Symptoms and dangers of rectal polyps

Rectal polyps may not have obvious symptoms, but some patients may experience blood in the stool, constipation or abdominal pain. Severe cases may lead to rectal cancer or other complications, so timely medical examination and treatment are required. The following is a detailed analysis of the specific manifestations of the symptoms and possible harms:

1Symptoms of rectal polyps

Rectal polyps can present in the following ways:

Blood in stool: This is the most common symptom. The blood is usually bright red and attached to the surface of the stool, but some patients tend to mistake it for hemorrhoids and ignore it.

Changes in bowel habits: If the frequency of bowel movements increases or decreases abnormally, or the stool becomes thinner, looser, or contains mucus, these may indicate the presence of local lesions in the rectum.

Abdominal pain and intestinal obstruction: If the polyps are large, they may cause obstruction of the passage of intestinal contents, resulting in intermittent abdominal pain or even complete obstruction. This situation requires emergency treatment.

Discomfort similar to hemorrhoids: Some patients experience a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen or a foreign body sensation in the anus, which can easily be confused with hemorrhoids, so a detailed examination is very important.

2The dangers of rectal polyps

The harm of rectal polyps is mainly reflected in the tendency of malignancy and the complications caused:

Risk of cancer: Adenomatous polyps are at high risk of cancer, especially those larger than 1 cm or multiple polyps. If left untreated for a long time, they may develop into rectal cancer. Early detection and removal of polyps is the key to preventing cancer.

Cause anemia: Long-term blood in the stool caused by polyps may lead to chronic hemorrhagic anemia, which manifests as fatigue, dizziness and pale complexion, affecting the quality of life.

Intestinal obstruction or incarceration: Larger polyps may obstruct the intestines, causing intestinal obstruction through local inflammatory stimulation, and even leading to emergencies such as acute abdominal pain and incarceration.

How to deal with it?

1. Seek medical attention promptly: Regardless of the severity of the symptoms, if you experience persistent blood in your stool or changes in bowel habits, you must go to the hospital for a digital rectal examination or electronic colonoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.

2. Polypectomy: Endoscopic polypectomy is the preferred treatment method, mostly used for small polyps. If the polyp is too large or suspected of cancer, surgical removal can be considered.

3. Prevent recurrence: Increase dietary fiber intake, such as eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and avoid high-fat and high-protein diets. Moderate exercise helps intestinal peristalsis and reduces the risk of polyp recurrence.

When symptoms of rectal polyps occur, do not blindly delay diagnosis and treatment. Seek medical help in a timely manner and pay attention to adjusting your diet and lifestyle in daily life to prevent the disease from getting worse or recurring. Develop the habit of regular physical examinations, especially for people over 40 years old, to detect early signs of lesions and improve the cure rate.