Colorectal Health Matters: When to See a Specialist for Common Issues Like Hemorrhoids

Paying attention to your colorectal health is critical to minimizing your risk for digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, and cancers of the colon and rectum. It’s also important that you stay on track with routine colorectal screenings to identify underlying health issues as early as possible.

Sierra Pacific Surgical offers colonoscopies and other screenings to assess your colorectal health. If you have issues like hemorrhoids or polyps, we offer minimally invasive surgery to treat them.

Our experienced surgeons use the latest minimally invasive techniques to remove abnormal growths, repair hemorrhoids, or clear obstructions in your digestive tract. We focus on your individual health needs and provide resources you can use to improve and protect your colorectal health in the long term.

Understanding colorectal health

Colorectal health refers to the function of your lower digestive tract, including the colon (large intestine) and rectum. This tract plays a crucial role in digestive processes and the elimination of waste from the body.

Good colorectal health involves eating fresh, high-fiber foods, engaging in daily exercise, and maintaining a healthy body weight. It’s also important to undergo routine screenings for colon cancer and other colorectal issues.

Factors that can negatively influence your colorectal health include:

• Age
• Genetics
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol use

These factors and certain medical conditions can cause imbalances in the lower digestive system and lead to chronic issues like diarrhea and constipation. If left untreated, you may be at a significantly higher risk of developing hemorrhoids and cancer.

Colorectal warning signs that require specialized care

Colorectal cancer and other conditions may not cause noticeable symptoms right away. In some cases, subtle changes in colorectal health may be ignored or incorrectly attributed to normal signs of aging.

Dismissing early warning signs of colorectal dysfunction can set the stage for additional complications that jeopardize your health and require more complex treatments.

Our experts recommend that you seek medical advice at the first signs of colorectal health issues, which can include:

• Hemorrhoids
• Abdominal pain
• Unexplained fatigue
• Changes in bowel habits
• Blood in the stool

You should also be proactive about scheduling preventive screenings if you’re at high risk for colorectal cancer or other diseases because of your lifestyle or family history.

Surgical treatments for common colorectal conditions

Sierra Pacific Surgical specializes in minimally invasive surgical treatments for a variety of colorectal conditions. Our surgeons are highly skilled in using the da Vinci® robotic surgery system to remove polyps and other growths from the colon without damaging healthy tissue.

Colon surgery is also available to treat other conditions of the lower digestive tract, including:

• Diverticulitis
• Colon cancer
• Fecal impaction
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

If you have hemorrhoids, our team can treat them with nonsurgical methods like rubber band ligation. We also offer advanced surgery to address internal or large hemorrhoids that don’t respond to other treatments.

Preventive screenings like colonoscopy are available in-office to identify colorectal conditions in the earliest stage — when treatment is usually most effective.

Our providers work closely with you on a care plan to address existing colorectal health issues and also provide resources you can use to improve the health of your lower digestive tract.

Call Sierra Pacific Surgical in Roseville, El Dorado Hills, or Sacramento, California today to schedule a colorectal health consultation. You can also book an appointment online.