HOW THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AGES: EXAMINATION
Posted on April 9, 2009, under General health.
A routine yearly exam will include a physical examination as well as your personal health history. Some of the tests your physician may run include a blood test, a sigmoidoscopy, a colonoscopy, and a stool occult blood card. During this exam, many kinds of undetected cancers—or precancerous masses in the form of benign polyps—can be detected and removed. Colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer in this country, and since early detection is essential to the successful treatment, an annual exam is essential.
If you notice that your digestive system isn’t working as smoothly as it usually does, you should ask yourself the following questions and relay the answers to your doctor. This will help you to articulate your Body Signals and your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
1. How long have I had the discomfort? Hours, days, weeks, years?
2. How would I describe the pain very specifically? Does it move or rumble? Is it sharp or dull?
3. If my stomach hurts, exactly where do I feel the pain the most? Point to the area.
4. Does the pain prevent me from sleeping or wake me up in the middle of the night?
5. Do I have other symptoms, such as fever, diarrhea, or constipation?
6. Have I noticed that a particular food makes the pain better or worse?
7. Do I have friends or family members with complaints that are similar to mine?
8. Have I recently changed my diet or medications?
9. Have I increased the time I spent traveling? Have I recently been to an area I haven’t visited before?
10. Do I have a family history of gastrointestinal disease?
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