7 unexpected benefits of having a colonoscopy

The dreaded colonoscopy - few if any of us look forward to one. The attitude of “just get it over with,” is the prevailing thought on most of our minds. When the procedure is done and everything looks good, we can breathe a sigh of relief for many years before our doctors remind us to have it performed again.

The main reminders and recommendations of undergoing this vital procedure is for screening of colon cancer. One in every 20 Americans will develop colon cancer, and colonoscopies are the most effective means of prevention, diagnosis and treatment. No other colon cancer screening is as thorough and comprehensive. Because of colonoscopies, thousands of people have had their lives sparred or extended due to early diagnosis and screening. Besides this important fact, did you know colonoscopies are also useful and beneficial for discovering and diagnosing many other digestive disorders and condition?

Here’s a look at 7 unexpected benefits a colonoscopy can provide that few of us consider:

1.  Discovery of polyps

Polyps are fleshy growths or tumors in the large intestine or colon which can be a warning sign of colorectal cancer. Most colon cancers develop from polyps.  Polyps can start out as benign or noncancerous but have the potential to become cancerous if allowed to grow.  During a colonoscopy, your doctor will look for polyps and if one is found, they can remove suspicious polyps right away preventing them from ever becoming cancerous.

2.  Diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease

When trying to determine the cause of digestive issues, sometimes a colonoscopy will be done to make a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. A gastroenterologist, who performs colonoscopies, can look directly at the lining of the colon and small intestine, looking for signs of inflammation like ulcers and narrowing or strictures. During the procedure, they can also take biopsies or taking of small samples of tissue to look at under a microscope to determine if a person has inflammatory bowel disease.

3.  Diagnosing diverticulosis and diverticulitis

These conditions are when pockets in the intestinal wall develop and can become inflamed over time causing pain and discomfort. A colonoscopy will be done to help a doctor assess the severity and extent of either condition and recommend a course of treatment.

4.  To detect where blood in the stool is coming from

Discovering blood in your stool is always concerning. While blood in stool could signal a serious problem, it doesn’t always.  The only way to know is to do a colonoscopy.  Possible causes of blood in stool include bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract such as along the colon.  Colonoscopies have the ability to examine the colon from the rectum all the way to the cecum helping your doctor take a look to determine what the cause is.

5.  For abnormal barium x-ray exams

If you have a barium x-ray exam and the results show an area of suspicion, a colonoscopy will provide a better view of the affected area of the colon.

6.  Determining cause of abdominal pain

While there can be numerous causes of abdominal pain, certain symptoms such as unexplained weight loss may benefit from having a colonoscopy done to determine whether what you are experiencing is related to the colon or not.

7.  Checking for iron deficiency

Iron deficiency is a common type of anemia – a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells which carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. Symptoms of iron deficiency can include extreme fatigue, dizziness, or the urge to eat unusual substances such as ice known as pica.  Reasons for iron deficiency can have several causes such as inflammation in the colon or even colon cancer. By having a colonoscopy, this can check for polyps or ulcers that are bleeding causing blood loss associated with anemia.