Your digestive system is a complex series of tube-like organs that begin at the mouth and end at the rectum. This is where your body breaks down the foods you eat and extracts nutrients, leaving indigestible particles to accumulate as waste. The...
Many people experience constipation, which is the inability to have a normal bowel movement. This condition can be caused by a lack of fiber, lack of physical activity, illness or medications and generally is relieved within a few days. Regardless...
The definition of constipation is to have less than three bowel movements per week, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. If you are constipated, you may also strain during your bowel movements; have small, dry...
Unfortunately, constipation is a common side effect of iron supplements. Not everyone has a bowel movement daily, but you are likely to have constipation if you pass fewer than three stools a week, if you pass hard stools, strain more than usual...
Learning proper bowel habits is not an easy process for a child. Constipation is a common childhood problem. There are many reasons a child might become constipated, such as lazy bathroom habits or poor diet. The American Academy of Family...
Early in pregnancy, the odds are in favor of you experiencing a number of uncomfortable symptoms, many of which are gastrointestinal in nature. In addition to the classic morning sickness, diarrhea isn't uncommon. In very early pregnancy, it's...
If your child has a decrease in the frequency of her bowel movements, or has fewer than three bowel movements per week, she may be suffering from constipation. Constipation is often accompanied by hard, small, dry stools that are difficult to...
Magnesium citrate is a liquid medication usually reserved for cleaning out the bowels when you're preparing for a gastrointestinal procedure such as a colonoscopy. Milder versions of the remedy also are helpful for relieving constipation. It...
Many children suffer from chronic constipation due to diet or life changes. This can include toilet training or frequently eating high-fat or sugary meals and snacks. Sometimes children who are sedentary or who have ADHD have chronic constipation...
Consuming refined foods, a number of dairy products, alcohol, even stress can cause constipation or hardening of the stool. It can last anywhere from a day to a number of weeks if not treated properly. Laxatives are somewhat of an immediate...
Black tea contains the fermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. When served with hot water it makes a strong tasting brew popular around the world. It may appear that a hot cup of tea could help a condition such as constipation. However,...
Constipation refers to straining, incomplete bowel evacuation or the inability to produce a bowel movement three times per week. Chronic constipation occurs after several weeks with the continued inability to produce a bowel movement three times...
Constipation happens to everyone at some time in their lives. A person may encounter severe and chronic constipation. Constipation can be defined as infrequent or hard stools, pain during the passage of stool, the inability to pass stool after 10...
Wellbutrin is a brand name of the antidepressant medication bupropion. Your doctor may prescribe it to treat depression, to prevent depression if you have seasonal affective disorder or to help you quit smoking. It may interact with certain...
The large intestine is also known as the colon. The colon is part of the digestive system that leads to the rectum. The Mayo Clinic reports that cancer in the colon typically starts as polyps that are at first benign. As these polyps persist, they...
Low carb diets are known for a fast initial weight loss. A very restrictive low carb diet can be challenging to follow, but can produce rapid and significant weight loss. For best results, transition to a less restrictive low carb diet after the...
A bowel movement is the final step in the digestive process. This substance, commonly referred to as a BM, feces, poop or stool, consists of what remains after your stomach, small intestine and colon absorb the fluids and nutrients out of the...
Psyllium husks are unique among fiber supplements. These bulk laxatives expand to create an odorless, colorless, jelly-like substance that helps to push bowel movements through the digestive tract without the side effects associated with stimulant...
Your colon, or large intestine, is an organ in the lower part of your digestive tract. Colon cancer can be a devastating and sometimes fatal disease. It's hard to know for sure whether your colon is healthy unless you have diagnostic testing done,...
The first few weeks of pregnancy are an exciting time for new parents-to-be. It may also be a time of uncertainty and confusion as your body begins to go through many changes. Pregnancy symptoms may begin as early as one to two weeks following...
Constipation is a common side effect of most low-carbohydrate diets, including the Atkins Diet, especially during the early, most restrictive weeks of the diet. While constipation can be annoying and uncomfortable, it is typically not a dangerous...
Colorectal cancer occurs in the large intestine or rectum--the area where stool is stored until passed from the body. The American Cancer Society reports that nearly 147,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in...
Cigarette smoking can kill you and endanger your love ones as well, but it is not easy to quit. No one wants to experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Fortunately, withdrawal symptoms are temporary, and there are several measures you can take...
Constipation, generally defined as an infrequent or difficult bowel movement, is an uncomfortable but very common condition. Constipation is usually temporary, and can be alleviated by getting more exercise and eating a diet high in fiber....
Constipation in children is a common, and potentially painful, occurrence. Fortunately, a simple change in diet can often relieve constipation and bring back a child's regular bowel movements. In some cases, dietary changes need only be temporary...
An article by Wendy Biggs, M.D. and William Dery, M.D. from Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine, defines constipation as having trouble defecating for more than two weeks. Biggs and Dery elaborate that constipation in children is...
A low carbohydrate diet generally provides below 100 g of carbohydrates a day, most of them recommending restricting the daily intake to below 20 g a day in the initial phase to promote faster weight loss. Although many critics of the low-carb way...
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition that can cause a multitude of gastrointestinal problems for 12 weeks or more. Diarrhea, constipation, frequent bowel movements and stomach cramps are some of the symptoms of this condition....
If you are 50 or older, you should be screened for colon cancer. It's best not to wait for the signs of cancer to show up. Colon cancer is preventable and curable if caught early. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you may start...
Constipation is the condition of experiencing hard feces which are difficult to pass. Learn remedies and treatment options for constipation in this health video.
