Colorectal Cancer: Cause, Effect, Protect, Correct

The down and dirty of one of the most common cancers in the world

Engulfing cancers that set in anywhere from the large intestine to the rectum, colorectal cancer is responsible for approximately 610,000 deaths around the world each year. Thankfully, with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, many cases of colorectal cancer can be detected and rectified for good.

But before you can catch cancer and get it out of your body, you should know a little more about the disease. Ready for colorectal cancer 101? Keep reading.

Cause

Though it’s unclear what exactly is responsible for the onset of colorectal cancer, many of the usual causes are suspected. These include a family history of colorectal cancer or other cancers and precancerous and benign growths in the colon. While the primary cause is unclear, colorectal cancer occurs when the cells in your body (the colon or rectum) begin to grow out of control. Instead of growing new cells as needed, the body begins mass-producing more cells than your colon or rectum can deal with. Eventually, these abnormal cells can go from being nothing more than a nuisance to life-threatening cancer.

Effect

In the earliest stages of colorectal cancer, you will likely not experience any symptoms at all. It is during these earliest stages, however, that treatment is most effective. Once the cancer has set in long enough to cause symptoms, you may experience feelings of weakness or fatigue, rectal bleeding, bloody stools, unexplained weight loss, and frequent pains in your stomach. You may also notice a sudden change in your bowel habits, the consistency of your bowel movements may vary, and you may begin feeling that you can never quite empty your bowels.

Any of these symptoms is enough to make life difficult. Additionally, if they’re linked to colorectal cancer, they will do more than cause you difficult. They’ll change your life forever. If you find yourself stuck with any of the above symptoms, contact your physician immediately.

Protect

Whether you are experiencing symptoms of not, many of the leading health organizations recommend you begin undergoing screenings for colorectal cancer beginning no later than age 50. Depending on your personal health and preference, you may undergo a colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, fecal occult blog testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or other test. With these tests, you can find out early whether you’re living with colorectal cancer. With this knowledge, you can undergo the most beneficial treatment possible.

Whether you undergo these tests or not, there are some other things you should do to protect against falling prey to colorectal cancer. Eating a healthy and well-rounded diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, not drinking alcohol or drinking in moderation, and not smoking cigarettes all reduce your risk for colorectal cancer. If you’re at increased risk for colorectal cancer, some believe you can add an extra cushion of protection by taking medication such as aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs regularly.

Correct

Have you been diagnosed with colorectal cancer? It is not the end of your life. Rather, if you take control and are determined to overcome the disease, it may be the beginning of a new and healthier life.

Early-stage colorectal cancer that has not grown much is often removed totally through surgery. More advanced colorectal cancer is also removed via surgery, though its success is often improved when coupled with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

No matter what stage cancer you have, your prognosis is usually helped by complementary treatments. From music, art, and dance therapies to exercise, meditation, and relaxation, finding ways to keep your body fit and your mind at ease helps your body maintain maximum energy levels, which is important when you are fighting off cancer.

Complete Sun Protection

Because your skin should always be healthy and happy.

SUN PROTECTION

You want to get outside and have some fun in the sun, but you don’t want to wind up suffering the consequences of prolonged sun exposure. So what are you to do? Keep some common sense sun safety tips in mind and you’ll protect your skin for years to come.

Spread the Block

The most common way to protect against sunburn is by using sunscreen. And for good reason. It’s one of the most effective defenses from suffering injury by the hot, hot sun. However, while you may know that wearing sunscreen is a good idea, you may not be wearing it properly.

To get the most out of your sunscreen, wear sunscreen with the highest SPF (sun protection factor) available. This high-SPF sunscreen (think 30, 45, or higher) may keep you from getting a bronze tan, but you’ll reap the rewards when your skin is healthy years down the road. And no matter how high the SPF is, be sure to apply it a few minutes before going outside and reapply every couple hours for maximum protection.

