Colon Health Information

Colon health is something few people actually think about. They should. Not only can colon health problems make you miserable, but one colon disease in particular - colon cancer - is known as one of the "silent killer diseases" because you rarely know you have it until the later stages when treatment is much more difficult.

To understand more about colon health, you need reliable colon health info - what the colon is and what it does.

Where is your colon? The colon is an tube-like organ in the abdominal cavity. In humans and other mammals, it is comprised of several parts: the ascending colon, transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon. For descriptive purposes, it is sometimes also divided into right colon and left colon.

How does the colon work? The colon's major function is to store solid wastes that have passed through the rest of the stomach and intestines. It also reclaims water from waste material that passes through it, and absorbs some vitamins, including vitamin K. When these functions are impaired, colon health problems result.

There are a number of diseases, conditions and problems that affect colon health. Many of these are described and discussed in detail in the articles on this website. Some of the most common colon health problems include the following.

Colon Cancer Also called colorectal cancer. It is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.

Constipation Not only a troublesome condition: for certain people, it can also be dangerous.

Diarrhea It's common with stomach flu, and can simply be the caused by something you ate. But it can also be a symptom of serious colon problems.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS This is a colon health disorder that causes abdominal pain, bloating and irregular bowel movements. Also sometimes called spastic colon.

Diverticulitis and diverticulosis These are caused by pouches that grow in the lining of the colon. When the pouches bulge through the colon wall, it's called "diverticulosis." When the pouches become inflamed, it's known as diverticulitis. These colon conditions are common among older people.

Crohn's Disease This is an inflammatory disorder that can occur anywhere in the digestive system.