Colon polyps appear as raised, flat or stalk-like growths of tissue on the surface of the large intestine. Colon polyps typically don't cause cancer, but some types of polyps can become cancerous. Polyps don’t produce symptoms most of the...
A colonoscopy is a procedure used to view the inside of your rectum and colon. It is intended to look for ulcers, abnormal growths and inflamed tissue. It can also be used to look for signs of colorectal cancer. This procedure may be performed if...
Colonic polyps are small growths of non-cancerous tissue that develop along the internal wall of the colon. This common condition affects approximately 30 to 50 percent of adults, according to UpToDate. The severity of colonic polyp symptoms...
Hemorrhoids occur when the veins of the anus or rectum swell, causing intense pain or discomfort. Sometimes bleeding occurs. Treatment involves easing the pain immediately and reducing the swelling over time so that the pain does not continue....
The anal canal is approximately an inch and a half long and contains a variety of cells. Squamous cells line the lower portion of the anus. These cells can sometimes develop genetic mutations that cause them to grow uncontrollably, leading to the...
When the veins around the anus swell and become inflamed, this can result in a condition called hemorrhoids (also referred to as anal piles). The hemorrhoids can be inside the rectum, in which case they are referred to as internal, or they can be...
Rectal pressure during exercise can cause considerable discomfort and pain, and can interfere with the type and duration of workout. Feelings of pressure in the rectum may indicate a digestive problem, or may result after childbirth or a pelvic...
Rectal prolapse most often occurs in elderly people and children ages 6-years-old and younger. A rectal prolapse involves the rectum tissues descending to protrude through the anus. If your child has a rectal prolapse, there are several different...
Peptic ulcers are open sores in the lining of the stomach, esophagus, or duodenum. They are usually caused by the Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, bacterium, although they can also result from long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory...
The human digestive system consists of a series of hollow organs that function to break down large particles of food into small molecules. The mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus form the complete digestive...
Although bathroom habits are typically a private matter, you might occasionally need to go public with your poop color. Typically, a healthy stool is brown and has a soft, formed consistency. When your stool turns bloody or black, it could...
Hemorrhoids are enlarged and swollen varicose veins, which can develop internally or externally around the anus or in the rectum. Hemorrhoids can occur from straining during bowel movements, sitting or standing for long periods of time, pregnancy,...
Sufferers of hemorrhoids know that while the condition is embarrassing, it is nothing to laugh about. Hemorrhoids are swollen and irritated veins in your lower anus and lower intestine that can be caused by straining during bowel movements or a...
A colon polyp is a growth on the surface of the colon. Though most small polyps tend to be benign, larger ones may be cancerous or pre-cancerous. Heredity, lifestyle and diet are believed to play a large role in the formation of polyps or growths...
Rectal bleeding refers to any blood that passes through your anus -- including bleeding from your lower colon and the last few inches of your large intestine -- according to MayoClinic.com. Rectal bleeding can have a variety of causes. However,...
The lining of the large intestine produces mucus, which serves as a lubricant for stool to pass to the anus. Mucus can be present in stool, but when the production is increased enough that you are able to see it in your child's bowel movements,...
Hemorrhoids affect over 1 million people in the Western world each year. They are much less common in underdeveloped countries, which is likely due to the high-fat, low-fiber diet that is more popular in Westernized countries. This diet is more...
Crohn's disease is a chronic, inflammatory ailment affecting the wall of the intestine. Also called regional enteritis or granulomatous ileitis, Crohn's disease primarily affects an area of the small intestine called the ileum, but it can occur...
Blood in the stool originates from one thing: bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract. The bleed may be slow and chronic or swift and of sudden onset. In diagnosing the cause of blood in the stool the first step is to find the source of the bleed...
Hemorrhoids are swollen and twisted veins situated in your rectal and anal walls. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library states that swollen veins occur in these areas due to rises in pressure, and that hemorrhoids -- which can cause pain or...
Colitis, also known as ulcerative colitis, refers to the inflammation of the large intestine (colon). In many cases, colitis causes sores (ulcers) in the stomach or rectal lining. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information...
Pine bark extract, also known as Pycnogenol, is derived from the Pinus pinaster plant and contains potent antioxidants called proanthocyanidins, which are responsible for most of its effects. Research suggests that supplementing with pine bark...
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the intestinal tract. Common symptoms, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, may be managed or prevented through dietary lifestyle changes, medications, stress relief and/or surgery. If...
Noticing rectal bleeding after a workout might cause you to feel alarmed. However, most cases of rectal bleeding are not a medical emergency and often result from temporary conditions such as constipation or injuries to the skin around the anus....
Colon polyps, though generally harmless, can become cancerous. They form along the lining of your colon and are usually asymptomatic. The symptoms that do exist can also be related to other conditions, so the only way to receive an accurate...
Hemorrhoids are inflamed veins in the anus that may be caused by pressure during bowel movements or pregnancy. Inflamed veins form inside the rectum or underneath the skin surrounding the anus, causing pain, itching and bleeding. Hemorrhoids are...
Colon cancer is cancer that develops in the colon or large intestine from polyps that are usually benign or non-cancerous. However, over time the polyps can mutate into a malignant tumor, which is a growth of tissues made up of cancerous cells. In...
According to the Mayo Clinic, hemorrhoids are painful swollen veins in the lower part of your rectum (last portion of your large intestine) or anus (opening where fecal contents emerge). Internal hemorrhoids affect your rectum, while external...
Crohn's disease is chronic disease that is one of the many inflammatory bowel diseases. Crohn's disease often runs in families as approximately 20 percent of all Crohn's patients have a family member with some form of inflammatory bowel disease,...