Are Colorectal Polyps Cancerous?

If not sooner, people above 50 should start taking greater care for their health: not just curative, but also preventive. This is not an old age, but is an age when people are more exposed to potential diseases. In this article we will discus colorectal polyps and whether they are cancerous or not. ...

If not sooner, people above 50 should start taking greater care for their health: not just curative, but also preventive. This is not an old age, but is an age when people are more exposed to potential diseases.
In this article we will discus colorectal polyps and whether they are cancerous or not. Regular screenings for colon polyps are the best way to prevent polyps from developing into colon cancer. All men and women ages 50 and older should have a fecal blood test every year, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or even both.

What are polyps?



Polyps are abnormal growths rising from the lining of the large intestine (colon) and protruding into the intestinal canal (lumen). They are one of the most common conditions affecting the colon and rectum and are found in about nine of every 10,000 persons.
Polyps are usually classified into two types: adenomatous polyps (adenomas) and hyperplastic polyps.
Most polyps are noncancerous and cause no symptoms. They are called hyperplastic polyps.
Adenomas are the precursor lesions for colorectal carcinoma (colon cancer). The more common hyperplastic polyps are benign and, in most circumstances, are not considered to be pre-malignant.





A colorectal polyp is a growth that sticks out of the lining of the colon or rectum. Polyps are grape-like growths on the lining of the colon and rectum, they can be single or multiple and do become more common in people over age 50.





Usually colorectal polyps are benign, but slowly over the years they can develop into cancer, although not causing any symptoms.
Colorectal polyps are most of the time benign (not cancerous), but may cause painless rectal bleeding.
Below we will discus types of colorectal polyps that have or don't have the tendency to become cancerous.

Polyps may be (besides age and family history) also associated with some hereditary disorders:

• Gardner's syndrome



• Peutz-Jeghers syndrome



• Lynch syndrome (HNPCC)



• Juvenile polyposis



• Familial adenomatous polyposis

Symptoms of Colorectal Polyps

Usually there is no symptoms; however, following symptoms might occur:

• bleeding from rectum



• bloody stool or any unusual changes in routine bowel movements



• abdominal pain



• fatigue and anemia



• unexplained weight loss

Are Colorectal Polyps cancerous or not?

Most types of polyps, also called hyperplastic polyps do not have a tendency to develop into cancer. However, over time, certain types of polyps, also called adenomatous polyps, may develop into cancer. Also, polyps greater than one centimeter have a greater cancer risk associated with them than polyps under one centimeter. Risk factors include advancing age (over age 50) or a family history of colon cancer or polyps.

Hyperplastic Polyps and Treatment Options

If only hyperplastic polyps are found during your flexible sigmoidoscopy, you usually do not need to have a colonoscopy.
In some cases of very small polyps (5 mm or less) they may not be removed. Namely, some studies have concluded that even if they contain adenomatous tissue, these polyps take so many years to grow that they pose little risk of cancer. This is an exception in people who have inherited polyp syndromes. In their case polyp is removed.

Adenomatous Polyps and Treatment Options

Studies were made and they revealed that cigarette smoking has been associated with adenomatous polyps of the large bowel, but not also with increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Adenomatous polyps (adenomas) of the colon and rectum are benign (non-cancerous) growths that have the potential to develop in colorectal cancer- they are pre-malignant. Thus, colorectal adenomatous polyps (adenomas) can develop into cancer and they should be removed. They are larger than one centimeter and are associated with a greater risk of cancer. If they aren't removed, they continue to grow and eventually become cancerous.
In most cases, the polyps may be removed at the same time a colonoscopy is performed. In more rare cases, polyps with a high potential of becoming cancerous, a colectomy (removal of a part of the colon) may be recommended.
As mentioned previous in article, the chance of having polyps is increased in patients with a family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer. That also includes familial adenomatous polyposis or inherited disorders such as Gardner%26rsquo;s syndrome. Adenomatous polyps cause few, symptoms of which painless rectal bleeding is most common. These polyps start out as small nodules on a bowl wall (about the size of a match head) and are almost never malignant at this size, but as they grow they may develop a stalk and look like a small mushroom. In most cases These adenoma polyps must be removed.
Most larger polyps are adenomatous, nevertheless this must be determined by tissue examination, also called biopsy. If during an exam with flexible sigmoidoscopy adenomatous polyps are found, colonoscopy is done to look for and remove any polyps in the rest of the colon.
Of course only physician can determine the type of treatment. We will discuss only possible options.
Colonoscopy is relatively painless and easy way to remove most polyps. Colonoscopy is internal examination of the colon and rectum, and is an outpatient procedure that is performed in physician%26rsquo;s office or a surgical suite. Colonoscopy allows the physician to view the polyp(s) in question and remove it via biopsy.
Complications from colonoscopy are rare, but are possible. There is a slight risk of:

• Puncturing the colon or causing severe bleeding by damaging the wall of the colon



• Bleeding caused by removing a polyp.



• Complications from sedatives given during the procedure.

Additional colonoscopies are almost always necessary to monitor healing and ensure that new polyps have not developed. For patients with polyps, follow-up colonoscopy should be performed within 3 to 5 years to see if the polyps have returned.
For larger colon polyps that have a broad area of attachment to the colon wall surgery is needed. These large polyps often cannot be removed safely during a colonoscopy and may be more likely to develop into cancer.

In conclusion

Regular screenings for colon polyps are the best way to prevent polyps from developing into colon cancer. All men and women ages 50 and older should have a fecal occult blood test every year, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or both. However, if you have had one or more adenomatous polyps removed, you probably need regular follow-up colonoscopy exams every few years.

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Constipation-causes, side effects and treatment

Constipation... we all know what it is. And it doesn't have to mean unhealthy life style. Just because someone has constipation, it doesn't have to mean he or she is unhealthy or even that has an unhealthy lifestyle. He or she can do everything as recommended by his or hers doctor and still have the...

Constipation... we all know what it is. And it doesn't have to mean unhealthy life style. Just because someone has constipation, it doesn't have to mean he or she is unhealthy or even that has an unhealthy lifestyle. He or she can do everything as recommended by his or hers doctor and still have the problem from time to time.


Definition of Constipation


Constipation is a symptom, it is not a disease. Constipation refers to a decrease in the frequency of bowel movements. Generally, constipation is difficult to define clearly because as a symptom it varies from person to person. The frequency of bowel movements namely varies greatly: for example from three times a day to three times a week. This is why general definition of constipation is hard to give. For some people, constipation may mean difficulty in passing stools (a constipated stool is hard because it contains less water than normal), while for others constipation may mean missing passing stools for couple of days.






