Discovering you have a colon polyp could be a frightening experience. Luckily, most colon polyps are benign. However, you must not disregard them. If left untreated, some polyps may develop into cancer with time. During a colonoscopy, a surgeon may typically locate and eliminate colon polyps Mineola. Then, a professional can thoroughly examine the polyp tissue to determine whether it contains malignancy. Meanwhile, continue reading to discover the common risk factors for colon polyps.
Aging
Studies show that colon polyps are rare among adults aged 20 or below. The greater percentage of individuals with these precancerous growths are individuals in their 50s. As such, aging is the greatest risk factor for colon polyps. If you are 50 years or older and have an average risk of rectum or colon cancer, your physician may suggest that you begin colorectal cancer screening.
Family History
If somebody in the family has already had polyps or colon cancer, your chance of acquiring colon polyps could be increased. This is particularly true if you have a close relative with colon polyps or cancer, like a sibling or parent. However, you are also vulnerable if you have an aunt, uncle, or grandparent with these disorders.
Your Health History
If you have an inflammatory bowel condition, like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, your likelihood of developing colon polyps could increase. These disorders cause colitis, which is a swelling of the colon. According to studies, some polyps are more prevalent in IBD patients than in people without the ailment.
Other studies indicate that individuals with diabetes are more likely to have colon polyps, possibly due to particular blood sugar-lowering drugs. Moreover, if you have suffered from chronic kidney disease, you should also obtain regular screenings for polyps.
The Foods You Consume
The inability of your body to properly digest specific meals might result in the formation of colon polyps. For instance, digestive and bile fluids could have difficulty digesting fatty foods. For instance, the remnants of these foods might become trapped in the colon and cause polyps to form there. It is best to avoid consuming meals rich in saturated fat, red meat like pork and beef, and processed meat, like sausage, hot dogs, bacon, and lunchmeat.
Specific Lifestyle Choices
Studies indicate that alcoholics are more likely to develop colon polyps, whereas other research indicates a connection between smoking and colon polyps. Therefore, if you are a habitual drinker or smoker, quitting these habits could greatly help with your health.
Being Overweight
Another common risk factor for colon polyps and cancer is being overweight. Studies indicate that the incidence of polyps increases with a higher body mass index (BMI). BMI is a popular measure of body fat that helps physicians identify whether a patient is obese or overweight.
Polyps often develop on the colon lining but may also appear elsewhere in the large intestine. Most polyps are benign developments with minimal if any, symptoms. Sadly, if they get larger over time, they may become malignant and manifest more serious issues like bleeding, blood in the stool, and more. Therefore, it is advisable to arrange regular screening tests if you are vulnerable to colon polyps.