Constipation

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

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

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

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

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

'Clinical trials in a dish' may be more reliable than standard way of measuring drug effects on heart, researchers say

(Medical Xpress)—Last week, the common antibiotic Zithromax received a new warning label from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration indicating it could cause dangerous arrhythmias in people with pre-existing heart conditions. ...

Medical research created Mar 22, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

High-fiber diet helps heart too, expert says

(HealthDay)—Eating a high-fiber diet does more than promote digestive well-being; it's also good for your heart, an expert says.

Cardiology created Mar 03, 2013 | popularity 4 / 5 (2) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Early exposure to gluten may help babies avoid celiac risk: study

(HealthDay)—Modifying an infant's diet to include the protein gluten while the mother is still breast-feeding could lower the risk of celiac disease, a common intestinal disorder, according to a new Swedish ...

Pediatrics created Feb 19, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | 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

Parkinson's can lead to anxiety and other non-motor symptoms, even early on

While movement problems are the main symptom of Parkinson's disease, a new study shows that even early in the course of disease people frequently experience many non-motor symptoms such as drooling, anxiety and constipation. ...

Parkinson's & Movement disorders created Jan 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Stressed out? Tips for taking control

While part of everyday life, stress seems to intensify around the holidays and into the new year.

Psychology & Psychiatry created Jan 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Discovery offers new treatment for epilepsy

New drugs derived from components of a specific diet used by children with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy could offer a new treatment, according to research published today in the journal Neuropharmacology.

Neuroscience created Nov 20, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study shows benefits, drawbacks, for women's incontinence treatments

Oral medication for treating a type of incontinence in women is roughly as effective as Botox injections to the bladder, reported researchers who conducted a National Institutes of Health clinical trials network study, with ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Oct 04, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Children with autism experience interrelated health issues

(Medical Xpress)—One in 88 children has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new study by a University of Missouri researcher ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Sep 19, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New drug might help treat irritable bowel syndrome

(HealthDay)—A new drug significantly reduces the abdominal pain and constipation characteristic of certain types of irritable bowel syndrome, according to two new studies.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Sep 18, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | 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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Researchers analyse hunting behaviour of fish larvae in virtual reality

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