Constipation Symptoms

These are common symptoms you may have if you are constipated:

• difficulty in starting or completing a bowel movement



• infrequent and difficult passage of stool



• passing hard stool after prolonged straining in the toilet



• in cases of irritable bowel syndrome abdominal pain, cramps , excessive gas, a sense of bloating, and a change in bowel habits



• distended abdomen, headaches, and loss of appetite



• coated tongue, offensive breath, and bad taste in your mouth

Constipation Causes

There are many possible constipation causes.





Constipation may result from a poor diet, poor bowel habits, or problems in elimination of stool, whether physical, functional, or voluntary.

Diet
Nutrition low in fiber, and high in fat can cause constipation. Dietary fibre provides the bulk that helps to speed the passage of waste food through the bowel. On the other hand, lack of fibre results in harder and more compact stools, which also take longer to pass through. In short, if eating foods rich in animal fats, such as dairy products, meats, and eggs or refined sugar but nutrition low in fiber, which is whole grains, fruits, and vegetables it will very probably cause constipation.

Poor bowel habits
Some people ignoring the desire to have bowel movement, and this may initiate a cycle of constipation. Namely, after a period of time, they may stop feeling the desire for opening your bowel, which may lead to progressive constipation. For example, some people may ignore going to the toilet because they are busy or some people avoid using public toilets.

Change in nutrition- Travels, Holidays
This change often happens on holidays. Any change of routine can cause constipation.

Lack of fluids
Daily need for fluids is 1.5-2 litres. Without that amount waste matter dries out, which also makes harder harder to move through the bowel. Most recommended is water, and least (of you have constipation problems- alcohol, caffeine, sodas)

Lack of exercise
If you don't exercise often, things can slow down including the muscle contractions that move waste matter through the bowel.

Pregnancy
During pregnancy hormonal and physical changes are probable causes. Constipation during pregnancy may be due to several factors: mechanical pressure on your bowel by the heavy womb, hormonal changes during pregnancy, changes in food and fluid intake, anal fissure (cracks in the anus), hemorrhoids (piles), anal stenosis (narrow anus).

Menopause and menstruation
During menopause and menstruation hormonal and lifestyle changes can cause constipation.

Stress
constipation can be caused by stress, and vice versa stress can also be a symptom of constipation.

Aging
Bodily functions slow down with age and the digestive system is also part of it.
For example, older people are five times more likely than younger people to develop constipation. On the other hand, experts believe that older people become too concerned with having a daily bowel movement, thus the constipation in this age group is overestimated.
On the other hand, older adults are more likely to have constipation for following reasons: poor diet and insufficient intake of fluids, lack of exercise, side effects of prescription drugs used to treat other conditions, poor bowel habits, prolonged bed rest, for example after an accident or during an illness, habitual use of laxatives.

Medicines
Some painkillers (narcotic-containing drugs, for example codeine) are known to cause constipation, also some other medicines, such as iron tablets and some antacids (containing aluminium hydroxide or calcium carbonate), antispasmodic drugs, antidepressants and anticonvulsant drugs.

Laxative abuse
If person is habitually using laxatives, he or she will gradually produce dependency on them, and may eventually require increasing amounts of laxatives to move bowels, and in some instances, the bowel will become insensitive to laxatives and fail to open.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common causes of constipation People that suffer from irritable bowel syndrome often have constipation, sometimes alternating with diarrhoea. In irritable bowel syndrome, cramping pains, excessive gas, bloating and discomfort in the bowel and rectum are common.

Constipation Treatment

Although constipation may be extremely uncomfortable, it is usually not serious.
Treatment of constipation is closely connected to its causes. If you don't eat enough fibers, you should start, if you don't exercise regularly, you should consider that as an option, if you're on some sort of medications stated above, you should cut them in order to treat constipation, and so on and so on. In this cases medical attention is not necessary, nevertheless, there are times when this is not the case.
You should seek medical attention if you have symptoms that are severe and last longer than 3 weeks.
If you feel severe pain in anus during bowl movement. If you noticed change in bowel habits, for instance, constipation alternation with diarrhea. Seek also medical help if you have symptoms of other diseases, like tiredness, fatigue, etc. in addition to constipation.
Also, seek prompt medical help if you have rectal bleeding, anal pain and hemorrhoids, pain during bowel movement, vomiting, etc.
As said above, treatment depends on the cause, severity, and duration. In most cases dietary and lifestyle changes will help relieve symptoms and help prevent constipation.

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Crohn's disease- chronic inflammation of the digestive tract

Definition of Crohn’s disease Crohn’s disease, a disease named after the physician who first described it in 1932, is a disease that is closely related to the inflammation of the digestive tract. As ulcerations crohn's disease can affect any area of digestive tract, also called gastroint...

Definition of Crohn%26rsquo;s disease

Crohn%26rsquo;s disease, a disease named after the physician who first described it in 1932, is a disease that is closely related to the inflammation of the digestive tract. As ulcerations crohn's disease can affect any area of digestive tract, also called gastrointestinal tract, which is from mouth to anus, but is most common in the lower part of small intestine. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ and causes pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea.
Crohn%26rsquo;s disease is also called colitis, granulomatous enteritis, regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis. Disease has no medical cure and once it begins, it tends to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse). Crohn%26rsquo;s disease is closely related to irritable bowl movement and ulcerative colitis. Both, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are referred to as inflammatory bowl disease (IBD) and affect approximately 500,000 to 2 million men and women in the United States. Inflammatory bowl disease is a general name for diseases that cause swelling in the intestines.

Who is affected?

Only in United Stated 500,000 to 2 million men and women suffer from Crohn's disease.





Both, men and women are equally affected and disease seems to run in the family: namely more than 20 percent of patients with Crohn's disease have a blood relative (most often sister, brother, parent) with some form of inflammatory bowel disease, either Crohn's disease, irritable bowl movement or ulcerative colitis.
Statistics show that people of Jewish heritage have an increased risk of developing Crohn%26rsquo;s disease, while African Americans are at decreased risk.
Crohn's disease occurs in all age groups- during childhood to later in life, but most commonly begins during adolescence and early adulthood, which is between the ages of 20 and 30.
Studies showed that the inflammation seen in the gastrointestinal tract of people suffering from Crohn%26rsquo;s disease involves several factors:

• the genes the patient has inherited,



• the immune system itself,



• the environment.

What causes Crohn's disease?

There are actually several theories about potential causes of Crohn's disease, but non of them have been proven. The most popular one claims that body's immune system reacts abnormally and mistakes foods and other substances for being foreign, which as defence results as chronic inflammation, which is an important mechanism of defense used by the immune system. The truth is that the cause of Crohn's disease is unknown: it may be bacteria, body's reaction, diet, although it is unlikely that diet is responsible for the disease. As stated above: genes are one of the main factors determining how body responds to bacterial products, which means that individuals prone to mutations in this gene are more susceptible to developing Crohn's disease.




