Movement through the bowels is constantly occurring to some degree. It ensures that food, fluids and feces move along the bowels at varying speeds where it can be processed and/or expelled. This movement is made possible by the coordinated contraction and relaxation of the small muscles in the bowel walls. It is referred >> Read More ...
Constipation is a common bowel symptom and affects both males and females of all age groups. It is estimated that chronic constipation affects about 15% of Americans. However, it may be far more prevalent as many people do not seek medical attention for constipation and attempt to treat it on their own. Furthermore >> Read More ...
Constipation may be a problem most of the time for some people (chronic), while others only experience it every now and then (acute). Foods, beverages, diseases, inactivity and even change of environment or stress can contribute to acute constipation. It may last only for a week or two and then ease on its own. However, >> Read More ...
Constipation can present with a host of other symptoms, apart from the too few bowel movements in a week, hard stools and difficulty to pass stool. Pain is one of the symptoms that may accompay constipation and may be caused by constipation. This pain commonly arises in the abdomen, back and rectum or pelvic >> Read More ...
Bowel movements are not always coordinated according to a specific time slot on a regular basis. With proper bowel training, some people will experience the urge to have a bowel movement at approximately the same time daily. For others a bowel movement may come at any time in the day or within a few days of the last stool. >> Read More ...
Mucus is a substance that is widely produced through most parts of the body and particularly within cavities where it mainly serves as a lubricant. It is a translucent, jelly-like substance and produced in every part of the gut. It is therefore not uncommon for mucus that is produced by mucous glands that line the small >> Read More ...
What is Feces? Feces or human excrement is the waste material remaining after the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients which is passed out through the anus. It also contains water, some breakdown products of normal metabolic activity, indigestible material and residual nutrients that have not been absorbed. Feces >> Read More ...
Normal bowel habit means passing stool anywhere between three times a day to three times a week. More frequent or infrequent defecation may be classified as diarrhea or constipation, respectively. However, the volume of stool as well as the shape and size of the stool is not often taken into consideration. Sometimes the >> Read More ...
Constipation and diarrhea are at the opposite ends of the spectrum of abnormal bowel habit. After a bout of diarrhea, constipation may seem like a welcomed relief from the frequent trips to the toilet, loose or watery stool, excessive gas and sometimes abdominal pains. But constipation can end up being as distressing as >> Read More ...
A normal bowel habit is usually associated with ease of passing stool at least 3 times a week or more frequently but not exceeding 3 times in a 24 hour period. Difficulty passing stool is a sign of constipation. It is one of the common causes for stuck bowel movement. This feeling may be due to feces stuck in the bowels >> Read More ...
