What Are Fiber Supplements? Fiber supplements contain dietary fiber or synthesized fiber-like substances that increase bulk of the stool. They mostly contain indigestible carbohydrates. Several types and brands exist. They are available over the counter (OTC) in various forms, including powder, >> Read More ...
What Is Psyllium Fiber? Psyllium fiber is soluble dietary fiber, produced from the covering (husk) of seeds of Plantago ovata plant. When added to food and ingested, it absorbs water from the bowel, and thus makes the stool bulk and therefore easy to excrete. Psyllium Fiber Content 100 grams of Psyllium husk contains >> Read More ...
Normal Bowel Habit in a Newborn and Infant The main symptom of infant constipation is not a low bowel movement frequency but a hard stool consistency. Breastfed infants have stool of liquid or paste consistency from once after every feed to about once a week. Formula fed infants have stool of paste consistency once every >> Read More ...
What Are Intestinal Worms (Helminths)? Human intestinal worms are parasites that live in the human intestine, eat bowel content or suck blood from the intestinal wall. Intestinal worms may cause severe infection,s predominantly in children in tropical and subtropical areas. It is more common in developing nations >> Read More ...
What Is a Bowel or Fecal Urgency? Bowel or fecal urgency is a sudden, irresistible need to have a bowel movement. Urge fecal incontinence is inability to hold stool during bowel urgency. Bowel incontinence is complete inability to control bowel movements. Tenesmus (Greek tens = strain) is a repeating painful urge to >> Read More ...
What Is Peritoneum? The peritoneum (Greek peritonaion = stretched across) is an abdominal membrane consisting of two sheets: the parietal peritoneum (Latin parietalis = belonging to walls) that covers the inner side of the abdominal wall and the visceral peritoneum (Latin viscera = internal organs) that covers certain >> Read More ...
What Are Adhesions? This article describes abdominal adhesions, bowel (intestinal) adhesions and pelvic adhesions. Adhesions (Latin adhere= to stick, to hold tight) are abnormal bands of scar tissue that form between internal organs and glue them together. Normally, scar tissue is formed only within an injured area, as >> Read More ...
Belching or burping is a normal process whereby gas in the upper digestive tract is expelled into the environment. Most of this gas is air that is swallowed when eating, drinking or talking. Mouth breathers (often due to nasal congestion) tend to swallow more air. However, belching may be considered abnormal if it is >> Read More ...
Bloating – stomach distension due to gas built in the stomach or bowel – may be caused by certain foods, intestinal disorders, bacterial overgrowth or food poisoning with bacteria or parasites. What Causes Bloating Shortly After Eating? Bloating in the upper abdomen appearing within minutes after starting a >> Read More ...
What Is Capsule Endoscopy? In capsule endoscopy, you swallow a pill-shaped camera (PillCam) that then travels through your gut and makes pictures of your small intestine (1). Picture 1. A capsule camera to swallow in capsule endoscopy (source: Wikipedia) A capsule camera is 28 mm (about an inch) long and 11 mm wide. It >> Read More ...
