This article is about irritable bowel syndrome and how to control it. Doctors who are not up to date often misdiagnose irritable bowel syndrome because the cause is so evasive. This not only makes it difficult to learn about IBS, but it often takes sufferers over a year to find out they have it.

If you don't know about irritable bowel syndrome, how can you learn to control it?

So let's get to first things first.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - The "Functional Disease!"

Irritable bowel syndrome is not a disease that doctors can readily see. What I mean is that they cannot discover that you have IBS by taking blood tests or looking at x-rays. Being that they can't see it, many doctors used to believe that it was "all in your head."

Today, more and more doctors recognize that there is no way to physically see this disease, so they have dubbed it a "functional disease." That is a disease that messes up the functioning of your bowels and digestive system, but with no visible physical cause.

The Most Likely Causes Of IBS

When talking about irritable bowel syndrome, doctors have many ideas of what causes it, but there is only one that most agree on. Most believe that it all started with some kind of bowel infection.

These bowel infections start in one of these two ways:

* By parasites. Parasites is how mine started. I was fortunate enough to get a knowledgeable doctor who checked for parasites on my first visit. (This was not the first doctor I went to for my illness).
* By bad bacteria. This usually happens by eating contaminated food or drinking infected water. Many people who travel south of the boarder end up getting "Montezuma's Revenge" because of these bad bacteria.

These bad bacteria damage the digestive nervous system and leave it in disarray after the bacteria have been killed. This accounts for the continued sporadic activity of the bowels.

How To Control Your IBS

Learning about irritable bowel syndrome is the first step toward controlling it. Now that you know a bit about this "irritable disease," here are a few things you can do to control it:

* Stay as far away from stress as possible. Stress does not cause IBS, but it sure can agitate the symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, and pain.
* Stay away from irritating foods, such as milk products, beans, spicy foods, and greasy or fatty foods.
* Eat right and exercise regularly. Exercise will help to keep your whole system in good order.

Of course this article cannot cover everything about irritable bowel syndrome, but it does give you a good primer. I have had IBS for many years, and have learned how to control it and stay symptom free. So be encouraged, you do not have to continue to suffer because of your IBS.



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Normally hemorrhoids are either external as in on the outside of the rectum or internal. Both are painful and have to be dealt with properly to heal. There is an extremely more difficult type of hemorrhoid called a protruding hemorrhoid. These are internal hemorrhoids that can actually exit the anal cavity and protrude out like an external hemorrhoid. These are internal hemorrhoids to the point that they have become much more severe and swollen.

Generally these types of hemorrhoids return inside the rectum, but if they do not you definitely need to see a doctor and get some medical attention.

There are protruding hemorrhoid treatments to keep in mind to help you get over this condition as quickly as possible.

External hemorrhoids have creams and ointments to help sooth the burning, itching, and pain. Internal hemorrhoids can't use these types of creams at all, but there is a version that's made for them. It's a suppository as opposed to a cream. These suppositories have be entered into the rectum but have similar cooling and anti-inflammation properties as the creams do. Many of these can't be used day after day, but they help in relief.

Constipation or improper bowel movements most likely caused the internal hemorrhoid and are causing it pain so that it's more difficult to heal. Get more fiber and water in your diet to help with this. A quick way to start softening the stool is to drink a few glasses of water along with some bananas and figs. Avoid foods high in fats, starches, grease, and salt at first as these won't help your stool soften as well as fruits will.

When using the restroom don't sit there too long and don't strain. This will cause the internal hemorrhoid to protrude much more easily.

If the condition doesn't get better, it's good to see a doctor. There is a procedure called band ligation which can take care of any internal hemorrhoids in about a week.



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Winter is on its way and with it comes cold and flu season. While most people are aware that Vitamin C is crucial to your good health, there are many other steps you can take to avoid getting a cold this winter by creating powerful health for yourself with warm clothing, a healthy diet, adequate hydration, and organic herbs and superfoods.

