Constipation is present when a person experiences fewer than three bowel movements per week. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, more than 4 million Americans have frequent constipation, accounting for...
Constipation is defined by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NDDIC, as fewer than three bowel movements a week. Most cases of constipation clear up quickly and are not a cause of concern. There are some natural ways to...
Iron is a mineral that the body needs to produce red blood cells in the bone marrow, states MayoClinic.com. When the body does not get enough iron through diet, or iron is lost through blood loss, you may become anemic. Therefore, replacing an...
As people get older, especially women, they may have trouble controlling the bladder. Illnesses or stresses on the bladder can contribute to the problem. Even with good bladder control, as a person ages the bladder has less capacity, which can...
Childhood constipation is a common problem of the gastrointestinal system, explains the Mayo Clinic. Treating the issue depends on the underlying cause. Medical treatment is necessary if a child has gone more than two weeks without a bowel...
A high-fiber diet can improve your baby's digestive health and may help prevent or relieve constipation, which is characterized by hard, dry and painful stools. Fiber softens stools by drawing in water and making it easier for your baby to have...
Alfacalcidol is an over-the-counter medication that contains vitamin D. This dietary supplement can be used to alleviate symptoms caused by unusually low levels of vitamin D, calcium or phosphate within the body. Alfacalcidol is not currently...
Antacids are over-the-counter medications that often contain aluminum, magnesium, calcium or a combination of those substances. Some of the products available are Mylanta, Maalox, Milk of Magnesia, Alka-Seltzer, Tums and Rolaids. Antacids...
Your urinary bladder is an organ that temporarily stores urine produced by your kidneys. Bladder control problems -- an inability to hold urine in your bladder without leakage -- may restrict your physical activities and cause withdrawal from...
Getting enough calcium in your diet is essential for bone health and development. Some people take calcium supplements to achieve the daily recommended amount. If you develop stomach pain from using calcium supplements, you should call your doctor...
Your body relies on the nutrients from the foods you eat for survival. Mechanical and chemical processes break food down into molecules that are absorbed through your intestines, and the resulting waste is eliminated during a bowel movement....
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...
Levaquin (levofloxacin) is a quinolone antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, sinuses, kidneys, bladder or prostate. It may also be used for the treatment of anthrax inhalation. It is important to finish your full course of...
Maalox is an over-the-counter antacid medication that contains the active ingredient calcium carbonate. Typically, this medication is used to treat symptoms associated with heartburn, indigestion, or upset stomach. Maalox is available as a...
The drug generically named aprepitant is used as a secondary treatment to chemotherapy for cancer patients. Aprepitant, alongside other drugs, treats and prevents nausea and vomiting that may occur because of the cancer treatment. This medication...
Constipation is a common digestive condition characterized by infrequent or incomplete bowel movements. Constipation is a Latin word that means "to press " or "crowd together." If you don't drink enough water or don't have enough fiber in your...
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, that is available by prescription in a dosage of 600 milligrams (mg). Ibuprofen is also sold as an over-the-counter fever reducer and anti-inflammatory analgesic commonly used for...
Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350) is a drug used to treat constipation. This drug is sold under the brand name MiraLax. Because this medication works to relieve constipation, it can cause several side effects. While some do not have harmful...
A misconception among some dieters is that laxatives can help them lose weight. However, using laxatives as diet pills or overusing these drugs to relieve constipation is potentially dangerous, warns University of Iowa Health Care. Not only can...
Cascara has been traditionally used in folk medicine and was even once approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, as an over-the-counter drug for constipation. The FDA banned its use as a drug in 2002 due to concerns over safety...
Strattera, known generically as atomoxetine, is a medication doctors prescribe to control the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It works by affecting the chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to both hyperactivity...
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs, were the first kinds of antidepressants available, back in the 1950s, according to the Mayo Clinic. Monoamine oxidase breaks down the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine in the brain,...
Zelnorm, a brand name for generic drug tegaserod maleate, earned approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome in July 2002. Although the drug performed well, the...
Laxatives are drugs, foods or substances used to induce bowel movement to relieve constipation. The doctor may advise you to take laxatives if you have medical conditions that may be worsened by straining. These conditions include heart disease,...
Colestipol, also known as Colestid and Colestid Flavored, according to Drugs.com, is marketed as a cholesterol drug designed to lower levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. MediResource notes that it works by binding with cholesterol being...
Physicians may recommend and prescribe the generically named medication solifenacin, sold as the brand-name drug VESIcare, to help a person regain control of bladder function. The National Institutes of Health classifies the drug as an...
Physicians may prescribe Mobic for relief of arthritis. Known generically as meloxicam, Mobic is classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID. This pain medication works by reducing the levels of chemicals within the body that...
Aggrenox is the United States brand name of a combination of the generic drugs dipyridamole and aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). Aggrenox is prescribed to help prevent the onset of a stroke. It functions by making your blood thinner to help avoid...
Amitiza is a prescription drug used to treat idiopathic chronic constipation in adults. Idiopathic constipation means constipation with no known cause. It is also approved to treat constipation due to irritable bowel syndrome in women. Amitiza...
Incontinence is the loss of control of excretory functions. Get expert tips and advice on treating and living with incontinence in this medical video.
Constipation is the condition of experiencing hard feces which are difficult to pass. Learn remedies and treatment options for constipation in this health video.
