In mainland China, the incidence and mortality of gastrointestinal cancers remain high. According to statistics, four types of digestive tract tumors, namely gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer and liver cancer, occupy the top five mortality rates of malignant tumors in mainland China.
This stark reality makes one wonder why these gastrointestinal tumors are so prevalent, and why most patients are found to be in the middle and advanced stages, making treatment extremely difficult.
An important reason for this is that many people do not have sufficient awareness of the importance of gastrointestinal endoscopy. As the gold standard for gastrointestinal diseases, gastrointestinal endoscopy can visually show the condition of the gastrointestinal area, through which doctors can perform pathological biopsy of the suspicious area, so as to accurately diagnose the lesion.
However, unfortunately, due to the neglect and misunderstanding of gastrointestinal endoscopy by some people, many early tumors cannot be detected in time, which eventually leads to the deterioration of the condition.
The importance of gastrointestinal endoscopy lies not only in diagnosis, but also in early intervention. For tumors detected early, doctors can perform minimally invasive resection through gastrointestinal endoscopy, which can preserve the patient's organ function and improve the survival rate.
Therefore, it is of great significance to improve the public's awareness of gastrointestinal endoscopy and strengthen the prevention and screening of gastrointestinal tumors to reduce the incidence and mortality of gastrointestinal tumors.
01
What problems can be found in gastrointestinal endoscopy?
Gastrointestinal endoscopy is an advanced medical examination technique that allows doctors to delve deeper into our gastrointestinal tract and reveal the various problems that may be lurking within.
This is not only a diagnosis of some superficial problems, but also a deep excavation of potential diseases. Gastrointestinal endoscopy is like a pair of eyes of the doctor, able to see every inch of the gastrointestinal tract, whether it is a tiny inflammation, ulcer, or polyp, there is nothing to hide.
Many people may think that inflammation such as gastritis and enteritis, or ulcers and polyps are just minor diseases and are not worth making a fuss about. But in reality, these seemingly inconspicuous minor diseases, if left unattended, may eventually evolve into more serious diseases.
For example, adenomatous polyps, while they may sound strange, are a potential ticking time bomb. It has a relatively high chance of becoming cancerous, so once it is detected, we should consider removing it as soon as possible to prevent future problems.
In addition, gastrointestinal endoscopy can also help us detect tumors of the gastrointestinal tract in time, such as gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. In China, the incidence of gastrointestinal cancers such as gastric cancer and intestinal cancer has remained high.
In many cases, due to people's lack of awareness of early examination, it is often delayed until the disease enters the middle and advanced stages, and at this time, the difficulty and risk of treatment will be greatly increased.
But if we can get screened early, we may be able to significantly improve the cure rate and give patients hope of regaining their health.
Therefore, gastrointestinal endoscopy is not only a medical examination technology, but also an important weapon for us to protect gastrointestinal health. Let's cherish this technology, carry out examinations in time, and escort our own health.
02
For a gastrointestinal endoscopy, it would be better to choose painless than ordinary?
In gastrointestinal endoscopy, choosing between a painless and ordinary way is actually a decision that varies from person to person. Depending on the individual's situation and needs, we need to weigh the various factors carefully.
For those who are only doing routine physical examinations, a regular gastrointestinal endoscopy may be more appropriate. This is because painless gastrointestinal endoscopy requires extremely high professional skills of doctors, and doctors need to rely on their own experience and skills to complete the examination process independently, which increases the difficulty and risk of the examination.
With ordinary gastrointestinal endoscopy, patients can communicate with the doctor in real time while awake and better cooperate with the doctor's operation, thereby improving the accuracy and safety of the examination.
In addition, painless gastrointestinal endoscopy is more time-consuming than ordinary tests and carries the risk of anesthetics. The use of anesthetics may cause some adverse reactions, such as dizziness, nausea, etc., and may even trigger severe allergic reactions. Therefore, when choosing a painless gastrointestinal endoscopy, we need to fully understand the risks of anesthetics and weigh their pros and cons.
Of course, for some patients with a larger response and less ability to adapt, painless gastrointestinal endoscopy may be a better option. These patients may be unable to cooperate with the doctor's operation due to excessive tension or pain during the general examination, which may affect the smooth progress of the examination. In such cases, a painless examination can help the patient to reduce pain and fear, making the examination process smoother.
To sum up, when choosing a way of gastrointestinal endoscopy, we need to make a decision based on our actual situation and needs. Whether it is a painless or ordinary way, it has its suitable people and advantages.
03
Who must have a gastrointestinal endoscopy?
People over the age of 40
As we age, the function of various organs in the human body gradually declines, and the gastrointestinal tract is no exception. Especially after middle age, the incidence of gastrointestinal tumors gradually increases, so this group of people should undergo regular gastrointestinal endoscopy in order to detect lesions early and intervene early.
People with gastrointestinal symptoms
Such as long-term stomach pain, acid reflux, belching, loss of appetite, indigestion, abnormal stool, etc., gastrointestinal endoscopy should be performed in time. These symptoms may be a sign of gastrointestinal diseases, and the nature and extent of the lesions can be determined by gastrointestinal endoscopy, which provides a strong basis for subsequent treatment.
People with a family history of gastrointestinal disorders
Many gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastric cancer, colon cancer, etc., have a certain familial aggregation. If you have a history of these diseases in your family, you are at increased risk of developing the disease, so regular gastrointestinal endoscopies are essential.
People with poor eating habits and lifestyles
For example, long-term irregular diet, liking high-fat and high-calorie foods, smoking, alcoholism, etc., are easy to cause gastrointestinal problems. This group of people should actively adjust their lifestyle habits and undergo regular gastrointestinal endoscopy to ensure their own health.