Intestinal melanosis

Intestinal melanosis is a non-inflammatory bowel disease characterized by black deposits of the colonic mucosa. At present, we humans are still not particularly clear about the cause of this disease. However, a large number of clinical experiments have shown that if you suffer from intestinal melanosis, it will cause symptoms such as constipation, abdominal distension, and difficulty in defecation. A very small number of people may also experience electrolyte imbalance. It can be said that this disease brings great pain to patients and is also a difficult problem that clinical workers need to solve.

Causes

1. Intestinal dysfunction, mainly chronic constipation

2. Long-term use of anthraquinone laxatives, such as cascara bark, senna leaves, aloe vera and rhubarb. In fact, these two factors complement each other. Because chronic constipation is closely related to laxatives, the relationship between long-term abuse of anthraquinone laxatives and melanosis of the colon has been recognized by most people. Colonoscopy and biopsy revealed that the severity of colon melanosis is closely related to the use of laxatives. Colon melanosis will be reduced or disappear after stopping taking laxatives.

Prognosis

There is currently no specific drug treatment for MC. Most scholars believe that MC is a benign, reversible, non-inflammatory intestinal mucosal lesion. With the improvement of constipation symptoms and the discontinuation of laxatives, a large amount of lipofuscin is digested and decomposed by lysosomes, and the pigmentation of MC can be reduced or even disappear. Therefore, it is recommended to eat more vegetables, fruits and fiber-rich foods, drink more water and exercise more to reduce constipation or difficulty in defecation, develop good bowel habits, stop using or do not use laxatives containing pigments and use oily laxatives instead, and use gastrointestinal motility drugs and proecological preparations and other medications to relieve constipation when necessary, which can reduce the incidence of MC and reverse existing lesions. Some possible causes of melanosis, such as rectocele and rectal intussusception, should be treated, such as rectocele repair and internal sleeve fixation. For patients who have been diagnosed with MC, regular follow-up colonoscopy is required to promptly detect associated colon polyps, adenomas, and colon cancers, and perform high-frequency electroresection or surgical eradication treatment under endoscopy at an early stage. However, for patients with this disease who have no history of taking laxatives, the treatment method needs further exploration.

Prevention methods

1. Establish good bowel habits

You should develop the habit of regular bowel movements. You should concentrate on defecation and not read newspapers or do other things.

2. Eat more dietary fiber

Foods rich in dietary fiber include wheat bran or brown rice, vegetables such as celery and leeks, etc. Increase the amount of water you drink to enhance stimulation to the colon.

3. Increase the amount of exercise

Therefore, you can take a walk, jog, or do gymnastics in the morning. If you really don’t have time, you can do more squats in the office, which can also exercise your abdominal muscle tension and make up for lack of exercise.