Dress Up

You may usually don your skimpiest swimsuit during a day at the beach or the pool, but if you want to keep your skin good shape, that will have to change. Any time you’re not in the water, wear a light, breathable long-sleeved shirt and a pair of light pants. For even stronger UV protection, seek clothes that are made with sun-blocking fabrics. This clothing is usually very light and comfortable, and when worn along with sunscreen, you have twice the protection against the sun’s harmful rays.

In addition to wearing clothing, there are two other necessities for sun protection: a good hat and a pair of sunglasses. Whether you’re bald or have a heedful of hair, wearing a hat lends a hand to your sun-fighting efforts. Believe it or not, the eyelids are one of the most common sites prone to skin cancer. Wearing a pair of sunglasses will keep you from squinting, while keeping your eyelids from being sunburned and potentially suffering cancer in the future.

Stay Away

Are you particularly sensitive to the sun? Get sunburned in a mere 15 minutes? Then you’ll want to do everything in your power to avoid skin-changing burns. Another means to sidestep sunburn is by avoiding the sun at its most dangerous. In addition to the previous steps, you’ll want to soak in your vitamin D in the early mornings and stay indoors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun is its most dangerous.

By following these simple steps, you’ll avoid painful burns and potential cancer and enjoy a lifetime of healthier skin!

Boost Your Balance

…with a few easy exercises.

Until you take a hard fall, you don’t realize how important good balance is. But if you don’t work to maintain good balance, you put yourself at risk for a variety of injuries, from bumps and bruises to broken bones. While you may not think you’re at risk for balance problems, working to improve it today will ensure your good balance tomorrow.
What can you do to better your balance? Give these exercises a shot.

Balance on One: With your feet hip-width apart, put your hands on your hips and lift your right leg off the floor, bending the right knee. Hold as long as possible (up to 30 seconds), return to the starting position, and repeat with the other leg. To try something different, extend your non-weight-bearing leg forward as far as possible during the exercise.

Shifting Weight: Begin by standing straight with your feet hip-width apart, weight balanced equally on both feet. Then shift all your weight to your right leg, as you raise your left food off the ground and allow your body to lean a bit to the right. While keeping your body straight, hold this position for up to 30 seconds. Return to the starting position, and repeat with the left leg.

Curl and Bend: Grab a dumbbell with your left hand, as you stand with your feet hip-width apart. Holding the dumbbell with your palm facing up, raise your right leg off the floor and bend it backward at the knee, like you did with “Balance on One.” Stay in this position for up to 30 seconds, return to the original position, and repeat with the dumbbell in your other hand and lifting the other leg.

Press for Balance: Holding a dumbbell with your right hand, lift your bicep to shoulder height and extend your forearm and hand up toward the sky, while you stand with your feet hip-width apart. Place all your weight on your right foot, lifting your left foot off the ground and bending your knee. Stay in this position for up to 30 seconds and then repeat using your left arm and left leg. When you master this, try holding the weight with your right hand as you lift your left leg, and vice versa.

Side Raises: With a dumbbell held in your right hand and straight out to your right side and your left hand on your hip, lift your right leg and bend your right knee. Hold for up to 30 seconds, return to the starting position, and repeat using your left arm and left leg.

Walking Close: Standing straight, begin walking, placing your right foot directly in front of your body. Follow this by putting your left foot directly in front of your right foot, touching your right toes to your left heel. Walk this way for 10 to 20 steps or longer.

Going Beyond: Want to take these balancing exercises to the extreme? Try doing them while standing on an uneven or unstable surface. You can also try them while standing on a pillow. Regardless, these different surfaces will further enhance your balancing abilities.

Don’t Have a Stroke

Instead, maintain your mobility, communication ability, and quality of life – for the rest of your life.

Want to live life to the fullest, enjoying your children and grandchildren for years to come? Then you’re going to have to take some steps today to give yourself the greatest possible protection against a life-changing or life-threatening stroke tomorrow and well into the future.

What can you do to arm yourself against one of the leading causes of disability across the globe? You’re about to find out.

