What Does the Appendix Do?
The tiny finger-like pouch that hangs from your large intestine is deemed useless. For instance, when you seek laparoscopic appendectomy treatment in Navi Mumbai, you are told that you’d live a healthy and normal life, like usual, without an appendix.
Appendix can become inflamed and may even rupture, raising the risk of a widespread infection. In rare cases, it can become cancerous. While it carries risks, years of research and recent studies show that the appendix may not be useless. In this post, we’ll take a look at the most commonly asked question, “What does the appendix do?”
Common Beliefs
There’s a common belief that the appendix is a leftover that offers zero benefits to your health. This 4-inch-long tube is located in your lower right abdomen. Scientists believe that the use of the appendix has diminished over time.
Our ancestors would eat raw leaves, roots, and a considerable amount of plant-based meals. The appendix would support their digestive system in breaking down the cellulose. Now that our diets are mostly composed of cooked food, the function of the appendix has been reduced.
Another theory is that removing the appendix in people diagnosed with appendicitis would cause no long-term harm to the patient. So, they drew the conclusion that the appendix had no function in our bodies.
Modern Theories
The appendix serves as a safe place for good gut bacteria. When you have diarrhea or an infection, the good gut bacteria, which help with digestion, might get flushed out. That’s when this backup supplies the good bacteria to your gut, speeding up your recovery and preventing complications.
This may not seem useful in today’s times, especially in places where good sanitation, balanced diets, and healthy lifestyles are observed. But before industrialization, diarrhea and abdominal infections were common. Appendix would play a role in helping people recover by colonizing the gut with healthy bacteria.
It also plays an important role in immune function. Appendix has a significant amount of lymphocytes, immune cells that produce antibodies, which fight off pathogens. They train your immune system to recognize and respond to harmful bacteria or foreign invaders. Simply put, your appendix helps your body remove bad bacteria while keeping the good ones.
What Complications Can It Cause?
The traditional belief has led to a surge in appendectomies (the surgical removal of the appendix). If a person is diagnosed with appendicitis, the safest bet is to have the organ removed. Appendicitis occurs when your appendix becomes inflamed.
The infection can spread rapidly within and outside the appendix. It can spread in your abdominal cavity, increasing the risk of peritonitis, and in severe cases, sepsis. This happens when the inflamed appendix bursts. Although detaching the appendix from your colon and removing it altogether might be the safest way to eliminate the risk of complications of appendicitis, the surgery doesn’t come without risks. Seek immediate medical care from a general surgeon in Navi Mumbai if you suspect appendicitis. If the appendix ruptures, the infection might spread and can lead to life-threatening complications.