Feeling as stuffed as the turkey on Christmas Day has become an accidental festive tradition for many.
But for some, the tummy troubles may not just be down to overeating.
The cause, experts have cautioned, could actually be a cancer that kills almost 17,000 Brits each year — and is climbing in the under 50s.
According to the most recent international data, this surge in bowel cancer is hitting Britain more dramatically than the majority of other Western countries, including the US.
Now, one health expert has warned of the five warning signs that could crop up during Christmas dinner indicating Brits may be suffering more sinister gut health issues.
And perhaps the most surprising is feeling overly full faster than usual.
Kiran Jones, a clinical pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, warned of a feeling of painful fullness that ‘doesn’t ease off after digestion, or wakes you up at night’.
This could be a sign of an obstruction or tumour in the bowel, he added.
Feeling as stuffed as the turkey on Christmas Day has become an accidental festive tradition for many. But for some, the tummy troubles may not just be down to overeating
Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, or a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss as a result of these symptoms
‘A constant feeling of fullness can occur if there’s a blockage or tumour in the bowel.
‘If it lasts longer than a few days, it can indicate gut health issues, or worse, bowel cancer’, he said.
‘While it’s tempting to brush this off as eating a heavy Christmas meal, monitor the symptom closely, especially if it lingers or worsens.’
Other symptoms, however, are more commonly associated with the disease.
Mr Jones added: ‘Christmas is a busy time of year, and feeling tired after prepping the turkey or managing a house full of guests is to be expected.
‘But if you’re finding it harder than usual to stay awake or struggling with ongoing fatigue that isn’t relieved by rest, this could be a sign your body is trying to tell you something more serious.
‘Bowel cancer can cause anaemia, as blood loss in the bowel reduces the number of red blood cells in your body, leading to exhaustion.’
Spotting blood in your stool — whether bright or dark red — is another well recognised sign of the condition.
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He added: ‘Though haemorrhoids or minor tears from straining may cause this, persistent bleeding is a key warning sign of bowel cancer.
‘Over Christmas, don’t dismiss this symptom as a one-off caused by rich food or alcohol consumption—book an appointment with your GP.’
Overindulging at Christmas can also lead to more frequent visits to the bathroom, especially after a rich meal packed with high-fat and sugary foods.
However, if you need to use the toilet more often than usual and it’s not just a result of overeating, this could be a red flag.
‘Pay attention to any changes in your bowel habits, such as persistent diarrhoea or constipation, or an urgent need to go,’ Mr Jones said.
‘If these symptoms continue well after the festive feast, it might be time to seek medical advice, as they can be early indicators of bowel cancer.’
According to the NHS, anyone experiencing these symptoms for three weeks or more is advised to speak to their GP.
Bowel cancer symptoms can also be caused by other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, but it’s important to get checked so the disease can be spotted as early as possible.
Dame Deborah James, nicknamed the ‘bowel babe’ raised more than £11.3mn for Cancer Research and is credited for increasing awareness of the disease, which killed her in 2022 aged 40
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It comes as experts continue to warn of a disturbing rise in bowel cancers in under 50s, which has baffled doctors around the globe.
The disease, the third most common cancer in the UK, is the same type that killed Dame Deborah James at age 40 in 2022.
There are more than 44,000 new bowel cancer diagnoses in the UK each year, and almost 142,000 in the US.
While the cause of the rise in bowel cancer in young people remains under investigation, experts estimate that over half of the cases diagnosed in Britain each year are preventable from known cancer risk factors.
A shocking one in four of the preventable cases are caused by Brits eating too little fibre – found in fruits and vegetables and wholegrains – which is known to be a key factor in good digestive health.
About one in 10 cases are triggered by eating processed meat, with a similar number being caused by people being overweight or obese.
Studies have suggested the risk of getting bowel cancer increases by 18 per cent when people consume more than 50g of processed meat (one sausage) per day.
Some one in 20 cases are caused by drinking alcohol, smoking and from too little exercise.
Research suggests having just one pint of low strength beer per day, about two units, could increase your risk of bowel cancer by 4 per cent, with risk rising at higher alcohol consumption.
About one in 50 cases of bowel cancer are thought to be caused by radiation exposure, for example radiotherapy treatment.
A fifth of bowel cancer cases are thought to be rooted in a genetic risk.
Bowel cancer symptoms include changes in your bowel movements such as new diarrhoea or constipation, needing or feeling the need to poo more or less frequently, and blood in the stool.
Stomach pain, a lump in the stomach, bloating, unexpected weight-loss and fatigue are among other key signs.
According to the NHS, anyone experiencing these symptoms for three weeks or more is advised to speak to their GP.