Put Your Food Where Your Mouth Is

As with most conditions, one of the first places to look for protection against stroke is your mouth. Pay careful attention to what you’re putting in it every day, and do your best to make sure you’re filling up with as much good stuff as possible.

Wondering what the good stuff is? It’s what mama always told you to eat: fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Get at least eight servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and your likelihood of suffering a stroke drops drastically. At the same time you’re amping up your good food intake, it’s a good idea to curb your appetite for salty foods and foods that have saturated fat or hydrogenated fat, as these can actually lead to stroke.

Keep the Bad Stuff Away

Now that you know what you should be eating, there are a couple things you’ll need to avoid putting in your mouth that aren’t foods. The first is cigarettes. Despite what they may do for your mood, your nerves, or your image, smoking wreaks havoc on your entire body, including the arteries that go through your neck. When these arteries are clogged and damaged, stroke can result.

Second on the chopping block is alcohol. No, you don’t have to cut alcohol out of your life altogether. But you do have to be smart about your consumption of it. Drink no more than a couple glasses of alcohol each day, and do your best to avoid high-calorie alcoholic beverages. These may taste good going down, but they don’t help your body avoid stroke once they settle into your belly.

Work It Out Often

So you’re eating the right foods, you’ve stopped smoking, and you’re drinking more responsibly. However, there’s still something else you should be doing every day to help your body fight against a potential stroke. You’ve got to get out from behind your computer desk, step away from your kitchen table, get up off the couch, and go to your local gym for a rigorous workout.

Get in at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week, and you can reduce your risk for stroke by nearly 25 percent. Sound too good to be true? Talk with your physician to see what he or she thinks. Or better yet – get in the gym and start working out more regularly, with more intensity. The way you’ll feel after a few good workouts should be enough to convince you that your routine is indeed leading to the greatest level of stroke protection you’ve ever enjoyed.

Feed the Tyke Right!

Are you feeding your toddler the right foods? You’re about to find out.

Being a parent is the ultimate responsibility. You’ve got to make sure your children are safe and have their basic needs met on a daily basis. One of the most important needs your children have is good nutrition. However, feeding a toddler is a different experience from feeding an adult. What should you be putting into your little one’s system each and every day?

Just Enough

Have a toddler who refuses to eat all the food put in front of him or her? Don’t sweat it. Because while you may eat everything put in front of you, it’s taken years of training to do such a thing. Your toddler, on the other hand, is still kept reined in by hunger. Therefore, when your little one is full, he or she isn’t interested in eating. Since filling your toddler’s stomach only takes one-third to one-fourth the amount of food it takes to fill you up, your little one will lose interest in food faster than you.

Of course, as you probably know, your toddler may become hungry minutes after saying no to dinner. So be careful. If your toddler isn’t hungry for vegetables and is ready for cookies a few minutes later, there’s a problem. Make sure your little one is eating the right foods. Since toddlers don’t grow as fast as they did when they were infants and therefore don’t eat as much, you want to make sure the foods they’re eating are as beneficial as possible.

The Goods Explained

What good foods should you make sure your toddler eats each day? Basically, they need to eat all the foods that offer the vitamins and minerals essential for good health and energy. For your little one, this translates to the following each day:

• a single serving of an orange or green vegetable or fruit (this equals about one-quarter cup of chopped fruit or vegetable or one-third cup of juice, which provides vitamin A)
• a single serving (one-quarter cup fruit or vegetable or one-third cup juice) of a vegetable or fruit that is rich in vitamin C
• 3 servings of cheese, yogurt, or milk (a serving of cheese is approximately half an ounce, and a serving of yogurt or milk is one-half cup)
• 6 servings of grains (a single serving is a couple whole-grain crackers, a quarter cup of dry or hot cereal, or one quarter of a muffin or piece of toast)
• 2 servings of protein-rich foods, such as meat or poultry (a single serving for toddlers is equal to one egg or a single tablespoon of poultry, fish, or meat that has been chopped up)
• 3+ servings of any other fruit or vegetable your child enjoys (a serving is equal to one-quarter cup of a raw or cooked vegetable or fruit)