This is one of the serious dangerous diseases that elderly people, especially men aged 50 and over, are at higher risk than younger people. Colon cancer can be completely cured if detected early. Do you know why men over 50 are at higher risk than other age groups? Let’s find the answer.
As age increases… the body’s systems deteriorate
This is the main reason why men aged 50 and over are at higher risk of colon cancer than other age groups. It is because this age is when the digestive system and gastrointestinal system begin to decline in efficiency. It takes longer for food to pass through the digestive system and reach the rectum compared to other ages. Especially for those who like to eat hard-to-digest foods such as meat and high-fat foods, even if consumed in small amounts daily. Due to the declining function of various body systems, normally it takes about 2-3 days from eating to bowel movement. As age increases, the body requires more time for the digestive and gastrointestinal systems to work. It may take more than a week to excrete waste, causing food to remain in the digestive system too long, leading to decay and spoilage in the intestines. Symptoms include bloating, gas in the stomach, fullness, constipation, diarrhea, or irregular bowel movements. If this continues, the intestines weaken, bad bacteria accumulate in the intestines for a long time, destroying the good bacteria that control diarrhea, constipation, and help digestion gradually disappear. Therefore, men aged 50 and over have a high risk of colon cancer.
You should start taking care of yourself from a young age
If we say that colon cancer is only a risk for men aged 50 and over, it may not always be true. Nowadays, people’s eating habits damage intestinal strength and stimulate earlier colon cancer every day, especially those who like meat and high-fat foods, and also dislike eating high-fiber fruits and vegetables, and drink little water, increasing the risk of colon cancer.
If we don’t want to be one of those at risk, we should start taking care of ourselves today. Start simply by…
- Regularly eating fruits and vegetables to increase fiber, which helps the bowel system function normally
- Avoiding red meat, high-fat foods, fast food, high-calorie but low-fiber foods, or regularly grilled and fried foods
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol, which are factors that increase the risk of colon cancer
- Exercising and not sitting still for long periods, as prolonged sitting can lead to many diseases as well
