Constipation

Extra vitamin D may ease Crohn's symptoms, study finds

(HealthDay)—Vitamin D supplements may help those with Crohn's disease overcome the fatigue and decreased muscle strength associated with the inflammatory bowel disease, according to new research.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 20, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

72 percent of pregnant women experience constipation and other bowel problems

Nearly three out of four pregnant women experience constipation, diarrhea or other bowel disorders during their pregnancies, a Loyola University Medical Center study has found.

Obstetrics & gynaecology created May 20, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Pharmaceutical advances offer new options for health outcomes

Research presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) explores pharmaceutical advances for treating irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) and hepatitis C.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 20, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Good diet helps people manage celiac disease

(HealthDay)—For people with celiac disease, an accurate diagnosis and proper diet are essential for good health, experts say.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 10, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Preterm infants may need 800 IU of vitamin D3 per day

Preterm infants may need to be given 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day to ensure they develop strong bones, according to a study to be presented Sunday, May 5, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual ...

Pediatrics created May 05, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Evidence shows that anti-depressants likely do more harm than good, researchers find

Commonly prescribed anti-depressants appear to be doing patients more harm than good, say researchers who have published a paper examining the impact of the medications on the entire body.

Psychology & Psychiatry created Apr 24, 2012 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (19) | comments 10 | with audio podcast

FDA approves Procysbi for nephropathic cystinosis

(HealthDay)—Procysbi (cysteamine bitartrate) delayed-release capsules have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat nephropathic cystinosis in children (6 years and up) and adults. ...

Medications created May 02, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Reformulated imatinib eliminates morphine tolerance in lab studies

By reformulating the common cancer drug imatinib (Gleevec), researchers have eliminated morphine tolerance in rats – an important step toward improving the effectiveness of chronic pain management in patients, according ...

Medications created Feb 21, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (5) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Biologists find potential drug that speeds cellular recycling

A University of Michigan cell biologist and his colleagues have identified a potential drug that speeds up trash removal from the cell's recycling center, the lysosome.

Medical research created Mar 13, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (9) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study reveals how the world's first drug for amyloid disease works

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute and Pfizer Inc. have published a new study showing how a new drug called tafamidis (Vyndaqel) works. Tafamidis, approved for use in Europe and currently under ...

Medical research created May 29, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

How deficiencies in two genes synergize to halt formation of gut nervous system

Mutations in single genes can cause catastrophic diseases, such as Huntington's Disease or sickle cell anemia. However, many conditions, including cancer, diabetes and birth defects are multigenic, arising ...

Genetics created Jan 31, 2013 | popularity 3.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists develop first vaccine to help control autism symptoms

A first-ever vaccine created by University of Guelph researchers for gut bacteria common in autistic children may also help control some autism symptoms. The groundbreaking study by Brittany Pequegnat and Guelph chemistry ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Apr 24, 2013 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (6) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Research shows prescribing stool softeners isn't effective in easing constipation for palliative-care patients

(Medical Xpress)—End-of-life patients typically struggle with constipation caused by the narcotics they are given to alleviate their pain, so doctors prescribe a stool softener called docusate twice a day to alleviate this ...

Health created Apr 22, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

40 percent of parents give young kids cough/cold medicine that they shouldn't

Children can get five to 10 colds each year, so it's not surprising that adults often turn to over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to relieve their little ones' symptoms. But a new University of Michigan poll shows that ...

Pediatrics created Apr 22, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Parkinson's discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis

(Medical Xpress)—A new study could help earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, after a Malaysian researcher working for Newcastle University in the UK identified that even early in the disease people experience symptoms.

Parkinson's & Movement disorders created Apr 18, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast


Constipation (also known as costiveness, dyschezia, and dyssynergic defaecation) refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. Constipation is a common cause of painful defecation. Severe constipation includes obstipation (failure to pass stools or gas) and fecal impaction (see also Bowel obstruction).

Constipation is common; in the general population incidence of constipation varies from 2 to 30%.

Constipation is a symptom with many causes. These causes are of two types: obstructed defecation and colonic slow transit (or hypomobility). About 50% of patients evaluated for constipation at tertiary referral hospitals have obstructed defecation. This type of constipation has mechanical and functional causes. Causes of colonic slow transit constipation include diet, hormones, side effects of medications, and heavy metal toxicity.

Treatments include changes in dietary habits, laxatives, enemas, biofeedback, and surgery. Because constipation is a symptom, not a disease, effective treatment of constipation may require first determining the cause.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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