How To Treat And Prevent Colon Polyps

Exercise Regularly

An individual who would like to reduce their risk of developing polyps in their colon that can lead to colon cancer should exercise regularly. Those who maintain an active lifestyle are three times less likely to develop polyps in their large intestine than individuals who have a sedentary lifestyle. Regular exercise is a good way for an individual to reach and maintain a healthy weight. An individual who is overweight or obese is more likely to have elevated levels of insulin-like growth factor and systemic inflammation.

Regular exercise also helps the body with the production of the substances needed to digest the components of food in the large intestine properly. Regular exercise enhances the flow of blood through the digestive system, which reduces the risk of ischemic damage to the tissues of the large intestine. In addition, regular exercise helps the individual's immune system stay strong, which ensures it can clear away abnormal cells responsible for the formation of colon polyps.

Quit Smoking

Smoking tobacco products is a well-known risk factor for the development of colon polyps. Smoking tobacco products regularly raises an individual's risk of developing a particular type of colon polyps that are considered to be high risk. High-risk colon polyps are growths that are most likely to evolve into a malignant or cancerous tumor over time. Individuals who smoke tobacco products regularly inhale over 4,500 different chemicals that can cause genetic alteration and produce inflammation in the airways, respiratory tissues, and digestive organs.

Inflammation causes damage to the cells of the large intestine, which creates large amounts of free radicals. Free radicals produced due to the effects of tobacco smoking can begin a long chain of DNA mutations that can cause growths like colon polyps to develop. Further inflammatory damage to existing polyps caused by free radicals increases an individual's risk of developing cancerous growth.