Often associated with hunger, the sounds coming from the abdominal region can be annoying and even a little embarrassing. Yet the presence of most abdominal sounds is completely normal and shows that your digestive system is doing its job. In some...
When you hear you child's tummy rumble, you should appreciate what a sophisticated piece of machinery the human body is. Most of those noises, despite sometimes being startling or unpleasant-sounding, are quite normal. These sounds are made by...
Crohn's disease is characterized by inflammation of the intestinal lining and belongs to a class of digestive diseases known as inflammatory bowel diseases. The most common signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease include diarrhea, abdominal pain,...
Digestion noises can happen at the most inopportune times -- whether sitting at a crucial board meeting or meeting with your child's kindergarten teacher for a classroom conference. These rumbling or gurgling sounds are fairly normal, resulting...
According to the American College of Gastroenterology, or ACG, stomach or abdominal pain can arise from any of the structures within the abdominal cavity or the abdominal wall. Pain messages originating in other parts of the body, such as the...
Your heart rate is an important measurement that can reveal how hard your heart is working. You may be interested in this information if you are an athlete in training. Also, you and your doctor will be monitoring your heart rate if you have, or...
The intestinal tract is a long tube structured to absorb nutrients and water from ingested food; waste products are then excreted from the bowel. Some individuals develop bowel diseases such as diverticulitis, Crohn's or ulcerative colitis,...
An aneurysm is a pathologic dilatation of a blood vessel due to weakening of the vessel's wall. The abdominal aorta is a major artery, which arises directly from the heart and supplies blood to the bottom half of your body. Abdominal aortic...
"For breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on earth," a Sanskrit proverb says. Breathing is indeed the staple of life, delivering vital oxygen to your cells and removing carbon dioxide. For people with high blood pressure,...
Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Chemically, lactose is a disaccharide composed of two monosaccharides: glucose and galactose. Normally, lactose is split into glucose and galactose in your intestine by a...
According to "Schwartz's Principles of Surgery," obstruction is the most common surgical disorder of the small intestine. It can result from a variety of pathologic conditions, including those which originate within the bowel itself and those...
Small bowel obstruction occurs when the intestine loses function as a result of either partial or complete blockage. Postoperative scar tissue causes most bowel obstructions and can happen anywhere from four weeks to many years after surgery. An...
Heartburn normally occurs after ingestion of a large meal. It's often described as a burning sensation in the chest, just below the sternum (breastbone). You may notice that fluid is in your throat or mouth, leaving a sour or bitter taste. This...
Methylcellulose is a bulk-forming laxative that absorbs the fluid in the intestines. This increases the bulk of the stools and makes them softer. Methylcellulose is often used for relieving mild constipation and to promote regular bowel movements....
Trauma to the abdominal area may cause a serious, life-threatening injury that may go untreated because immediate symptoms may not be evident. The membranous peritoneum surrounds some organs suspended from the abdominal wall, and others such as...
Abdominal pain in children is a common medical problem. According to the University of Michigan Health System, about one in three children sees a doctor for abdominal pain by age 15. The characteristics of the pain, along with its onset, location...
Mold consists of spores that thrive in a damp environment and are present all year round. Mold spores are carried through the air and are commonly located indoors and outdoors. Individuals exposed to mold may develop an allergic response, causing...
Rapidly developing inflammation of the gallbladder is called acute cholecystitis. This condition most often develops when a gallstone lodges in the duct that permits outflow of bile from the gallbladder. Without a way to release bile, the...
Want to lose your belly fat? Yearning for a flat, six-pack abdominal area? The Mayo Clinic notes that belly fat not only makes your waistband tight, it can also harm your health. While putting on weight in general can have negative effects on your...
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. If you have this illness, you may experience swelling and inflammation of your colon and rectum. Ulcerative colitis is also an autoimmune disorder. Stress and certain foods may trigger...
A milk allergy can cause seizures if you have a severe allergic reaction. Most people do not develop seizures from a milk allergy, but if you develop anaphylaxis you can experience seizures and other potentially life-threatening symptoms....
Calcium is an essential mineral that you get through your diet or by taking calcium supplements. If you have food allergies or lactose intolerance, you might find it hard to get calcium sources through dairy, and you might need to rely on taking...
A feeding tube, or medically referred to as an enteral feeding, is used when a person is unable to consume adequate nutrition by mouth. A feeding tube may be needed when a person has difficulty swallowing due to a stroke or weakened esophageal...
Ascites is the accumulation of extra fluid within the abdominal cavity, specifically between the thin lining protecting the abdominal organs and the abdominal wall. According to Hepatitis Central, an educational website devoted to hepatitis C...
When the meninges, or membranes that surround the brain, become inflamed the result is called meningitis, the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) explains. Depending on whether the inflammation is due to a viral or bacterial infection,...
Abdominal pain is a common complaint. The causes of abdominal pain are usually benign, but certain signs and symptoms should alert you to the possibility of a serious condition. Other characteristics of the pain that are important in assessing...
Your bowels and other abdominal organs have slick, membranous surfaces that prevent them from sticking together when they make contact under normal circumstances. Adhesions may occur when tissues make contact and band together, most often after...
Metamucil is an over-the-counter laxative and fiber supplement. Metamucil is advertised to help lower cholesterol and promote heart and digestive health. It is often recommended to patients who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular...
Celiac disease is a condition caused by sensitivity to gluten, which is a protein found in the grain of certain grasses, such as wheat, rye and barley. The symptoms associated with celiac disease, also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy, stem...
