KANGAR, July 2 (Bernama) -- Untreated gastritis over a prolonged period may lead to colon cancer, which is the second highest type of cancer that causes death globally.
KPJ Perlis Specialist Hospital consultant physician, Dr. Nurazam Omar, advised that individuals, especially those aged 60 and above experiencing prolonged gastric issues, seek immediate treatment to avoid the risk of developing colon cancer.
"Gastric attacks are not fatal, but there are cases where gastric patients develop colon cancer, especially among those aged 60 and above, who exhibit symptoms such as prolonged gastric issues, weight loss, and black or bloody stools," he told Bernama.
Dr. Nurazam explained that gastritis can impact individuals of all ages who lead unhealthy lifestyles, characterised by excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, frequent fast food consumption, and irregular eating patterns.
He added that there are studies that say treating gastric conditions takes a long time, approximately 10 years.
"The youngest gastric patient I've treated was 11 years old. It often occurs among adolescents aged 12 to 18 years. Studies have found that stress is also a contributing factor.
"To avoid gastric problems and prevent them from worsening, people can adopt a balanced and regular diet while reducing oily foods," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nurazam noted that symptoms of gastric attacks should also be carefully attended to as they may potentially be related to heart conditions.
"Often, many assume that discomfort in the upper abdomen and chest is merely a gastric symptom, and they take gastric medications, but ultimately, it turns out to be a heart condition," he said.
Therefore, he advised the public, especially those aged 60 and above, to seek immediate treatment if they experience symptoms such as sweating, and numbness in the hands, in addition to upper abdominal and chest pain, as it could indicate a heart condition.
--BERNAMA
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