Symptoms of Crohn%26rsquo;s disease

Disease is not always present, but tends to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse). However, when disease is active, its most common symptoms are:

• abdominal pain (most often in the lower right area)



• diarrhea



• weight loss.

Less common symptoms include:

• poor appetite



• rectal bleeding and rectal pain,



• weight loss,



• arthritis,



• skin problems.

Children affected by Crohn%26rsquo;s disease may suffer from delayed development and stunted growth.
Up to one third of patients may suffer from following conditions involving anal area:

• swelling of the tissue of the anal sphincter, which is the muscle at the end of the colon that controls defecation.



• development of (long) ulcers within the anal sphincter, which cause bleeding and pain with defecation.



• development of anal fistulae between the anus or rectum and the skin surrounding the anus. As a result mucous and pus may drain from the openings of the fistulae on the skin.



• development of peri-rectal abscesses, which can cause fever, pain and tenderness around the anus.

Crohn's disease treatment

As said at the beginning of this article, there is no cure for this disease, but treatment can help control the disease by lowering the number of times person experiences disease activity. Some people are free of disease for years and then it appears again. Crohn's disease behaves different in every case.
Thus, the goal of treatment is to control or relieve symptoms, such as inflammation, abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding. Treatment of Crohn's disease includes drugs, nutrition supplements, surgery, or a combination of these options.
Drug therapy includes anti-inflammation drugs (drugs containing mesalamine, a substance that helps control inflammation- most commonly used is sulfasalazine; patients that cannot tolerate sulfasalazine are put on other mesalamine-containing drugs, generally known as 5-ASA agents). Mesalamine-containing drugs have potential side effects, that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn and headache. Other drug therapies include cortisone or steroids, drugs that suppress the immune system, antibiotics to treat and control bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, anti-diarrheal drugs and fluid replacements.
As treatment option doctor may recommend nutritional supplements, which is commonly done for children whose growth has been slowed. On the other hand, specific foods must be avoided: this is not because these foods cause Crohn's disease, but because certain foods (like hot spices, milk products, alcohol, bulky grains) may increase diarrhea, cramping or some other symptoms.
Third treatment option is surgery: actually two-thirds to three-quarters of patents suffering from Crohn's disease require surgery at some point in their lives. This is either because they do not respond to medical therapy or medications cannot control symptoms or because of certain complications. However surgery is not considered to eliminate the disease, which means the disease often recurs after surgery. For that reason surgery is not appropriate for everyone and people faced with decision about surgery should get as much information as possible to weight its benefits and risks compared with other treatments.

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Erogenous Zones and Sexual Response

Knees? Neck? Behind ears? What turns you on? The majority of men and women have common erogenous zones, although they could include any and all areas of the body, depending on the individual. What is an erogenous zone?An erogenous zone is an area of human body with heightened sensitivity which norma...

Knees? Neck? Behind ears? What turns you on?
The majority of men and women have common erogenous zones, although they could include any and all areas of the body, depending on the individual.

What is an erogenous zone?

An erogenous zone is an area of human body with heightened sensitivity which normally results in sexual response. This areas could include any and all areas of the body- that depends on the individual, but the truth is that most women and men have common erogenous zones.
Consequently, there are two main classes of erogenous zone in the skin, which are accepted: specific and nonspecific.
Specific areas produce stronger sensation and include genitals, lips, nipples and conjunctiva. Comparing to normal haired skin, the rete ridges of the epithelium are well formed and more of the nerves are close to the external surface of the skin, while in nonspecific erogenous zones the skin is similar to normal haired skin and has normal density of nerves and hair follicles. Areas of nonspecific erogenous zones include underarms, the back and sides of the neck and sides of the thorax. The pleasurable sensation perceived from regions of nonspecific erogenous zones is simply an exaggerated form of tickle.
The genitals are definitely the most obvious erogenous zones, however many parts of human body that are not involved in reproduction, are also sensitive to touch and have sexual response.





This is really a matter of individual. Nevertheless, the largest sensory organ for both men and women is the skin, especially inner thigh area, the neck, the breasts and nipples, and the perineum, but also feet, ears, shoulders and eyelids. Massaging and stoking of those erogenous zones is a form of sensual pleasure and can also represent invitation to further sexual activity. Of course, the mouth, including lips and tongue is for most people, besides the genital area, an area of high erotic potential. Another group of potentially erogenous zones include anus, rectum and buttocks.

Female and male erogenous zones from closer perspective

Vagina and Clitoris
Clitoris is located at the top juncture of inner vaginal lips- it's a small knob of pink flesh, and has the most dense nerve supply of any part of the skin. Clitoris can be stimulated by using tongue, fingers or both simultaneously.
But be careful, women like different amounts of direct stimulation on their clitoris: some women will adore it if you suck hard, while others would shriek in pain. It is also possible that a woman is completely unable to take direct stimulation of her clitoris and stimulation is achieved indirectly- through labia.
G-spot (Gr%26auml;fenberg spot) is located in the vagina, and it may be difficult to locate it, besides not all women have it. G-spot is located at the far end of the vagina, on the upper wall, and only very gentle stimulation gives an incredibly pleasant and unusual sensation.

Perineum
Perineum is the area between the vagina and anus and is very sensitive, but goes unexplored many times. Perineum is made of tissue similar to the vaginal lips,which means there are a lot of nerve endings there. But be careful, since the perineum is close to anus, and some women are scared or disgusted, thus ensure her you will not do anything she is scared of.
In men the perineum is the area between the scrotum and the anus. As in women, there are a lot of nerve endings and it is quite responsive to gentle fondling. For a smoother experience, try using a little artificial lubricant or massage oil. You may want to try vigorously massaging the perineum just prior to orgasm; this gives many men a rush of pleasure.

Breasts
The entire breasts, including nipples are rich in nerve endings and this does not vary with the size of breasts. But be careful, because most women have very sensitive and sometimes even painful breasts at the beginning of menstrual cycle.
Areas that are particularly sensitive to touch are nipples and areola (the pinkish/brownish area around the nipple). However, one of the most sensitive spots that is often ignored is the underside and sides of women's breast.

Anus
The Anus has a large number of nerve endings surrounding it and it is very sensitive. The proper stimulation of this area can heighten a woman's and also man's pleasure.

Penis and Glans Head
As vagina and clitoris are the most sensitive erogenous female zone, so are penis and glans head.
The glans head is the purplish, mushroom shaped mass at the top of a man's penis. It represents the most sensitive part of male body, thus concentrating on it is the easiest way to get him off.
However, there is a difference between circumcised and uncircumcised men: men with foreskin have a more sensitive glans head thus need to be handled more gently.

