Mayo Clinic: Irritable Bowel Syndrome Definitely Isn't 'All in the Head' How to put your smartphone "on call" Applications that run on your cell phone put health and wellness aids just a touch away. Multipurpose gadgets — from the dubious devices hawked on late-night television to reliable standbys like food processors — capture our fancy because they promise to save space, time, and money.
The iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry are no exception. Aptly dubbed "smartphones," they don't just make calls — they're also highly portable, powerful computers that can perform a seemingly infinite variety of tasks, thanks to operating systems that run programs called applications, or "apps. " Hundreds of thousands of smartphone apps are already available for downloading, including some 250,000 for the iPhone, 80,000 for the Android, and 12,000 for the BlackBerry. And more are being created all the time. Over a thousand of these apps are aimed at improving health and fitness.
Evaluating apps Because the field is enormous, ever-changing, and largely unregulated, app shopping can be something of a challenge. Common painkillers boost risk of repeat heart attack. Most people don’t think twice about taking Motrin, Advil, Aleve or similar over-the-counter painkillers. Some should. A new study suggests that heart attack survivors should use these drugs as little as possible. These medications belong to a family of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They are considered pretty safe when used occasionally in low to moderate doses to relieve pain, with some exceptions. People with kidney disease and those with a history of peptic ulcer or upper gastrointestinal bleeding should avoid using NSAIDs.
People with heart failure, advanced liver disease or high blood pressure should check with their doctors before taking NSAIDs. What they found A team of Danish researchers followed the health of almost 100,000 people who had a first heart attack for five years. After one year, those who used an NSAID were about 60% more likely to have died during each year of the study than those who didn’t use an NSAID. What’s the connection?
IBS Slideshow: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Diarrhea, Constipation, Help and Support. GI Disorders Newsletter Get the latest treatment options. Advertisement Reviewed by Andrew Seibert, MD on September 20, 2011 Sources: 1) Matthieu Spohn/PhotoAlto 2) Pierre Bourrier 3) MedImage / Photo Researchers, Inc. and ISM / Phototake 4) Marcus Lyon/Photographer's Choice 5) Monkey Business Images Ltd/Stockbroker 6) Moodboard 7) Roy Hsu/Uppercut Images 8) Frederic Cirou/PhotoAlto 9) Thinkstock 10) Patrick Kociniak/Design Pics Inc 11) Jupiter Images Unlimited 12) Steve Pomberg/WebMD 13) Jonathan Nourok/Stone 14) Image Source 15) Comstock Images 16) Ocsar Burriel/Photo Researchers Inc. 17) Will&Deni McIntyre/Photo Researchers Inc. 18) Dean Sanderson/Tetra Images 19) Colin Anderson/Brand X Pictures 20) Jose L Pelaez/Flirt American College of Gastroenterology.
This tool does not provide medical advice. THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. . © 2011 WebMD, LLC. WebMD Slideshows View our slideshows to learn more about your health. Linzess Linaclotide for IBS Constipation. What Is Linzess (Constella)? : Linzess (linaclotide) is an oral medication designed for the treatment of constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). In the U.S., the medication is approved for use in adults 18 years or older who have IBS-C or CIC. In Europe, the medication is called Constella, is approved for treatment of IBS-C, and should be available in the first half of 2013.
How Linzess Works: Linzess is characterized as a "peptide agonist of guanylate cyclase-C receptors. " Effectiveness of Linzess: Clinical studies to date suggest that patients who take Linzess as opposed to a placebo are more likely to experience: An increase in the number of bowel movementsImproved stool consistencyLess strainingLessening of abdominal discomfortDecrease in bloating These positive effects are generally seen fairly quickly after starting the medication and remain in effect while patients continue to take the drug. How to Take Linzess: Sources: Lee, N. & Wald, A. FDA approves Linzess to treat certain cases of irritable bowel syndrome and constipation. For Immediate Release: Aug. 30, 2012Media Inquiries: Stephanie Yao, 301-796-0394, stephanie.yao@fda.hhs.gov Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA FDA approves Linzess to treat certain cases of irritable bowel syndrome and constipation The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration today approved Linzess (linaclotide) to treat chronic idiopathic constipation and to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults. According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 63 million people are affected by chronic constipation. Chronic idiopathic constipation is a diagnosis given to those who experience persistent constipation and do not respond to standard treatment.
Additionally, an estimated 15.3 million people are affected by IBS. Linzess is a capsule taken once daily on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before the first meal of the day. The safety and effectiveness of Linzess for the management of IBS-C were established in two, double-blind studies. For more information: New drug may treat IBS: Health24: Digestive Health. A new drug significantly reduces the abdominal pain and constipation characteristic of certain types of irritable bowel syndrome, according to two new studies. Both phase 3 trials, published online in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, formed much of the basis for approval of the drug, Linzess (linaclotide), by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August, said Dr William Chey, lead author of one of the studies and co-editor-in-chief of the journal.
"These are as good a set of results as we've seen on a drug for patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome," said Chey, who is a professor of medicine at the University of Michigan Health System, in Ann Arbor. Both trials were funded by Forest Research Institute and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which make the drug. An Ironwood employee provided editorial assistance for both studies.
What is IBS? How the study was done What the study found "There are lots of drugs out there for constipation," Pfanner noted.
Nutrition. Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS Diet and Nutrition. Constipation Diet: Which Foods Help Prevent Constipation? (HealthCastle.com) There is a lot of talk about getting enough fiber and fluid in your daily diet to prevent constipation. But beyond just making sure you get your fruits and vegetables, what foods can actually help ward off constipation?
Foods To Ward Off Constipation There are many possible causes of constipation. Addressing it comes down to getting enough: Fiber There are two kinds of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Both soluble and insoluble fiber pass through undigested/unabsorbed by the body. Many good sources of fiber contain both types. Leafy dark green vegetables (high in insoluble fiber). Fluid Making sure you stay well hydrated is the other piece of the puzzle in preventing constipation. Note: Watch your caffeine intake if you're pregnant. Physical Activity Yes, it's true: Regular physical activity helps with regular bowel movement. The Bottom Line. IBS Awareness Month: Link Between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Mental Health. If you’ve ever felt like your stomach was in knots after stressing over an upcoming test, you know the power your mind has to affect the rest of your body.
April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month, and part of this awareness is exploring the connection between IBS and mental health. IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that is characterized by issues in the large intestine or colon, as well as the small intestine, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders website. Common symptoms include “abdominal pain or discomfort,” “bloating or a sense of gaseousness,” and “a change in bowel habits (diarrhea and/or constipation),” according to the website. Although IBS is a physical condition and the exact cause hasn’t been found yet, experts have found a link between IBS and mental health issues.
According to the website, IBS could be a result of an “increased gastrointestinal response to stress.” “IBS is a very common syndrome in this country.