The human body is able to defend itself against a wide variety of attackers when it is healthy. A tired, overly stressed and poorly fed and hydrated body is subject to many more illnesses and diseases. The human body simply cannot fight off infection without the proper food, sufficient water, adequate sleep, and a reasonable amount of exercise.

Virulent Viruses Need A Host But It Doesn't Have To Be You

Viruses, such as those that cause the common cold, need a host body within which to survive. Viruses are the ultimate Trojan Horse and they can be deadly. The H1N1 virus is a prime example of how fast and how far viruses can spread if not contained quickly and effectively. While no one can control the actions of others, we can protect ourselves from viruses and bacteria that make us ill by keeping our bodies in the best health possible.

Good health is the direct result of consuming healthy, natural foods, drinking plenty of fresh, clean water and staying physically active. The modern American diet, however, is packed full of preservatives, pesticides, and additives that have been shown to compromise our good health. Humans have survived for countless millennium eating wild harvested organic herbs, fruits and vegetables, and meat from animals that eat those same natural foods.

Toxins Take A Toll

The food additives in the modern diet can result in toxins building up in the liver, colon and kidneys, reducing their ability to function effectively. Each of these organ systems work to remove toxins and to get important nutrients into the blood supply. Cells that are well fed and well hydrated are better able to fight off infection and attack than unhealthy cells. You can greatly reduce the likelihood of getting sick this winter by providing your body with the superfoods necessary for powerful health.

Drinking abundant amounts of fresh, clean water is a major step toward powerful health. Eating organic herbs, grains, fruits and vegetables is another. If meat is eaten, it should be organically produced to avoid the hormones, antibiotics and other toxins that can harm your powerful health.

Alternative Healing Moves Front And Center

Until recently, alternative healing methods were scoffed at and natural cures were denied and criticized. Modern research, however, has proven the effectiveness of alternative healing methods such as chiropractic, acupuncture, vitamin and mineral therapy, and other natural healing methods. Aside from the need for surgery or other major medical conditions, there are many cases in which we can give our bodies the materials needed for self-healing without going to the doctor. Eating organic herbs, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, staying well hydrated and maintaining a positive attitude can go a long way to reducing your need for any type of health or medical insurance.


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Your diet and IBS symptoms are tightly connected. Eat wrong and suffer...eat right and find relief. In this article I will talk about the "trigger foods" that are known to agitate irritable bowel symptoms.

IBS "Trigger Foods"

Irritable bowel syndrome can be very miserable if you don't know what foods to eat and what to avoid. If you are having severe problems as a result of eating, then it is most likely diet related. Eat the wrong diet and you will pay...get on the right diet and IBS symptoms can greatly improve or even disappear.

So let's take a look at the foods that trigger IBS:

1. Fatty foods or oils. Fat and oil are difficult to digest for people with a healthy digestive system. If you have irritable bowel syndrome, these will be even harder to digest. Eating too much fat and oil can lead to many trips to the bathroom.

2. Dairy products. I avoid dairy products like the plague. I love ice cream, and a few scoops of chocolate chip mint at night is about as enjoyable as it gets for me. But I just can't do it. Every time I eat ice cream at night I spend a lot of time in the bathroom the next morning.

The problem is that many people are lactose intolerant. Lactose is a milk sugar found in all milk products. If you have IBS, try staying away from milk products for a few weeks at least, and see if things improve.

3. Meats? Some people say that meat is a horrific offender, but I have found that meats don't bother me...depending on the cut, the amount I eat, and how I cook it. Overeating anything that is greasy and fatty will cause problems. So if you are going to eat meat, be sensible about it. If some good lean meat doesn't bother you, then great! If it does, cut down on your meat and make sure it is properly prepared.

4. Coffee. I do like coffee, but I limit it to 1-2 times a week. The reason for this is that coffee is a stimulant and one thing you don't need is to have your bowels stimulated. It would be a good idea to cut down on coffee or even cut it out to be safe.