Scrotum
The scrotum is the sack that holds the testicles. It is very sensitive and very fragile part of a man's body, for that reason applying too much pressure to the testicles will cause immense amounts of pain, which simply means it is important to be very gentle with scrotum.

Buttocks
Lots of women like having their butts licked, sucked or penetrated.

Inner thighs and behind the knees
Both inner thighs and area behind the knees are sensitive to touch and have many nerve endings.

Neck
Many women have very sensitive necks: if that's true, just breathing on this part will give woman goose bumps all over.

Ears
Many women enjoy having their ears licked, sucked or kissed. Although blowing in her ear is acceptable, it's not what women enjoy most.

Feet
Many people enjoy the sensation of having their feet and toes sucked on or licked. For many people, however this can be a very sensitive and ticklish area. Since these zones can all be ticklish, the sensation of ticklishness can be pleasant for the recipient, both woman or man.

Lips
They say that first kiss matters... Yes, it's true. If you know how to manipulate woman's lips just right through kissing, licking, sucking and biting, it is very possible that a kiss will lead to a lot more than that. Use your lips, your tongue and your teeth to play with her top and bottom lip and kiss her with absolute passion.

At the end, remember that we are all different and we all have our own likes and dislikes. Get to know your partner's body and experiment. Deliberately exploring yourself and your partner is the first step in discovering which body parts are sexually responsive and the types of stimulation that feel best. Vary the pressure of touching the body using different materials etc. But most of all- be creative!

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Helicobacter pylori associated diseases

Helicobacter pylori is associated with many diseases. In this article we will explore the effect and consequences of Helicobacter pylori it has on human body. What is Helicobacter pylori? Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that has helical shape (hence the name helicobacter). Helicobacter bacteria a...

Helicobacter pylori is associated with many diseases. In this article we will explore the effect and consequences of Helicobacter pylori it has on human body.

What is Helicobacter pylori?

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that has helical shape (hence the name helicobacter). Helicobacter bacteria are the only known microorganisms that can thrive in the highly acidic environment of the stomach. Helicobacter pylori infects the mucus lining of the stomach and duodenum, and it is is thought to have evolved to penetrate and colonize the mucus lining. Helicobacter pylori is associated with many gastrointestinal diseases. Namely, many cases of peptic ulcers, gastritis, and duodenal ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pylori infection.
Helicobacter pylori infection may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Asymptomatic means without visible ill effects, and it is estimated that up to 70% of infection is asymptomatic. In patients who are asymptomatic, treatment is usually not recommended.

The bacteria has been isolated from feces, saliva and dental plaque of infected patients, which suggests gastro-oral or fecal-oral as possible transmission routes.

Diseases Associated with Helicobacter pylori

• Gastric (stomach) ulcers



• Duodenal ulcers



• Stomach Cancer



• Non-ulcer dyspepsia



• Weird Syndromes (associated with acne rosacea, gulf veterans syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic halitosis)

Duodenal peptic ulcers

Duodenal peptic ulcers occur one or two inches past the end of the stomach, which is in the first part of the intestine.





Generally speaking- peptic ulcers are ulcers in the stomach or as name states- duodenum. Most duodenal ulcers occur in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.
Duodenal ulcers can be treated wit drugs, such as Tagamet, Zantac, or Pepcid, but as soon as patient stops taking drugs, ulcers return, thus this treatment is most often ineffective.
However, it has been proven that killing Helicobacter pylori, many patients with duodenal ulcer can be cured: treatment is most successful in patients under 50, but also older. The success rate is 80%.

Gastric (stomach) ulcers

Gastric (stomach) ulcers have two causes: one cause is Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach, which represents more than 70% of cases, while second cause represent corrosive effects of aspirin type medications, and non-steroidal anti-inflammotory drugs.
It is expected that stomach ulcers should behave similarly as duodenal ulcers so that after eradicating the Helicobacter gastric (stomach) ulcers should not recur, but this is not the case. Stomach ulcers are more complicated than duodenal ulcers, but the success rate is still rather high, which is 70-90% if Helicobacter pylori is eradicated.

Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia

Non-ulcer dyspepsia means patients that do not have ulcer disease, but do suffer from vomiting and nausea. The role of Helicobacter pylori has not been proven in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients, thus other diagnosis are assumed first. However, if other diagnosis are not obvious, trial of anti- helicobacter pylori therapy is considered. Some patients response immediately, while others after several months.

Stomach Cancer

In 70-90% stomach cancers are associated with Helicobacter pylori. In an extensive review of gastric cancer and Helicobacter pylori the Eurogast Study Group determined that presence of Helicobacter pylori confers an approxi-mately six fold risk of gastric cancer, accounting for about half of all gastric cancers.
Supposedly, chronic gastritis leads to intestinal metaplasia (atrophic gastritis) which then undergoes malignant change. What is interesting here is that in the final stage Helicobacter pylori may no longer be detected on biopsy but immunologic studies may show evidence of past infection.
Also, etrospective biopsy studies show that 90% of MALT (Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue) lymphomas are associated with Helicobacter pylori.
However, do not get easily scared! Remember that about 30% of people in America have Helicobacter pylori, but feel fine. If you do suffer from Helicobacter pylori, your risk of developing cancer is only about one in 5,000, nevertheless the risk of developing peptic ulcer is higher.

Helicobacter pylori and weird syndromes

There are several conditions which might be caused or worsened by Helicobacter pylori:
acne rosacea is a red skin rash on the face and it may respond to therapy.
In Gulf Veterans Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome well being and energy levels are improved if Helicobacter pylori is treated
patients with chronic halitosis respond to treatment for Helicobacter pylori.

What should we ask ourselves in future?

To sum up, it is estimated that about two thirds of world population is infected by the bacterium, which makes Helicobacter pylori the most widespread infection in the world. Of course, the infection rate is much higher in Third world, which is due to poor sanitary conditions, while the bacterium represents %26ldquo;only%26rdquo; 25% for the West world (Western Europe, North America, Australia). Besides, in North America, Helicobacter pylori infection is
spread primarily in the older generations - about 50% for those over the age of 60 compared with 20% under 40 years, and most among the poorest, which is largely attributed to higher hygiene standards and widespread use of antibiotics.
A variety of questions regarding Helicobacter pylori need to be addressed by future research, for example further investigations are needed on the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer. Especially, the mechanism of the interaction between Helicobacter pylori infection and host genetic factors and dietary factors that lead to the cancer need to be revealed. We also need to know whether Helicobacter pylori infection may be beneficial in certain circumstances and whether eradicating the infection may be disadvantageous to some subjects.

