Although it might sound like a procedure that you would want to avoid, there are numerous reasons as to why you should have a colonoscopy. This is usually an outpatient procedure and allows the doctor to determine if there are any health concerns in your digestive tract. One of the common reasons as to why you would need to have a colonoscopy performed is to find out if you have colon cancer. If there is a family history of this kind of cancer, then you should consider having at least one test performed to determine if there are any polyps or other areas that need to be monitored in the future.

Age

If you’re over the age of 50 and haven’t had a colonoscopy, then you should consider scheduling an appointment to have one done. If you’re younger than 50 and have a first-degree relative who has had colon cancer or a similar cancer, then you need to be screened. Try to have the procedure performed within about 10 years of the age that the relative developed cancer.

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Bowel Changes

Pay attention to your bowel movements. If you notice any abnormal changes, then contact our gastrointestinal doctor who can schedule you for a colonoscopy to determine what could be going on in your digestive tract and colon. Any amount of blood in your bowel movements would warrant a call to our doctor along with any severe pain in your rectal area that you experience. Keep in mind that you might not see any changes until colon cancer has progressed.

Sometimes, your lifestyle could warrant having a colonoscopy performed. If you’re a smoker or if you drink, then these would be things that could weaken your immune system or that could lead to cancer. Obesity is another common reason as to why you should have this procedure performed. If our doctor finds cancer in its early stages, there are treatments available to try to keep it from spreading to other areas of your body.

If you experience any kind of abdominal pain, then you need to get the issue investigated. Men develop colon cancer more than women, so this is something that you need to consider. If you take a lot of medications that interact with your stomach, then you should have at least one colonoscopy to make sure there are no issues related to what you’re taking.

To learn more about what a colonoscopy can detect, speak with the educated staff at Batash Medical in Rego Park, NY. Contact us today to schedule your appointment to learn more about when you should have a colonoscopy performed so that you can stay on top of your health.

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