Common sense finally prevailing on colonoscopies
You've heard me say many times before that there are a ton of procedures you can perform on people as they age – but that doesn't mean you should. And when you talk about over-performed procedures, colonoscopies for men over the age of 75 should be on the top of the list.
Fortunately, mainstream docs are starting to come around on my way of thinking. A government health task force recently called for a stop to the practice for those over 75.
It's about time. Once a person reaches 75, the risks of a routine colonoscopy escalate and the benefits of an early diagnosis of colon cancer diminish. Among the risks are infections, perforations of the colon and reactions to anesthetics. That's on top of the discomfort of colonoscopy, which involves a pre- procedure bowel-cleansing process followed by snaking a flexible tube equipped with a tiny video camera through the rectum and up the entire colon.
It's every bit as uncomfortable as it sounds.
For ages 50 to 75, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended three treatments — everyone should get at least one, they said:
a colonoscopy of the entire colon every decade;
a sigmoidoscopy of only the lower colon every half-decade, with a stool blood test every three years;
a stool blood test every year.
Colon cancer is the country's second leading cause of cancer death. You can improve your odds of avoiding this disease by maintaining a normal body weight, exercising regularly at least 5 times a week for 45 minutes or more, and getting plenty of fish, poultry, beans, nuts, fruits and vegetables whole avoiding the dead processed foods that fill the center aisle and freezer sections of your local supermarket. And although there is some debate about the role of fiber in the prevention of colon cancer, a fiber rich diet will naturally be rich in the healthy whole foods that not only help prevent colon cancer but support general overall health as well.