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Orthodox Fasting Recipes

The reasons behind fasting are several. One of the most important is self-imposed discipline and learning ow to say 'no' to impulses. Some understand fasting as a way to lower energy levers- the less energy one has, the less chance it has to sin and the easier it is pray. Fourth, but as important re...

The reasons behind fasting are several. One of the most important is self-imposed discipline and learning ow to say 'no' to impulses. Some understand fasting as a way to lower energy levers- the less energy one has, the less chance it has to sin and the easier it is pray. Fourth, but as important reason is remembering the poor and to save money and give it to people in need- not through institutions, but personally.
All Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year are fasting days, and according to New Julian calender, ortodox fast starts from 15th November and lasts till 24th December, next is 2 weeks before Great Lent, 47 days before Pascha, from April 21st till 26th, from June 23th till June 29th, and from 1st till 14th August.

Ortodox fasting is divided in two 'main streams': Strict Orthodox fasting and Relaxed Orthodox fasting.
First consists of no meat, no wine or other alcohol, no diary products, no (olive) oil, while shellfish and octopus are allowed. Entertainment, such as TV, radio, music etc. are not allowed. Strict Orthodox fasting includes approximately 1, 5 normal meals per day, while relaxed orthodox fasting on some days allows wine, oil and fish.

Below are recipes that are appropriate for fasting seasons (from vegsource.com)

Main meals:

Asparagus Strudel

2 large onions, finely chopped
%26frac14; lb. plus 2 Tbsp. butter or vegan margarine
11/3 cup fresh bread crumbs, crumbled finely
8 phyllo pastry sheets
1%26frac12; lbs asparagus, trimmed, washed, chopped, and cooked until tender
%26frac14; cup finely chopped parsley
Dressing (see below)
Garnish:
Parsley sprigs
Lemon slices
Asparagus tips

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.





Saute the onions in 2 tablespoons of the butter or vegan margarine for 10 minutes, until soft but not browned. In another pan, heat 4 tablespoons of the butter or vegan margarine and saute the crumbs until crisp. Melt the remaining butter or vegan margarine in a small saucepan.

Spread one phyllo pastry sheet out on a large board and brush with butter or margarine. Put another pastry sheet on top and brush with more butter or margarine. Repeat until all sheets have been used. Spread the onions evenly on top of the pastry, keeping the edges clear. Put the asparagus over the top of the onions and sprinkle with three-quarters of the crumbs and the parsley. Fold over 2 inches all around the pastry, then fold the long edges over to make a roll. Place the roll, seam side down, on a baking sheet and bend it around into a horseshoe shape. Brush with remaining melted butter or margarine and sprinkle with the remaining crumbs.

Bake for 40 minutes, until golden and crisp. Garnish with parsley sprigs, lemon slices and asparagus tips.

Black Bean Quesadillas

1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
%26frac14; cup chopped tomato
3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
1 small can sliced black olives
8 whole wheat tortillas
4 oz. jalapeno jack soy cheese, shredded
1 bunch spinach leaves, shredded
4 Tbsp. hot salsa

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Smash beans. Mix in tomato, cilantro, and black olives. Spread evenly over 4 tortillas. Sprinkle with soy cheese, spinach and salsa. Top with remaining tortillas.

Bake tortillas on ungreased cookie sheet for 10 - 12 minutes. Cut into small wedges for hors d'oeuvres or larger wedges as an entree.

Black Bean Burritos

8 oz. dried black beans or 30 oz. canned black beans
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
5 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 can (16 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
Lemon slice
1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
%26frac14; tsp. salt
Dash hot pepper sauce (optional)
6 flour tortillas

Garnishes:
Salsa
Guacamole
Chopped fresh tomato
Chopped cilantro
Grated soy cheese

Soak beans in water overnight. In a Dutch oven, combine the beans and enough water to cover. Bring to boiling then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 to 2 hours, or until beans are done. Drain. (If using canned beans, rinse and drain beans and set aside)

In a Dutch oven, add oil and cook onion, garlic, peppers, chili powder and cumin until onion is translucent, stirring constantly. Add beans, tomatoes, lemon, oregano, salt (omit salt if using canned beans), and pepper sauce, if desired. Bring to boiling, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes or until thick. Remove lemon. In a blender container or food processor bowl, place one third of the mixture, cover, and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining beans. Return to pan and heat through.

In the meantime, wrap the tortillas in foil and warm at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes. Place about %26frac12; cup of the bean mixture onto each tortilla and fold the edges over to form a packet. Serve with salsa and guacamole. If desired, top with chopped tomato, snipped cilantro, and grated soy cheese (if desired).

Side dishes:

Green Beans with Thyme and Cashews

1 lb. green beans
3 Tbsp. sunflower oil
3 oz cashews
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 Tbsp. chopped thyme

Slice beans. Boil them in lightly salted water until they are just tender, then drain. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Put in cashews and stir until they are golden brown. Remove nuts. from the skillet. Increase heat and add beans and garlic. Stir until the garlic begins to brown. Mix in nuts and thyme and remove the pan from heat.

Bhindi Masala

%26frac14; cup vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
10 garlic cloves, minced
2 fresh green chilies, chopped
1 tsp. turmeric
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
3 lb. okra
Salt (to taste)

Heat oil in large pot. Add onion, garlic, and chilies. Fry over medium heat until brown. Stir in turmeric and cumin and fry for 2 minutes. Mix in okra and salt. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Serve hot with plain rice or chapatis.

Salads:

Abidjan Cabbage Salad

4 cups thinly sliced cabbage
1 cup shredded carrot
1 cup pineapple chunks
Juice of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 orange
%26frac14; tsp. salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Set aside the cabbage, carrot, and pineapple into a large bowl. Blend lemon, orange, salt and oil in blender until creamy. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate or serve immediately.

Black Eyed Pea Salad

2 cups dried black eyed peas
3 tsp. ground coriander
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 Tbsp. ginger root, grated
%26frac12; red chili pepper, chopped or cayenne to taste

Dressing:
%26frac12; cup olive oil
%26frac14; cup wine vinegar
Salt
Paprika

Soak peas overnight. Drain and rinse the peas, and then cover with water and add coriander, garlic, ginger and red pepper. Simmer for about an hour, or until peas are slightly chewy.

Prepare dressing by blending oil and vinegar, and salt and paprika to taste. Add the dressing to peas immediately after they are removed from heat. Cool to room temperature. Adjust seasoning and serve.

Winter Fruit Salad

2 cubed bananas
2 cubed pears
2 cubed apples
12 chopped pitted dates
4 juiced tangerines
%26frac12; cup ground walnuts

Toss fruits with juice. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Top with walnuts before serving. Yield: 6 servings.

