Language: English
The healthcare portal for patients and the general public in Europe
This service contains links to third party websites. EPG Patient Direct is not in a position to verify this information and cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the content contained.
15 Jul 2008
Many Europeans are risking their lives because of a reluctance to address health issues relating to bowel cancer, experts have warned.
Professor of gastrointestinal nursing, Christine Norton, said that as long as bowel health remains a taboo subject, lack of awareness and medical attention could have serious long-term and often irreversible consequences.
Although bowel cancer can be cured if caught early, "because people are reluctant to talk about it often they leave it too late and there's not much that can be done", she explained.
An individual's intestine contains bacteria weighing approximately 1kg. If these bacteria were all lined up side by side, they would stretch twice round the equator.
The most common digestive complaints include coeliac disease, constipation, crohn's disease, diarrhoea, gallstones, gastric reflux, irritable bowel syndrome and haemorrhoids.
Those who experience a change in bowel habits, persistent bleeding or unexpected weight loss should visit their physician as they could be indicators of a more serious medical condition.
More health news
Delicious
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
