Monroe Community Hospital "Effects of Dietary Fiber - LiquaFiber™ - on Replacing Bowel Medications and Psyllium Fiber use in Long Term Care Residents" This clinical trial was performed at Monroe Community Hospital in Rochester, New York. Monroe Community Hospital is a 560-bed long-term care facility that has a unique patient mix. The facility has residents of all ages, from children as small as infants to the elderly. The facility boasts one of the finest Alzheimer's units in the country and has a high speed transitional care unit that offers wonders in a variety of therapies. This study began on March 1st and ran until April 20th . Problem Like most long- term care facilities MCH faces the everyday problems associated with constipation and bowel management. One of the contributing factors is the difficulty of patients obtaining the Recommended Daily Allowance of fiber. The products available require large amounts of liquid to be ingested which is very difficult for residence to consume on a consistent basis. The patients are afflicted with taste fatigue and refuse the treatment, hence Read more [...]

Constipation is defined as the difficulty of passing stools, incomplete passage, or infrequent passage of hard stools. It can be further defined as having less than three stools per week for women and five for men despite a high residual diet, or a period greater than 3 d without a bowel movement. It can be caused by gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic and endocrine disorders, pregnancy, neurogenic and psychogenic problems, or it could be drug induced. Laxative Mechanisms of Action Laxatives promote bowel evacuation by decreasing water and electrolyte absorption, increasing intraluminal osmolarity, or increasing hydrostatic pressure in the gut. Chronic use of laxatives, particularly stimulants, may lead to laxative dependency. Laxative dependency, in turn, may result in fluid and electrolyte imbalances, steatorrhea, osteomalacia, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Known as laxative abuse syndrome (LAS), it is difficult to diagnose. Laxative abuse syndrome is often seen in women with anorexia nervosa, depression, and personality disorders and also in elderly patients with quasimedical concerns Read more [...]

IBS — Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diagnosis and Definition Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic intestinal disorder characterized by abdominal discomfort and altered bowel habits. These symptoms occur in the absence of "structural or biochemical abnormalities." It is estimated that up to 20% of the population of the United States has symptoms suggestive of IBS. Multiple comorbidities, the high cost of medical utilization, and diminished productivity and quality of life all may be found in association with irritable bowel syndrome. Despite extensive research, there is no specific test that can diagnose this condition. In clinical practice, a diagnosis of IBS is accomplished after performing a careful medical history, including a system assessment using established diagnostic criteria, a complete physical examination, and limited laboratory testing. A flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is often suggested; the choice of these evaluations depends on the age and risk factors of the individual patient. The clinician must carefully assess the patient for any signs and symptoms of organic Read more [...]

Constipation is commonly defined as the paucity of bowel movements. However, patients may have constipation regardless of the number of bowel movements in a unit of time. The inability to satisfactorily evacuate one's colon and rectum can be manifested by different degrees of abdominal discomfort associated with "normal" bowel habits, infrequent stools, or even overflow diarrhea. In addition, many other abdominal complaints are related to constipation, including pain syndromes, bloating, fullness, and even heartburn and dyspepsia. It is not unusual for patients referred for constipation to present to the specialist having had at least one (and possibly multiple) full anatomic evaluation(s) of the bowel, including computed tomography (CT) scans, contrast studies, and colonoscopies. The reported results of these studies are usually normal, except for varying degrees of diverticulosis coli. Usually, a careful history suffices to reveal the underlying problem. Issues to be addressed in the history include bowel habits, frequency of bowel movements, ease or difficulty with evacuation, chronicity, Read more [...]

Synonyms: Egyiptomi útifűmag (ispaghula seed); Egyiptomi útifűmaghéj (ispaghula husk); Ispagula; Ispagulafrö (ispaghula seed); Ispagulafröskal (ispaghula husk); Ispagulansiemen (ispaghula seed); Ispagulansiemenkuori (ispaghula husk); Kiaušininių gysločių sėklų luobelės (ispaghula husk); Kiaušininių gysločių sėklos (ispaghula seed); Osemení jitrocele vejčitého (ispaghula husk); Semeno jitrocele vejčitého (ispaghula seed); Шелуха Исфагулы (ispaghula husk) Read code: y08Ce [Gastrointestinal Bulk Laxative]; y01RI; y0A1Q [Lipid Lowering Use] Pharmacopoeias. Monographs for the husk and seed are included in Europe and US. European Pharmacopoeia, 6th ed. (Ispaghula Husk Plantaginis Ovatae Seminis Tegumentum). The episperm and collapsed adjacent layers removed from the seeds of Plantago ovata (Plantago ispaghula). The powdered drug loses not more than 12.0% of its weight on drying. Protect from light. European Pharmacopoeia, 6th ed. (Ispaghula Seed Plantaginis Ovatae Semen). The dried ripe seeds of'Plantago ovata (Plantago ispaghula). The powdered Read more [...]

Laxative Addiction The huge sale of cathartics and the large variety of preparations offered for the treatment of constipation are not an index of their value and need, but rather serve to emphasize the misconceptions which exist in relation to colon function. The volume of stool evacuated is governed by the quantity of fibre in the food ingested. The frequency of stool passage is related to the size of the colon, and the state of irritability of the rectum and sigmoid. A daily evacuation may be as normal for one individual as one every two or three days is for another. An unduly rigid concept of the necessity of daily evacuation is often followed by the habitual use of cathartics, resulting in overstimulation and irritability of the intestine by increasingly potent drugs. Flatulence, abdominal pain, and even heartburn can be the result of the motility disorder thus induced. Thus, for the most part, treatment of functional constipation is the management of a patient with laxative addiction. Bowel Re-Education To successfully handle patients with laxative addiction, all laxatives must be stopped Read more [...]