Bon Appetit!

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Spina Bifida-Treatment and Prognosis

What is Spina Bifida?Spina bifida is a neural tube defect, which can be opened or closed.It occurs when spinal cord does not close properly which happensduring the first month of pregnancy, thus this condition can cause a a portion of the spinal cord and the surrounding structures to develop outside...

What is Spina Bifida?

Spina bifida is a neural tube defect, which can be opened or closed. It occurs when spinal cord does not close properly which happens during the first month of pregnancy, thus this condition can cause a a portion of the spinal cord and the surrounding structures to develop outside, instead of inside the body. Baby's spinal cord namely forms few weeks after conception, and then spinal cord arises from baby's neural tube, which is the structure that develops into the baby's brain, the spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them. Therefore spina bifida is often referred to as a neural tube disorder. Also other words are used to describe the condition: myelomeningocele, meningocele, open neural tube defect and closed neural tube defect.
Sometimes infants born with spina bifida have an open lesion on their spine where damage to the nerves and spinal cord has occurred. Despite the fact the spinal opening can be surgically repaired shortly after the birth, which we will discuss later in article,the nerve damage is permanent, and only varies on the degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs, but not only that: most people suffering from spina bifida have some form of learning disability.





Spina bifida is also connected to other health problems: it may cause bowel and bladder complications, besides many children with spina bifida have hydrocephalus, which is excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.

Types of spina bifida

Spina bifida can be mild to severe depending on the type of defect, how big it is, where it occurs and if there are other problems related.

• Myelomeningocele is the severest form of spina bifida. In this form the spinal cord and its protective covering protrude from an opening in the spine.



• Meningocele is a form of spina bifida in which the spinal cord develops normally but the meninges protrude from a spinal opening.



• Occulta is the mildest form, in which one or more vertebrae are malformed and covered by a layer of skin.

Spina bifida treatment

Unfortunately there is no cure for spina bifida. As said above, spina bifida is neural tube disorder, which means nerves are damaged, and nerve tissue cannot be replaced or repaired. For that reason many individuals with spina bifida need devices such as braces, crutches or wheelchairs.
However, there are treatments that help prevent and manage complications throughout the individual's life. Treatments may include surgery, medication and physiotherapy, and depend on the extent of the condition, child's age, health and age, preferences of parents and expectations for the course of condition.
Most patients with spina bifida occulta require no treatment at all, while children with meningocele typically require surgical removal of the cyst and survive with little, if any, disability.
On the other hand children with myelomeningocele, the severest form of spina bifida, require special care and lifelong treatment. Most of children survive with appropriate treatment starting soon after birth- surgery to close newborn' s spinal opening is performed within 24-48 hours after birth to minimize the risk of infection and to preserve existing function in the spinal cord. The surgery involves closing the opening in the spinal cord and covering it with muscles and skin. The quality of child's life depends on the speed, efficiency, and comprehensiveness with which that treatment is provided, for that reason each person with severe spina bifida requires intensive and complex care by a trained and coordinated team, which includes one or more pediatricians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, physical medicine specialists, endocrinologists, urologists, physical therapists, orthotics specialists, occupational therapists, psychologists, nurses, dietitians, social workers, and other professionals. The most common complications include tethered spinal cord and hydrocephalus and have very severe consequences (for example progressive tethering can cause loss of muscle function to the legs, bowel or bladder). For that reason treatment with antibiotics is started as soon as the myelomeningocele is recognized, because this sort of treatment prevents infection of the spinal cord, which can be fatal, while on the other hand surgery on the spinal cord may allow the child to regain a normal level of functioning.
Very soon after surgery, actually as soon as possible, a physical therapist teaches parents how to exercise their baby's legs and feet to prepare for walking with leg braces and crutches. These help prevent damage to the joints and help the child walk.
As said before, there is no cure for spina bifida. The goal of treatment for spina bifida is to allow the individual to achieve the highest possible level of function and independence and to develop his or hers potential. Treatment should address any disability, physical, emotional, or educational, that interferes with that person%26rsquo;s potential.
Children with spina bifida must also be seen by urologists to evaluate the bladder: the child is tested for bladder function, and if there are any problems, a small tube is inserted into bladder to drain urine (also known as catheterization).

What is the prognosis of spina bifida?

As mentioned several times in the article, the prognosis depends on the severity and number of abnormalities. Prognosis is the poorest for those with complete paralysis, hydrocephalus, and other congenital defects, while with proper care, most children with spina bifida live well into adulthood.

How to prevent spina bifida?

There are several researches done, and they aim at finding ways to treat, cure and primary prevent spina bifida.
Recent studies show that the only way to prevent spina bifida (and other neural tube defects) is for the mother to consume during early pregnancy adequate folic acid levels. This prevention does not work in all cases, but studies have shown that even 70% of cases of severe spina bifida could be prevented by adequate folic acid intake.

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Resolving Relationship Conflict

Conflict! The very word may bring up negative images such as fighting, withdrawal, or giving yourself up, and negative feelings such as fear, anxiety, hurt, anger, and loneliness. Yet relationship conflict offers us the most wonderful opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. It is within con...
Conflict! The very word may bring up negative images such as fighting, withdrawal, or giving yourself up, and negative feelings such as fear, anxiety, hurt, anger, and loneliness.

Yet relationship conflict offers us the most wonderful opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.
It is within conflict that we are most challenged to decide who we want be. For the sake of simplicity, %26ldquo;partner%26rdquo; refers to anyone you are in a relationship with %26ndash; a mate, child, parent, friend, co-worker, and so on.

What do you generally do when a partner does something you don%26rsquo;t like?

%26bull; Do you get angry and blaming, hoping to get your partner to see what he or she is doing wrong and change?
%26bull; Do you get parental and judgmental, hoping this will bring about change?
%26bull; Do you lecture and complain, hoping this will cause your partner to change?
%26bull; Do you threaten your partner in some way - with financial, emotional or physical withdrawal, with violence or other forms of harm, or with exposure?



%26bull; Do you get cold and withdrawn, hoping your partner will feel punished and come to you to find out what he or she did wrong?
%26bull; Do you ignore the situation, swallowing your feelings, trying to keep the peace?
%26bull; Do you keep quiet about your upset and take it out on your partner in passive aggressive ways, doing covert things that you know your partner doesn%26rsquo;t like?
%26bull; Do you run to others, feeling like a victim and complaining about your partner?
%26bull; Do you get depressed, tired or sick, hoping to get your partner to feel sorry for you? Most people do some version of one or more of the above, yet none of these choices leads to learning and resolution.





