Woman drinking water

The colon is a 5 foot tube within your body that has the important job of eliminating waste from the food you digest.  Since it is such a prominent part of your body, it can develop many conditions and problems of its own.  These can range from conditions that produce food allergies such as Celiac disease to ulcers, which cause severe pain and may require surgical correction.

Some of the problems you can have related to the colon include constipation, diarrhea, heartburn or irritable bowel syndrome.

Constipation occurs when you are unable to have a bowel movement on a regular basis or when the stool remains in the intestines too long and the stool becomes hard or dry making it difficult to pass.  It can be caused by having a low fiber diet or having digestive problems.  There are easy ways to relieve constipation.  The easiest ones that are available to everyone are to eat a high fiber diet and to drink plenty of water.  It is also important to use the restroom whenever you feel the need and to take your time to allow your body to eliminate all waste.

Diarrhea is the opposite of constipation.  You may experience loose and watery stools that occur on a regular basis often many times a day.  If you have diarrhea you may have difficulty controlling your bowel movements, abdominal cramps or dehydration.  You can get diarrhea very commonly.  It can be caused by a bacteria in your system, certain foods or certain digestive diseases such as Crohn’s disease.

Another common condition is heartburn.  Heartburn is a burning feeling in the middle of your chest that is usually caused by stomach acids moving upwards from the stomach into your esophagus.  This can also be called acid reflux, which is another common digestive disorder.  To alleviate heartburn, you should watch your diet.  There may be certain foods that are causing this condition, such as alcohol or fatty foods.  Along with changing your diet, make sure you don’t eat before going to bed and always sit up after eating.

Finally, a very common disorder suffered by millions of Americans is irritable bowel syndrome or IBS.  This is a disorder or condition, not really a disease.  The symptoms are great including abdominal pain or discomfort, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation. With IBS, the bowels do not function properly.  If you have IBS, you may have nerves that are ultra sensitive or you may have muscles that contract too much when you eat.  The actual cause is not known.

To treat IBS, you will change your diet to reduce foods that are causing problems, such as fatty foods, milk products and alcohol.  You should also alleviate stress, as that can be an exacerbation of digestive problems.  Finally you may also need medications to help alleviate the symptoms.

The most important thing with all digestive issues are a healthy balanced diet that is high in fiber.  You should reduce the fatty foods, reduce the caffeine, and reduce alcohol intake.

Additionally, as always you should consult your physician if you have any of these problems.  Your doctor will be able to provide a proper diagnosis.