The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) reports that the colon, also called the large intestine, is approximately five feet long. The main function of the colon is to absorb salt and water to be recycled...
When many people hear the term "colon disease," they tend to think about colon cancer and the preventive measures older adults may take to screen for the disease. Colon disease is not restricted to adults and is not always cancerous. Hirschprung's...
The colon, also called the large intestine, is a five-foot long tube that connects to the small intestine at one end and the rectum at the other end. The colon absorbs up to three pints of water a day plus nutrients, and consolidates waste...
There are numerous rare colon diseases. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, the colon, also known as the large intestine, is a long, hollow tube at the terminal end of a person's digestive...
The colon, or large bowel, connects the small intestine to the rectum. The primary functions of the colon are absorption of water and salt and transport of fecal material to the rectum. Infection, inflammation and structural and functional...
Symptoms of digestive disease can be extremely uncomfortable and cause nutritional deficiencies. Even doctors cannot always tell what the problem is until several tests and procedures are completed. Once the affected area is pinpointed as the...
Colon disease, such as cancer, colitis and diverticulitis, are debilitating and life-threatening conditions that can adversely affect the quality of your life. Certain vitamins and minerals may prevent or reduce the risk of colon diseases. Consult...
A diseased colon can cause major issues in a person's digestive tract. Depending on the severity of the disease, a person may experience anything from a slight discomfort to death. Knowing the signs of a diseased colon can go a long way to help...
The colon absorbs water, salts and nutrients for use by the body and eliminates waste. Over time, the colon can get backed up with fecal matter and mucoid plaque which can complicate absorption and raise the risk factors for cancer. Occasionally...
Polyps---small fleshy growths---occur frequently in the colon and affect as many as 30 to 50 percent of adults. Ninety percent of polyps develop in patients older than 50, reports Anne Charette, RN, MSN of Tufts University on Up To Date. Polyps...
Digestive diseases affect millions each year, with disturbance of the colon representing a significant portion of medical visits. Chronic conditions including diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel diseases and polyps are structural colon...
The colon, which makes up part of the large intestine, is a long tube at the end of the digestive system where the body makes and stores fecal matter. The anus is the opening at the end of the digestive tract where the fecal matter gets expelled...
The small bowel and large bowel make up the digestive tract. The first part of the large bowel is the colon, and it is in this location that water is absorbed into the body from digested food. The rectum is the second part of the large bowel and...
Diseases of the colon in infants may occur for a variety of reasons. Some conditions are a result of infection, others may relate to a food sensitivity or allergy, and still others occur for reasons that are unclear. Although symptoms of these...
Contagious disease of the colon typically causes diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Most of these diseases resolve on their own and are not life-threatening. A few have serious consequences associated with them. Clostriudium difficile, Salmonella...
The ingestion of potentially contaminated food and beverages provides an easy portal of entry for infectious organisms that may affect the colon, or large intestine. Although the gastrointestinal system possesses several mechanisms to protect its...
The sigmoid colon is the part of the large intestine that's closest to a person's rectum and anus. The sigmoid colon is about 16 inches long and usually lies within the pelvic bowl. Certain colon diseases can affect the sigmoid colon and cause...
Numerous diseases are associated with the ascending colon. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, the digestive system consists of a series of tubes that run from the mouth to the anus,...
Colon cancer and Crohn's disease are both debilitating diseases that affect the gastrointestinal system. However, colon cancer is potentially life-threatening, whereas Crohn's disease increases your risk for colon cancer.
The intestinal tract consists of the small intestine and the large intestine. The small intestine is divided into three segments: the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum. The duodenum signals the stomach to stop emptying and aids in digestion and...
The abundance of misinformation on the Internet may have you wondering if you need a colon cleanse to prevent diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. Colon cleansing techniques such as colonics and enemas,...
Doctors think that all cases of colon cancer originally begin as small growths called polyps, according to GIHealth.com. These polyps are benign, which means that they are not cancerous. The cells in these polyps, however, have already begun to...
The colon is also known as the large intestine. It is important in digestion because it is where water and many nutrients get absorbed into the body. Diseases of the colon can be caused by a poor diet and result in malnutrition. The best diet for...
There are multiple medical conditions that can cause the colon, also known as the large intestine, to become inflamed. Inflammation can be painful and lead to malnutrition due to poor absorption of nutrients and loss of appetite. Dietary...
The colon is an important part of the digestive system, absorbing and extracting water from solid waste and moving it to the rectum for elimination. When people overeat or don't eliminate waste often, feces will be stagnant and begin to back up...
The colon, or large intestine, is part of your digestive system. It's a hollow tube at the end of the digestive system where waste is made and stored. Some disorders affect the colon's ability to work properly, including cancer, polyps, colitis,...
Some disorders and diseases affect the colon's ability to work properly, including cancer, polyps, colitis, ulcers of the colon and rectum, diverticulitis, inflammation or infection and irritable bowel syndrome. Treatment for these diseases varies...
Microscopic colitis can be a painful condition, particularly when certain dietary restrictions are not met. Although following a diet does not act as a cure, certain dietary guidelines can help alleviate the symptoms of the condition. Be sure to...
Your colon, commonly referred to as your large intestine, is an important part of your digestive system. The colon is a hollow organ situated at the end of your digestive tract, and it is responsible for making and storing stool prior to...
Colorectal cancer refers to cancerous growths in the colon and rectum, which are the third most common cancers in the Western world. Learn more about colorectal cancer in children including treatments and symptoms in this medical video.
Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of inflammatory conditions of the large intestine and, in some cases, the small intestine. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are examples. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for...
Diarrhea is an unpleasant digestive disorder that most of us can expect to have at some point in our lives. The loose-stool consistency that characterizes diarrhea usually lasts a few days at most and is usually limited to more frequent trips to...