All these responses do is contribute to the erosion of the relationship.



All of these responses come from the wounded self%26rsquo;s intention to control.
What if, instead of seeing conflict as something to avoid or as a win-lose situation, you decide to welcome it as an incredible opportunity to learn, grow and evolve your soul in love and joy? What would you then choose to do differently?

The first thing you could do is ask yourself some questions with a deep intent to learn, such as:

%26bull; Why am I feeling upset about this situation? %26bull; What is getting triggered in me that is upsetting me?
%26bull; What am I telling myself about this situation or about my partner that is causing me to feel upset?
%26bull; Am I taking my partner%26rsquo;s behavior personally and thinking it is about me rather than about him or her?
%26bull; Are my control issues getting activated %26ndash; wanting to control and not be controlled?

In other words, instead of seeing yourself as a victim of your partner%26rsquo;s behavior, you would move into learning about your own feelings and thoughts rather than just reacting to your partner. Once you fully understand your own feelings, you would then go to your inner guidance for the loving action.

Loving actions might include:

%26bull; Simply asking your partner to change and see if your partner is willing to do so.
%26bull; Moving beyond the conflict by accepting your partner%26rsquo;s behavior and not taking it personally.
%26bull; Approaching your partner with a sincere intent to learn about and understand his or her behavior, rather than trying to get your partner to change. Understanding your partner from his or her point of view may help you to not take your partner%26rsquo;s behavior personally.
%26bull; Letting your partner know that the situation is upsetting to you and asking for an open arena in which to learn with each other and resolve the conflict.
%26bull; If your partner is unavailable for learning and resolution, deciding how to fully take care of yourself in the face of this situation %26ndash; what to say to your partner and do for yourself next time this situation arises. Then, of course, you would need to follow through and take the loving action.

Imagine how wonderful and safe you would feel if you opened to learning and taking loving action in the face of conflict!

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Types of thyroid cancer and the prognosis

Thyroid cancer is relatively rare type of cancer with about 20.000 new cases each year in the United States. Thyroid cancer can occur in any age group, although it is more common after age 30 and most common in older patients. However, it is more likely that females have thyroid cancer at a ratio of...

Thyroid cancer is relatively rare type of cancer with about 20.000 new cases each year in the United States. Thyroid cancer can occur in any age group, although it is more common after age 30 and most common in older patients. However, it is more likely that females have thyroid cancer at a ratio of three to one. Large majority of patients with a nodule on their thyroid do not have cancer: over 99% of thyroid nodules are benign, which means not cancerous! It is also true that most of us have nodule in out thyroid gland- this is not the case with young people, but as we get older, more and more people develop a nodule. However, when a thyroid cancer begin to grow within a thyroid gland, it almost always does so within a discrete nodule within the thyroid, but most thyroid cancers are treatable and can be completely cure with surgery. Statistics show that there are only 1000 deaths from thyroid cancer per year in United States, which is less than 1% of all cancer deaths.

Types of Thyroid cancer and their Symptoms

• Papillary and/or mixed papillary/follicular (it occurs in 78% of all cases)



• Follicular and/or Hurthle cell (it occurs in 17% of all cases)



• Medullary (it occurs in 4% of all cases)



• Anaplastic (it occurs in 1% of all cases)

Papillary and follicular cancers account for about 90% of thyroid cancers and are usually associated with the best outcomes mainly because they tend to grow very slowly especially in young patients.





In younger patients both papillary and follicular cancers can be expected to have better than 97% cure rate if they are treated properly. Papillary cancer is the most curable of all cancers that humans get, and if you must choose a type of cancer to have, papillary cancer would be your choice.
Patients with papillary and follicular cancer usually have no symptoms, only some experience voice change or chronically swollen lymph node.
Medullary thyroid cancer does not arise from thyroid cells, but rather from %26quot;C%26quot; cells which are neuroendocrine cells within the thyroid and has worse prognosis. It is not as localized as papillary and follicular and it tends to spread to large numbers numbers of lymph nodes very early on, therefore requires much more aggressive operation: complete thyroid removal and dissection to remove the lymph nodes of the front and sides of the neck. Patients with medullary cancer usually have no symptoms; later stage symptoms include hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and breathing, and chronically swollen lymph node, while hereditary forms of medullary cancer may produce hypertension, increased heart rate, headaches or other endocrine diseases.
Anaplastic cancer is on the other hand very rare type of thyroid cancer which is very aggressive and is associated with a poor prognosis, which means that it tends to be found after it has spread and is not cured in most cases; actually it is very uncommon to survive anaplastic thyroid cancer. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the worst thyroid cancer of all, and includes difficulty breathing, voice change and chronically swollen lymph node.



Thyroid cancer treatments

Four types of treatment are used for patients with thyroid cancer; of course the treatment of thyroid cancer depends on the type and stage of the disease, and the patient%26rsquo;s age and overall health:

• Surgery



• Radiation therapy



• Hormone therapy



• Chemotherapy

Surgery is the most common treatment of thyroid cancer. Cancer may be removed if using one of the four operations: lobectomy, near-total thyroidectomy, total thyroidectomy, lymph node dissection.
Lobectomy removes only the side of the thyroid where the cancer is found. Usually lymph nodes in the area may be biopsied to see if they contain cancer. Near-total thyroidectomy removes all of the thyroid except for a small part. Total thyroidectomy removes the entire thyroid. Lymph node dissection removes lymph nodes in the neck that contain cancer.
With radiation therapy high dose of x-rays or other high energy rays are used to 'kill' cancer. Most, but not all patients with thyroid cancer need radioactive iodine treatments after their surgery. Two types of radiation therapy are applied: external radiation therapy, where radiation for thyroid cancer may come from a machine outside the body, and internal radiation therapy, where a liquid that contains radioactive iodine is drank. Radiation therapy usually has very positive response with thyroid cancer. Most thyroid cancer cells retain this ability to absorb and concentrate iodine, which provides a perfect chemotherapy strategy. Because the thyroid takes up iodine, the radioactive iodine collects in any thyroid tissue remaining in the body and kills the cancer cells. Since not all other cells of our bodies can absorb toxic iodine, they are unharmed, while as mentioned before thyroid cancer cells, however, will concentrate the poison within themselves. There is usually no pain, nausea or sickness, diarrhea or hair loss after the use of radioactive iodine.
Another form of thyroid cancer treatment is hormone therapy, which is usually applied as pills: hormones are used to stop cancer cells from growing or they are used to stop the body from making other hormones that might make cancer cells grow.
Chemotherapy also uses drugs to kill cancer cells: it may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle.

How does typical thyroid cancer treatment look?

