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...
According to the MayoClinic.com website, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects the large intestines. Symptoms for IBS are cramping, pain and constipation and depending on severity affect daily life for many individuals. There is no definitive...
If you have difficulty having a bowel movement, you may be suffering from constipation. People with constipation may experience difficulty during bowel movements, having hard stools and reduced frequency of bowel movements. Some lifestyle changes...
Senna pods are the seed pods of the senna plant. Herbalists and natural doctors recommend senna pod supplements to treat mild cases of constipation. You should, however, take precautions when you use any laxative to treat constipation, including...
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is an incurable digestive disorder that can be managed through diet modification and stress reduction. IBS affects about 20 percent of the American population with symptoms developing around the age of 35,...
Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal issues. According to the National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse, about 4 million Americans experience frequent constipation. Senna is a plant used in herbal medicine as a laxative. It...
Bowel irregularity is any health problem that disrupts the normal frequency and consistency of your bowel movements. Acidophilus is a supplement made of bacteria that may help treat some causes of bowel irregularity, but you should talk to your...
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...
When you have a baby, you suddenly have a ton of new things to worry about. You want to make sure the baby is healthy, you want him to be fed, you want him to get his rest and you want to make sure everyone gets a chance to see him. However, there...
Your baby's first few bowel movements consist of meconium, a sticky substance that forms in her intestines before birth. Once her body has moved all the meconium through her system, her bowel movements assume their normal appearance for a healthy...
Because high protein diets often rely on animal-based foods that do not contain fiber, constipation can be an uncomfortable side effect. Long-term constipation can lead to heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer.
Prunes are often eaten as a natural laxative to relieve constipation. Similar to other high-fiber products used as laxatives, prunes contain high levels of complex sugar molecules that are difficult for the intestines to absorb. When these complex...
Colon polyps are groups of tissue that grow inside the large intestine. Most polyps are not dangerous, but they can be cancerous, according to Medline Plus. Risk factors for developing polyps include being over the age of 50, a history of previous...
Constipation can vary from person to person because there is no set number of bowel movements that you're supposed to have on a daily or weekly basis. While it may be normal for your spouse to have two or more bowel movements per day, it may be...
Approximately a billion cases of diarrhea occur in children across the globe each year, and over 3 million children die from diseases caused by or stemming from diarrhea, according to Dr. Alan Greene, pediatrician, author, and founder of...
Digestive upset or discomfort is unpleasant no matter what your age. But for newborn infants, gastrointestinal problems may be alarming. Although digestive problems may result from an infection or illness, they are likely to be caused by the...
Diverticulitis is an inflammation of tiny pouches on the inner lining of the digestive tract known as diverticula. Diverticulitis may cause sudden, severe pain located in the lower left side of the abdomen as well as fever, nausea, constipation,...
Constipation can be a serious problem in the elderly, and it's one that can be resolved rather easily by adding more fiber to the diet. Fiber is a necessary nutrient that can be found in grains, fruits, vegetables and beans. Other foods high in...
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that helps regulate the levels of calcium in your body. As an adult, you should receive between 5 and 15 micrograms of vitamin D each day, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. If...
This health issue of constipation occurs because gastrointestinal system's bowel tract slows down and becomes sluggish. It can occur because of change in medication, low intake of fiber in the diet and because of increased stress in a person's...
Calcium and vitamin D are two nutrients that the body uses to keep your bones healthy and strong. Calcium supplements often contain vitamin D because this type of vitamin helps the body absorb calcium more efficiently. If you have low calcium or...
New parents want to ensure that their children are getting the proper nutrition. They also want to be sure their newborn has properly functioning intestines. For these reasons, many parents monitor the food intake and stool output of their...
Constipation is usually accompanied with bloating. MayoClinic.com defines constipation as having fewer than three bowel movements a week. Normal bowel movements vary from person to person, but if stool is hard in texture and difficult to pass,...
Constipation is a digestive symptom defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week. In addition to infrequency, constipation is characterized by hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass. Someone who is constipated may have to...
Constipation is a common, if not uncomfortable and unpleasant, digestive problem. While it can have many causes, eating a diet low in fruit and fiber can lead to this condition. By adding more fruit to your diet, you may be able to relieve your...
Spastic bowel is also referred to as irritable bowel, or spastic colon. It is a chronic, non-inflammatory disease that presents with symptoms of pain and altered bowel habits. According to the National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse,...
The frequency and consistency of normal bowel movements varies among healthy children, making "diarrhea" difficult to define. Parents who note consistent or recurrent abnormal bowel movements should consult the child's doctor for advice,...
The gallbladder is the organ that collects and stores bile made by the liver to digest fat. Cancer forms in the inside tissues of the gallbladder and grows outward through the wall of the organ. According to the National Cancer Institute, early...
People experiencing difficulty and decreased ability to have bowel movements suffer from constipation. The regularity of bowel movements differs with each person. Hard stools that are difficult to pass are common after approximately three days...
Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that causes severe lung damage and nutritional deficiencies. Cystic fibrosis affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat, saliva and digestive juices. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and...
Hemorrhoids are swollen, inflamed veins in your anus and rectum which are quite common but also sometimes embarrassing. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments of hemorrhoids in this video.
