The colon is part of the large intestine, which is part of the digestive tract. After food has been broken down in the stomach and absorbed in the small intestine, indigestible food matter is passed through the colon. The colon is responsible for absorbing any leftover water, salts, and vitamins from food matter and condensing it into fecal matter. The fecal matter is then passed from the sigmoid colon into the rectum, where it’s held before being excreted as waste.

Colon pain symptoms

abdominal pain
constipation
diarrhea
gas
bloating
cramping
fatigue

What causes colon pain?
The colon is prone to inflammation and inflammatory disorders that can be triggered by:

diet
stress
lifestyle
medications
When your colon is healthy, it will efficiently remove the waste your body no longer needs. However, when your colon is unhealthy,

How to treat colon pain
Inflammatory bowel diseases are triggered or aggravated by a poor diet. In fact, up to 70 percent of the risk for colorectal cancer — the third most deadly form of cancer in the United States — can be prevented through lifestyle changes such as healthy eating.

Reduce your intake of certain foods
The first step in treating colon pain is to modify your diet to see if you can reduce inflammation and find relief. Certain foods contribute more to inflammation, including:

red meat
fried foods
refined sugar and processed carbohydrates
alcohol
coffee
Adjust your lifestyle
The second step in treating colon pain is to make other lifestyle changes, eliminating behaviors that adversely affect colon health, such as:

cigarette smoking
excessive sitting/sedentary work environment
lack of exercise
Reconsider medications
The third step is to review medications you take. If possible, stop using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen which can increase inflammation and affect the intestinal lining. Your doctor can recommend alternatives.

Eat more fiber
Dietary fiber speeds up the process of waste elimination, helping to cut down on constipation and inflammation. Without enough roughage to keep the bowel moving, stools can become hard and painful. With enough fiber, your colon reduces the strain and pressure it exerts on the abdomen and veins, reducing the risk of:

hernias
hemorrhoids
varicose veins
colon cancer
obesity
high blood pressure

Some healthy sources of dietary fiber to consider introducing to your diet are:

bran
cereals
fruits
vegetables
nuts and seeds
Drink more water

Dehydration can contribute to hard, painful stools and slow, blocked bowel movements. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine recommend drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day to maintain proper hydration.

Get more exercise
A high-stress or sedentary lifestyle can aggravate the colon, so it’s important to find ways to relax and take time to let your body get the exercise it needs to stay functioning properly. A 2009 studyTrusted Source found that regular exercise can reduce the risk of diverticulitis in men by up to 37 percent.

Surgery
In extreme cases, surgery is an option for relieving colon pain.

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Media Contact
Jessica Watson
Journal Manager
Clinical Gastroenterology Journal
Email: gastroenterology@eclinicalsci.com