Chronic colitis in the elderly
My father is 70 years old and has recently been experiencing constipation and lower abdominal pain. He also has a rumbling sensation in his stomach and a burning feeling in his intestines. What illness might he have?
Tran Thi Minh Phuong (Hai Duong)
Based on your description, it's highly likely your father has this condition.colitisChronic. The large intestine is the final part of the digestive tract, usually 1.5-2 meters long, located in the abdominal cavity in an inverted U shape. Its function is to continue digesting the remaining food residue after the small intestine has absorbed all the chyme, in order to recover some of the remaining water, sugar, and B vitamins.
In chronic colitis, patients experience dull abdominal pain, sometimes severe and intermittent, unrelated to eating.fullSymptoms include heartburn, burning sensation in the stomach; sometimes constipation with bowel movements occurring only once every 4-5 days, and loose, lumpy stools resembling goat droppings. Occasionally, diarrhea occurs 3-4 times a day.
There are cases where both constipation and diarrhea alternate. Because the symptoms of the disease are often atypical,elderlyCareful attention and consultation are needed to avoid missed diagnoses or misdiagnoses.
If your father only has symptoms of constipation, medication will resolve it. However, if he experiences prolonged bowel dysfunction, rapid weight loss, etc., you should take him to a gastroenterologist to rule out cancer. To prevent constipation, you should encourage him to drink plenty of water (1.5 liters/day), maintain a high-fiber diet, limit stimulants, and exercise regularly.
According to Health & Life - NT