First step is biopsy: doctor sticks a needle into a thyroid nodule (another option is removal of problematic thyroid nodule by a surgeon) and then nodule or tissue is looked under a microscope by a pathologist who decides whether the nodule is benign, and if it is not, pathologist also decides which type of thyroid cancer it is: papillary, follicular, mixed papilofollicuar, medullary, or anaplastic. Surgery, appropriate for the type of cancer is done: usually (entire) thyroid is removed by a surgeon and sometimes also the lymph nodes in the neck too. After the thyroid gland has been removed, which is approximately 4-6 weeks after the removal, the patient undergoes radioactive iodine treatment, which is consisted of taking a single radioactive iodine pill. Few days after the pill patient must avoid contact with other people so they are not exposed to radioactive materials.
Since people cannot live without the thyroid hormone, patient is a week or two after the radioactive iodine treatment put on a thyroid hormone pill. Patient must take one pill per day for the rest of their life.
Patient must return every 6 %26ndash; 12 months to his endocrinologist for blood test to determine if the dose of daily thyroid hormone is correct and to make sure that the thyroid tumor is not coming back.

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Irritable bowel syndrome

You may be surprised how many people are facing the same problem as you are: irritable bowl syndrome. Only in United States 50 million people must deal with diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, cramping and other annoying symptoms.What is irritable bowel syndrome and who is affected?Irr...

You may be surprised how many people are facing the same problem as you are: irritable bowl syndrome. Only in United States 50 million people must deal with diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, cramping and other annoying symptoms.


What is irritable bowel syndrome and who is affected?


Irritable bowel syndrome is disorder of colon in which bowel overreacts to a mild stimulus. This stimulus may be as simple as eating or the presence of gas, and then the large bowel (colon) goes into spasm.

Some people experience irritable bowel syndrome just as mild annoyance, while others suffer from big problems: people are unable to work, travel etc. Irritable bowel syndrome causes in some people great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not permanently harm the intestines and does not lead to a serious disease, such as cancer.

Irritable bowel syndrome is very common and it affects more than 50 millions Americans, or generally speaking as many as one in five of population. It occurs more often in women than men, and is most common in people in their 20s and 30s: it begins before the age of 35 in about 50 percent of people.

What causes irritable bowel syndrome?

No one really knows for sure why some people develop irritable bowel syndrome and why other don't. Sometimes it can appear after gastrointestinal infection, but there are many factors that contribute to it. These factors include diet, exercise, genetics, hormones, stress, etc.







Theory also claims that people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome have a colon (large bowel) that is particularly sensitive and reactive to certain foods and stress. The immune system, which fights infection, may also be involved.

Researchers have found that women who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome have more symptoms during their menstrual periods, which suggesting that reproductive hormones (estrogen in women and testosterone in men) can worsen problems.

Researchers have also found that large meals and certain foods, such as diary products, wheat, rye, barley, chocolate, alcohol, coffee, tea or other drinks that contain caffeine are associated with worsening of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.





Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome

Some people report a constant worsening of symptoms over time, while others find their symptoms subside for a few months and then return. Irritable bowl syndrome, as many other disorders, has symptoms that vary from person to person. However, most often symptoms of irritable bowel movement are:

• abdominal pain and cramping (abdominal pain is usually relieved by having a bowel movement)



• bloating sensation



• belching and flatulence



• unusual bowel movements (constipation, diarrhea, stool may be small in size and have mucous)



• nausea, vomiting, heartburn

Irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis

No specific tests are made to determine whether you have irritable bowel syndrome. After ruling out various other disorders such as colon cancer or Crohn's disease, which are made on the basis of diagnostic tests, doctor simply makes a diagnosis on the basis of your symptoms. Tests to rule out other disease include stool sample testing, blood tests, and x rays. Doctor also performs colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, which allows the doctor to look inside the colon by inserting a small, flexible tube with a camera on the end of it through the anus which then transfers the images of your colon onto a large screen for the doctor to see better.

Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome

There is no cure for irritable bowel syndrome, but there are options available to treat the symptoms. Unfortunately, many people that suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, do not seek medical treatment: even up to 70 percent of people suffering from IBS are not receiving medical care for their symptoms.
First, let's start with dietary changes. As mentioned above, many people find particular foods upset their stomachs and trigger irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. For that reason they must accept certain changes in their diet, which eventually lead to improvement and control their disorder. Diet, high in fibers, including fruit and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals helps softening stools and relieve constipation. But do cut off vegetables that produce gas, such as beans. Cut out fatty and spicy food, and artificial sweeteners. It is recommended to replace drinks that contain caffeine with herbal teas, such as peppermint and chamomile, which comparing to caffeine calm down stomach. It is also recommendable to drink more water- at least 6 glasses daily.
Stress and other emotional problems, such as anger, emotional tension etc are also a factor that affect irritable bowl syndrome. An important part of irritable bowel treatment is stress management. Stress management includes stress reduction with relaxation techniques such as meditation, regular exercise such as walking, running, yoga or whatever you prefer, and of course support from family and friends or counseling.
Another option that relieves irritable bowel symptoms are medicines. No cure has been found, but certain medicines do relieve symptoms. If you have constipation, doctor may suggest fiber supplements or laxatives. If you have diarrhea, your doctor may prescribe medicines such as Lomotil or Imodium. If you have abdominal pain, antispasmodic is commonly prescribed, which helps to control colon muscle spasms and reduce abdominal pain. And if you have depression, there is also solution in medicines, but do try more natural approach first. Namely, both antispasmodics and antidepressants can worsen constipation, thus another medicine to treat constipation can be prescribed. Some of medications, such as laxatives that relax muscles in the bladder and intestines, and are prescribed to treat constipation, contain mild sedative, which can be habit forming. For that reason they need to be used under the guidance of a physician. Actually, every medications, even over-the counter medications must be followed according to your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions.
There are also medications available that treat only irritable bowel syndrome. These medications are:
Lotronex (Alosetron hydrochloride), which should be used with caution because it can have serious side effects such as decreased blood flow to the colon or severe constipation. Besides, women with severe irritable bowel syndrome who have diarrhea as primary symptom and have not responded to conventional therapy, are not allowed to take this medicine.
Zelnorm (Tegaserod maleate) is approved as a short-term treatment (4 to 6 weeks) for patients with irritable bowel syndrome whose primary symptom is constipation. If person experiences a decrease in symptoms, doctor may prescribe Zelnorm for an additional 4 to 6 weeks.

In conclusion

As mentioned before in the article, medicines affect people in many different ways. For that reason try to control your symptoms with proper diet and stress management, or if that doesn't help, consult with your doctor to find the best combination of diet, counseling and other stress management techniques, and of course medicines, that can contol your symptoms.

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