There are several types of bowel diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one bowel disease, colorectal cancer, is the second highest cause of all cancer deaths. In 2006, over 53,000 Americans died from colorectal cancer, while approximately 139,000 were diagnosed with this disease. Other bowel diseases are not as deadly.
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon and the rectum. Eliot Livstone, M.D., an attending physician at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, writes in “The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals” that the risk factors include a diet low in fiber and high in fats, long-term ulcerative colitis and adenomatous polyps. Ulcerative colitis involves the inflammation of the intestines. A polyp is a mass inside of the large intestines that sticks out from the intestinal wall. Adenomatous polyps are usually benign growths, with structures that resemble a gland or have glandular tissue. Colorectal cancer grows slowly. Feces in the right colon is soft because it is still forming, so any cancer there will not interfere with bowel movements for quite some time. It will cause a loss of blood that can lead to anemia. The symptoms can include weakness, diarrhea or a vague abdominal pain. Colorectal cancer on the left side will be painful because the bowel movement has now formed. These symptoms may include constipation and blood mixed in the stool. Cancer in the rectum usually causes bleeding when having bowel movements.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Kenneth McQuaid, M.D., Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of California, explains in “Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment” that physicians cannot find any anatomical abnormality with irritable bowel syndrome. Sufferers usually have abdominal pain, along with diarrhea and/or constipation. The changes in bowel movements increase during stressful times. The pain goes away once the bowel movement has passed. The patient may also feel bloated. Approximately 10 percent of adults have this disease, according to Dr. McQuaid.
Diverticulitis
While polyps are masses that stick out within the large intestines, diverticula are pouches or small herniations that protrude outwards from the large intestines. Similar to colorectal cancer, the risk factors for diverticula include a low-fiber, high-fat diet. But the diverticula happen in weak areas of the intestinal wall. These herniations can fill up with pieces of bowel movement which stay there. This can lead to inflammation of the diverticula, which is called diverticulitis. The symptoms can include constipation, pain in the lower left abdomen and bleeding. Many times, this disease is asymptomatic, meaning there are no symptoms.
Intestinal Lymphangiectasia
Lymphangiectasia is the term used to describe lymph vessels that are dilated, or larger than they should be. In intestinal lymphangiectasia, the abnormal vessels are in the small intestines. Atenodoro Ruiz, M.D., an attending physician at Kaiser-Permanente, explains in “The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals” that this is either a congenital disorder or the disease can develop if the lymph vessels become blocked. If the vessels are blocked, they cannot drain properly. This will increase the pressure within the vessels and their contents then leak into the intestines. The symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
About this Author
Based in North Carolina, Ruth Coleman has written articles and manuals for 25 years. Her writing has appeared in community newspapers, places of employment and comprises work done in medical college, of which she is a recent graduate. Ruth Coleman holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Salem College, and is the recipient of numerous academic awards.
