April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month – a vital time to raise awareness about one of the most common cancers worldwide. Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, affects both men and women and can have a significant impact on health if not detected early. This month, we’re encouraged to learn about the symptoms, prevention strategies and the importance of early detection. Importantly, it’s also a great opportunity to highlight the connection between bowel health and overall well-being, including eye health.
By increasing awareness, we empower ourselves to take control of our health, reduce the risk of bowel cancer and improve our eye health along the way.
Why Bowel Cancer Awareness Matters – and the Link to Eye Health
Bowel cancer develops in the colon or rectum, parts of the large intestine. While it is often a slow-developing disease, many cases go undetected for years due to the lack of early warning signs. Symptoms like changes in bowel habits, abdominal discomfort, or unexplained weight loss are often dismissed or attributed to other conditions. Raising awareness about these signs and the importance of early screening can help detect the disease in its early stages when treatment is most effective.
It’s important to recognise that overall health, including eye health, can be affected by conditions like bowel cancer. For instance, fatigue from cancer treatments or weight loss can lead to blurred vision or eye strain. Maintaining good digestive health through diet and lifestyle can help improve both your gut health and your vision.
Recognising the Symptoms of Bowel Cancer and How They May Affect Your Eyes
Understanding the symptoms of bowel cancer can help detect it early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. Some of the most common signs include:
- Changes in Bowel Movements: A noticeable shift in your normal bowel habits, such as diarrhoea, constipation, or narrower stools, can be a warning sign.
- Blood in Stool: The presence of blood in the stool (either bright red or dark) is a serious symptom that should not be ignored.
- Abdominal Discomfort: Persistent bloating, cramping, or pain in the stomach area may signal a problem.
- Unexplained Weight Loss: Sudden weight loss without any clear cause can be linked to bowel cancer or other serious conditions.
- Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or weak, even after rest, can be a sign of anaemia or other underlying health issues.
Early detection of bowel cancer can improve outcomes and addressing these symptoms might also help prevent eye health issues related to fatigue and poor nutrition.
Prevention: What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk – for Both Bowel and Eye Health
While some risk factors for bowel cancer, like age and family history, are out of our control, there are several lifestyle choices we can make to reduce our risk. What’s good for your gut is also often good for your eyes:
- Eat a Healthy, Balanced Diet: A diet rich in fibre, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help keep your digestive system healthy. Likewise, this type of diet supports good eye health by providing nutrients like vitamins A and C, which are vital for vision.
- Exercise Regularly: Staying active helps reduce your risk of bowel cancer and improves overall circulation, including to the eyes. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of eye diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Obesity is a known risk factor for both bowel cancer and various eye conditions, including diabetic eye disease and cataracts. Managing your weight through diet and exercise helps protect both your digestive system and vision.
- Limit Alcohol and Tobacco Use: Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking are linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer and several eye diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Limiting these substances benefits both bowel and eye health.
- Get Screened Regularly: Screening for bowel cancer is one of the most effective ways to detect the disease early. Regular eye exams are just as important, as they can catch early signs of eye disease or other systemic health conditions, including those related to bowel cancer.
By making small but impactful changes to our habits, encouraging regular screenings, and supporting research, we can improve outcomes for both bowel cancer and eye health.
Book an eye test