Ranging from Ex-lax to suppositories, Metamucil to enemas, laxatives are commonly used to relieve irritating bowel symptoms, such as constipation. Some, however, are using laxatives for the wrong reasons, abusing it to the point of death. So what are laxatives, the appropriate and inappropriate ways of administering them, and why misuse of it can lead ...
Cute, furry, and very distinct looking, many people today are considering adopting a chinchilla as a pet. While small like a Guinea pig, the chinchilla requires an intermediate amount of care and is recommended as a pet for those that can devote at least two hours a day for its care. A pricey investment, chinchillas ...
I suffer from severe gastroesophogeal reflux disease, or GERD. Although I’ve learned to keep my condition fairly well controlled using a combination of home remedies and naturopathic treatments, I often have to resort to treatment with the drug omeprazole (Prilosec) when these measures prove insufficient. My doctor recommends that I take this medication regularly to ...
It is hard to determine sometimes whether a pain we are feeling is indicative of a small problem or something serious. If you are having left side stomach pain, here are some things that it might mean. The majority of the digestive system is located on the left side of the stomach. Hence, pain here ...
Bacterial infections among the elderly population are surprisingly common. In many cases, with suppressed or depressed immune systems, the complications of bacterial infection can lead to adverse health outcomes, even life threatening. If you, or someone you know, suffers from a bacterial infection, it is important to seek medical attention early so as to ascertain ...
Canine parvovirus is a pathogen that causes the disease Parvo in dogs. There is more then one strain but they are all very similar so are most often lumped together. It is a highly contagious and highly dangerous disease for dogs. Signs and Symptoms The first symptoms of Parvo are a loss of appetite, lethargy, ...
Sooner or later, your dog will vomit. In order to determine whether the dog just has a minor digestive embarrassment or a major medical crisis, you must be willing to look at the dog’s vomitus. This is no time to be squeamish. Your dog’s life may be at stake. Pay attention to what color the ...
When all is normal, stool color should be brown. The color of stool is sometimes changed by certain kinds of food, but it can also be altered by a medical condition. A variety of factors can cause abnormal stool color in a range of hues including green, yellow, red, black, tan, and light clay-colored. Green ...
Ischemic colitis, which is the most common of the diseases under the umbrella of bowel ischemia, is a condition in which the bowel experiences a shortage of blood supply, frequently causing damage to the intestines and colon. Many patients who develop ischemic colitis suffer from other bowel diseases and conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and ...
A common reason for misdiagnosis of diseases and disorders is the lack of specifics when a patient describes his or her condition to a doctor. A set of symptoms frequently has more than one possible cause, which means that patients must strive to describe their symptoms as thoroughly as possible for correct diagnoses. If you’re ...
