the colon “falls” from its normal position to a position much lower.  The main cause of a prolapsed colon is a general deterioration of colon health as well as poor colon hygiene.  If the muscles in the colon can no longer support the extra weight of impacted fecal material, it will begin to sink.  Many times, the colon actually falls onto the reproductive organs (uterus or prostate), leading to reproductive problems.

Skin Problems
Skin Problems are quite often caused by poor colon hygiene. Although some toxins are eliminated through the hair follicles and glands in the skin, most are eliminated through the colon.  When excess toxins are being absorbed by the colon, the other systems of elimination cannot work as well and become overloaded.  Since is it much more important that the colon filter toxins, the other systems suffer, leaving blemishes and other problems with the skin.