Coffee isn’t any more likely to cause intestinal bleeding than other beverages -- or foods, for that matter. In fact, diet isn’t often associated with bleeding in the lower digestive tract. Instead, a medical condition is typically the...
Aloe vera has been used medicinally for thousands of years, particularly for treating skin problems and constipation. Today, aloe vera is being tested for possible benefits in managing medical conditions such as diabetes and ulcerative colitis, a...
Your body requires iron in order to produce red blood cells. Typically, you are able to obtain sufficient levels of iron from your diet. However, in some cases, such as occult bleeding in the intestine, you may have insufficient levels of iron in...
Your body needs ferritin to store iron. Levels of this protein increase as iron levels increase, making it a good indirect measure of your iron levels. You can get your ferritin levels tested with a simple blood test if you think your iron may be...
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive condition that occurs when stomach acid travels up into the esophagus, the tube that connects the stomach and throat. This backwash of acid is called reflux. Heartburn is a classic...
Ulcerative colitis is an intestinal disease. It causes sores and inflammation in the lining of the colon and rectum. It can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms caused by this disease are similar to symptoms for other intestinal conditions....
Colon rectal cancer is a combination cancer of the large intestine (also called the colon) and the rectum. The rectum is the last section of the colon that is responsible for storing stool until it exits the body. Cancer of these organs is...
From the moment of entry into this world, bacteria surround you. They are abundant in all environments. Bacteria live on your skin, in your intestine and in many other body locations. The overwhelming majority of bacteria do not cause disease....
Some alternative medicine practitioners advocate using sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, to prevent and treat all types of cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society, scientific evidence does not back using sodium bicarbonate for...
Alcohol hinders digestion in many ways. It has both acute and chronic effects on your pancreas, stomach, small intestine and liver. Vomiting due to excessive alcohol consumption demonstrates one immediate and easily observable effect on your...
Black diarrhea is often the sign of blood in the digestive tract that can have multiple causes depending on where the bleeding is coming from. Locations can range from anywhere from the nose or mouth to the colon, though bleeding lower in the GI...
Diverticulitis is a condition affecting the digestive tract. The lining of the intestine may develop small pockets in the tissue that cause sections of the large intestine to bulge. These pockets, called diverticula, are common as a person ages....
Typhoid fever is a serious bacterial infection caused by a bacterium known as Salmonella typhi. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 30 percent of untreated cases are fatal. Patients should seek treatment early...
Ibuprofen and diclofenac are both medications used to reduce symptoms of inflammation such as pain, swelling and tenderness. Prescription ibuprofen is available in 800mg strength, while diclofenac comes in strengths of 100 to 200mg.
Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins in the rectal area. Hemorrhoids result when a person strains while having a bowel movement. Woman often experience hemorrhoids during the later stages of pregnancy. Other causes include obesity, sitting...
According to Drugs.com, misoprostol is a medication used to prevent the development of ulcers in the stomach from the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin. The medication works by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach and...
Colitis (ulcerative colitis) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes severe inflammation of the lining of the large intestine (colon). Though this condition can begin at any age, most patients begin to develop symptoms between the ages...
Bleeding from the rectum is always indicative of a medical problem--sometimes minor, sometimes serious. The amount of blood is not a reliable indicator as to whether the condition is serious. Some rectal bleeding is invisible to the naked eye and...
Urokinase is a medication used to manage a potentially life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism, a condition in which blood clots are located in your lung's blood vessels. According to Drugs.com, urokinase is a tissue plasminogen...
Diclofenac, sold under brand names such as Cataflam and Voltaren-XR, is a commonly prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in the treatment of mild pain from inflammation and arthritis. While many of the side effects of...
Crohn's disease is a chronic disease that causes the bowels (small intestine) to become inflamed. Though it can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, it is mostly seen in the part of the small intestine known as the ileum. The body's...
Digitek is a brand name of a drug known as digoxin. Digoxin is extracted from the leaves of a plant called Digitalis lanata, according to RxList.com. Digoxin is a commonly prescribed drug used to treat various forms of heart disease such as...
If you experience mild to moderate pain or arthritic joint pain and swelling, you may benefit from treatment with magnesium salicylate. Magnesium salicylate is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is administered orally. Before...
Metamucil is an oral laxative that helps in the treatment of occasional constipation or bowel irregularity. It may also help in treating diarrhea and lowering cholesterol when used in tandem with a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat,...
The child is most susceptible to infection directly following Kasai surgery for biliary atresia. The most common concern is the development of ascending cholangitis. This bacterial infection occurs when bacteria normally in the small intestine...
If you are at risk for conditions which may cause life-threatening blood clots, your doctor may prescribe an anticoagulant such as Coumadin to help thin your blood. Coumadin helps prevent heart attacks and strokes, as well as blood clots in the...
Those seeking to boost their concentration or mental focus should look to certain natural herbs. While no herb is clinically proven to give you a brighter clearer mental state, there are some that are showing promise. Before starting any herbal...
Celiac disease is a condition characterized by nutrient malabsorption, abdominal swelling, fatigue and weight loss. This condition is caused by an allergic reaction to alpha-gliadin, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye gluten. Celiac disease...
Most cases of rectal bleeding are minor and resolve on their own. Dark, tarry stools typically stem from bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach or esophagus. Bleeding from the large intestine or rectum is more often...
Diet is often related to anemia, which is an iron deficiency. It can lead to fatigue, irritability, or headaches. Learn more about diets for anemia in this nutrition video.
