A recent study in the field of gastroenterology has revealed that a heavy use of antibiotics is linked with an increased chance of developing colorectal cancer, or colon cancer.
This happened to be one of the first studies that looked at whether or not an association exists from antibiotic usage, a type of medicine that is widely used across the globe. The controlled study sampled roughly 100,000 patients and suggested that long-term exposure to antibiotics increases a patient’s risk of colon cancer.
Antibiotics have the potential to reduce the bacteria that exist within your colon, both good and bad bacteria. If the bacteria are reduced, then it can change the way your colon responds. There are many types of antibiotics, and some of them promote a pro-inflammatory environment within your colon. In short, different antibiotics will behave differently. The study concludes that the recent news provides the groundwork to begin searching for the cause of this effect.
Antibiotics are different from probiotics in the sense that antibiotics essentially flush your system’s bacteria out in an attempt to fight off a bacterial infection that exists within your body. Probiotics promote an atmosphere where bacteria can grow and flourish, both good and bad. It’s important for your colon to contain both good and bacteria for a perfect balance. Having a significant amount of one or the other may result in troublesome stomach problems and changing bowel habits.
The American College of Gastroenterology has recommended that adults who are aged 50 or older undergo colonoscopy every 7-10 years to screen for colon cancer, which happens to be one of the most common cancers in both men and women.
If you are suffering from an unexplained change in bowel function, then a gastroenterologist may be able to help you. Gastroenterologists are doctors who specialize in treating issues that arise in your gastrointestinal tract, which includes a wide variety of organs that are responsible for managing the foods and drinks you consume on a daily basis.