5. Carbonated drinks. This is another horrific offender. Include carbonated drinks in your diet, and IBS symptoms are almost certain to act up. Remember that "bubbles make troubles."

Following the advice above should improve your digestive comfort level. If you compromise the above, just remember that your diet and IBS symptoms go hand in hand.



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You will find you have many different places to purchase ostomy supplies and that purchasing online is just one of these methods. It's also can be the best choice for many different reasons. A few of these benefits are obvious. You know you have the best chance of finding great prices and you will have a wide selection of brands. You're limited to the choices of what brand the store carries when you shop at a local pharmacy.

Before you jump online to start shopping for a medical supply store you'll need to first know the best method to finding the best supplies. Certain manufacturers offer better lines of products. There are a few things you are going to want to look for when online browsing. Comfort and convenience are two important factors for just about any ostomy supply you may need. You'll want to check into the online companies refund policy and ensure they are not making up for their low prices in their shipping costs.

Another great reason you'll want to shop online for your medical supplies is all the product reviews. You can learn a great deal about the supplies you may need by researching online. These reviews can be easily found with minimal searching. Generally you'll find them within the product descriptions. They'll tell you about the experiences other people had when using them. If you are unable to find reviews this way, you can always search using Google. It's a great place to begin your search for a good manufacturer.

Searching online by specific brands will greatly reduce the amount of time you spend actually reviewing online. It's also one of the best techniques to quickly find the store with the best prices. No matter how great the prices are, don't forget to review the site before making a purchase. These reviews are like getting a referral from a friend or family member. Your nurse can also help direct you to a good quality manufacturer based on the ones they're familiar with.

Another thing you may want to take into consideration is contacting some suppliers in your local area. It will be beneficial to know there is a local store that carries the name brand that you are looking in case you need anything more quickly than waiting for an item to ship. Hopefully they will be reasonable priced. You can also find medical suppliers that sell ostomy supplies through direct mail or even at your local pharmacy.

It's always nice to be able to talk with a knowledgeable staff, but this isn't always possible. Your best bet would be to make sure you get your questions answered by your nurse or any medical professional to learn more.



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As with most things in life there are always potential complications and the use of a catheter is not excluded from this. When you are forced to use a catheter some of these complications include urinary tract or kidney infections, blood infections, kidney damage, bladder stones and allergy or sensitivity to latex. It doesn't mean that any of these are an inevitable outcome of using a catheter, but there is a chance and you should be aware of potential problems.

Almost all types of catheters have a high risk of urinary tract infections, whether it's short term or long term use. This is the most common complication. Fortunately, however, there are methods of reducing this risk. You can do this through proper cleansing and disinfection of not only the catheter, but also the drainage bag and the personal area after all bowel movements. You'll want to talk with your health care provider for exact instructions on how to properly care for your catheter and reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.

Learning what signs and symptoms you need to look for will help to recognize any of the complication and prevent them from getting worse. Some of them will be easy to recognize while others are not as visibly noticeable.

Some of the symptoms possible include blood in the urine, cloudy or thick urine, and tenderness around the catheter puncture. In addition, you may also experience a large amount of leakage around the catheter, bladder spasms that does not go away and little to no urine when you have been drinking large amounts of fluids.

Different urinary catheter types will require specific types of care. This is something you will learn when the catheter is placed by your medical health provider. It's important that you ask questions. A great place to do some research is online, but you should consider this research only. Discuss your findings with your doctor or other health care provider. It is not suggested you attempt to follow the instructions that you find online.

Be sure you properly follow the self-care steps you've been given by your doctor when caring for and cleaning your catheter. These instructions will help you to disinfect the catheter, as well as the drainage bag and the area around your catheter. Each and every part will need to be cleaned regularly.

