Signs of peritonitis include fever, increased thirst, and an inability to pass stools and gas. Surgery is an unfortunate reality of some problems affecting the sigmoid colon. Surgery may involve a procedure to drain an abscess, or to remove diseased sections of the sigmoid colon bowel resection with or without a colostomy. Here are some tips to help keep your sigmoid colon healthy. Eat more fiber. A low-fiber diet increases the risk of developing diverticula, which of course, can lead to diverticulitis.
Ideally, you should eat between 21 and 38 grams of fiber per day. Limit red meat. Prepare a few meatless meals each week and make a conscious effort to snack on more vegetables during the day. Get moving.
Exercise can feel like a chore, and you might use any and every excuse to avoid physical activity. No one is suggesting spending an hour in the gym every day. But you should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five days a week. Take a probiotic. Probiotics — which are good bacteria — may also help your digestive tract run smoothly.
Good sources of probiotics include yogurt and sauerkraut; or take a probiotic supplement. Drink plenty of fluids. Proper hydration helps keep stool soft and prevents straining, thus alleviating pressure in the sigmoid colon. While the sigmoid colon plays a role in waste removal from the body, too much pressure in this area can take your colon on a roller coaster. But with the right diet, habits, and improved bowel habits, you can keep your colon healthy and avoid the ride.
By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: March 14, Medically Reviewed. Diverticulitis can affect the sigmoid colon, but other problems can also develop in this area. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. The Colon and Rectum. Canadian Cancer Society. Sigmoid Colon. PubMed Health.
Detecting and Treating Disease of the Colon and Rectum. Cleveland Clinic. April 10, Diverticulitis Diverticulosis: What Is Diverticulitis? Medicine Net. This layer of tissue carries away any remaining nutrients in the digested food. The nerves control your impulse to go to the bathroom.
A third layer is made of muscle to propel feces along the sigmoid tube, and a fourth layer of smooth epithelial tissue called the serosa protects the outside of the colon by secreting a liquid that keeps the organ from being torn by friction as you move. The sigmoid portion of the bowel sits down low in the abdominal cavity, near the uterus in in women and near the bladder in men. The primary job of the sigmoid is to act as a holding chamber for fecal matter until it can be moved out of your body.
You might feel nauseated or lose your appetite, and you might experience either diarrhea or constipation. You might also notice blood in your stool. Sometimes people with sigmoid colon problems also feel fatigued, become anemic, or lose weight.
Polyps are lumps of tissue in the colon, most of which are not cancerous. Anyone can get them, but they are more likely to form as you get older. Smoking and being overweight also increase your risk. The American Cancer Society reports that colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, with more than , new cases expected to be diagnosed this year. Colon cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop inside the colon, usually in polyps.
The cancerous cells can spread from the inner layers of the colon through the walls of the organ and eventually into the blood vessels and lymph system, if left untreated. This disease causes open sores to form inside the intestinal tract, causing pain that can be severe at times. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases , you may be at higher risk for ulcerative colitis if you eat a high-fat diet, if the disease seems to run in your family, or if your intestinal immune system is overly sensitive.
Jewish people are also at higher risk for developing ulcerative colitis. A gastrointestinal fistula is an opening in your bowel that allows gastric fluid to leak into other parts of your body. Gastrointestinal fistulae can lead to sepsis, an extremely dangerous systemic infection. They can be stitched, glued, drained, and treated effectively with antibiotics, so get help if you suspect you may have developed one. Diverticula are small balloon-like sacs that push outward through weak spots in your intestinal wall.
Diverticula can become blocked. They can form abscesses, tear open, and leak pus or blood into other parts of your body. These complications can be dangerous, so if you develop a fever, start vomiting, or feel tender in your abdominal region, get to a doctor for help. This condition can cause blockage and blood supply to be cut off. Babies who have this condition will have pain, belly bloating, nausea, and vomiting.
They can also have dark or red bowel movements. Depending on the nature of your colon issue, you could see a gastroenterologist, an oncologist, a radiologist, or a colorectal surgeon. Colonoscopies allow your doctor to check the health of your colon.
A thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on it is inserted into your anus. The doctor can see the lining of your colon on a screen in the examining room. You might be sedated for this procedure. A sigmoidoscopy lets a doctor check just the sigmoid part of your intestine, using a slender tube with a light source and camera attached to it. During the procedure, air will be used to open up your intestine so the doctor can see it clearly.
You may or may not be sedated for this procedure. During a rectal biopsy , your doctor will remove a small section of your rectum or sigmoid to have it tested in a lab.
If your sigmoid has been injured or damaged by disease, you may have to have it surgically repaired or re-sectioned. These procedures may be done with a traditional incision or they may be performed via laparoscopy.
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