People with diabetes are more susceptible to foot problems for two major reasons: neuropathy (nerve damage) and poor blood circulation, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Neuropathy can be dangerous because a loss of...
Slippery elm, a North American herb, is recognized in the United States as a time-honored alternative health treatment, according to Drugs.com. Slippery elm bark is used internally to treat digestive tract disorders and externally to treat a...
Rice is a healthy food for people with bowel problems, although the type of rice you should eat depends on your particular medical issue. For example, chronic constipation sufferers benefit from high-fiber rice, while those with inflamed...
You have specialized white blood cells that serve as soldiers for your immune system. When harmful bacteria attack, your white blood cells attempt to destroy the invaders. Sometimes, your immune system is unable to fend off the bacteria, and your...
Ulcerative colitis, or UC, is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers in the lining of your colon. Symptoms you may experience include pain, rectal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fatigue and weight loss. Doctors aren't sure...
Diverticulitis is an abdominal infection that occurs when pouches off the large intestine are inflamed. These pouches are called diverticula and can arise at any part of the digestive tract, including the esophagus, small intestine, or large...
As you age, your intestines often develop small pockets or pouches called diverticula. As many as 50 percent of people over age 60 have diverticulosis, the presence of diverticula, MedlinePlus reports. A small percentage of people develop...
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation occurs in any portion of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Current research points to heredity and a malfunctioning immune system...
Crohn's Colitis, also known as Crohn's disease, is an inflammatory disease that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Scientists believe that heredity and malfunctioning...
Making sure your body has the right balance of potassium is imperative to your health. Potassium regulates water, muscle and heart function in the body. When you have too much potassium in your body, it is referred to as hyperkalemia. Not enough...
Stomachaches can be caused by a number of things, including medications, foods and infectious agents. The National Institutes of Health says nearly everyone experiences a stomachache at some point. Digestion-related stomach discomfort is common.
Safety is an important consideration whenever you use a natural remedy to address your health concerns. When it comes to safety issues, marshmallow root preparations--such as tinctures, creams, teas, cough syrups and capsules--may seem as harmless...
Chocolate presents a problem for most people with Crohn's disease. However, with Chrohn's disease, some people react more strongly to certain foods, while others can eat them without any side-effects. That means that you may be able to eat small...
As discussed on MayoClinic.com, Crohn's disease is an inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract. It affects both men and women equally but is more common in patients with a relative affected by the disease. Patients often complain of...
Crohn's disease refers to a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that most commonly affects your small intestine (part of your digestive tract) and colon, according to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Parts of your digestive...
During surgery, an incision is made into the skin and underlying structures in order to open them up. This incision is a surgical wound that must be closed, either with sutures or staples, at the conclusion of the surgery. Wound dehiscence is the...
Stomach acid works to break down food before it goes into the intestines. It also protects the body from some microorganisms that cause illness. Before you give your child an antacid because she is vomiting, figure out when it is safe to do so....
Nuts are a nutritious, high calorie snack. They provide healthy fats and protein. For some people, nuts are a trigger food that causes gastrointestinal distress. Nuts have a high fiber content and can be difficult to digest during a GI flare up....
Some types of anemia--a shortage of healthy red blood cells--are caused by the presence of a chronic disease. You may develop anemia as a result of rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and chemotherapy treatment, Crohn's disease or kidney failure. The...
According to Kenneth McQuaid, M.D., chief of the gastroenterology section of San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center, the causes of bloody stool depend on how severe the bleeding is and your age. Even so, there are many potential...
Diverticulosis occurs when small, bulging sacs protrude out of the walls of the digestive tract. They occur most often in the lining of the large intestine. When these sacs become irritated and inflamed, often by diet or stress, the condition is...
Minerals are substances that your body requires for optimum health, as your body needs them to perform many different jobs. Minerals include trace minerals, which you only need in small amounts, and macrominerals, which you need in larger amounts....
According to a 2003 article in the journal "RN," Crohn's disease is one of the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease. It is characterized by sudden, unpredictable bouts of diarrhea and abdominal pain. Crohn's disease can affect a...
You might need to follow a diet for malabsorption if you have had surgery to either your stomach or small intestine, suffer from pancreatic insufficiency or have an inflamed bowel caused by a chronic disease such as celiac disease or ulcerative...
Watery diarrhea refers to debilitating symptoms that can make people extremely dehydrated. Sometimes, an infection can reach the intestines and lead to this symptom. In some instances, the bowels can become inflamed and lead to watery diarrhea....
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...
Garlic, a nutritional supplement, may help promote proper blood circulation in your body. It helps by lowering cholesterol levels in your arteries, according to MedlinePlus. This alone increases the flow of flood in your arteries and lowers the...
If the bowels are injured, inflamed or parts need to be removed due to cancer, a colostomy may be necessary. This procedure involves attaching one end of the intestines to the abdominal wall. Next, an opening is made in the abdominal wall and a...
Hemorrhoids, or piles, are varicose veins in your anus. They commonly become swollen and inflamed as a result of straining as you move your bowels. Additional risk factors include obesity, aging, pregnancy, and chronic constipation or diarrhea....