Never be afraid to ask your doctor any question, no matter how silly you think the question may be. One thing many people neglect to do is drink enough water daily. You should drink eight to ten glasses of water each day to not only reduce infection, but to also reduce the chances of being constipated. Constipation can lead to leaks.

There is no problem with researching information regarding medical supplies on the Internet, but you should never use this information until you speak with your doctor. Even if the advice seems valid, there is always a chance it could put you in harm's way. You don't have any way of knowing if the person giving the advice is a doctor or just a person relaying his or her own experiences.



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Home treatment for ingrown toenails is okay, if there is no infection or the infection is minor, as long as you do not suffer from diabetes or an immunodeficiency disease. If an infection is present, don't wait too long to see your doctor. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the bone, which can be very serious.

In order to determine whether or not an infection is present, check the area for redness, swelling or discharge. Do not use anything to try and drain the infection. That could lead to blood poisoning.

If the toe feels hot to the touch, then you probably have an infection. You can still try to treat the problem, yourself, as long as you do not attempt to cut out the curved part of the nail or perform any kind of bathroom surgery. Soaking is the way to go.

Soaking two to three times a day, for 15-20 minutes in a warm bath of Epsom salts should reduce pain and swelling. Once the bath is done, dry the area carefully, paying particular attention to the area between the toes.

Soaking in Epsom salts is the most common home treatment for ingrown toenails and is usually effective. After soaking and drying, you can apply an antiseptic or antibiotic cream to reduce the risk of infection or to treat minor infections.

The importance of drying between the toes is to help reduce the risk of bacterial or fungal growth in that warm, damp area. If you have sweaty feet, consider using a foot spray containing zinc chloride. It will help to keep the area dry and further reduce the risk of infection.

Another home treatment for ingrown toenails is to place cotton under the edge of the nail. The cotton separates the nail and the skin. Eventually, the nail should grow over, rather than into the skin. This should only be done if there is no discharge, only redness and pain.

Remember to wear sensible shoes, even after the problem goes away and don't cut your nails too short. If you have had an ingrown toenail once, you are likely to have one again, unless you make an effort to allow the nails to grow just a little longer.

Be cautious about other suggestions concerning home treatment for ingrown toenails, such as trying to cut out the ingrown section. This kind of home surgery can lead to serious infection.

If you suffer from diabetes or an immunodeficiency, you should consult your doctor as soon as you notice any kind of problem with your feet or toes. Regular inspection of the feet is the only way to insure that there is no infection or injury, which can become serious, quickly in a person that is already in poor health.

Tight fitting socks and shoes are the most common cause of the problem. So, if your home treatment for ingrown toenails is successful, consider asking a podiatrist or other professional about whether or not your shoes fit properly.

Jerome Kaplan has 30 plus years of experience in the foot health products business. He recommends everyone take foot care seriously, because minor problems today can turn into disasters when ignored.



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If you want to learn about stool softeners you just found the right article for you. Further on, I'll be telling you about remedies for constipation and constipation causes.

We'll discuss how this type of medication should be taken and special instructions for use. Once I've gone through everything you should be able to find relief in as little as three days or less.

Understanding your constipation cause is vital to learning more about how your body works. In essence your colon and is an extremely sensitive organ and the digestive system is very complex.

Here's the deal...in a healthy digestive system, the colon extracts water from the waste material. At this point waste is pushed out of your body when you go the bathroom.

However, if you are experiencing constipation, it means that too much water has been extracted. This causes your stools to become hard and worsens the problem. And here's the kicker: the strain and pressure exerted during bowel movements leads to other troubles such as:

· Heart Conditions

· Hemorrhoids

· Diabetes

· MS

· Parkinson's Disease

· Colon Cancer

· Polyps

· Death (if left untreated)

Indeed, acknowledging your digestive issues and taking the necessary steps to heal your body is crucial to your overall health.

Now, before we go any further, realize that stool softeners are designed to be used on a short-term basis to give you some much needed constipation help. They are not to be used on an on-going basis.

With that in mind note that the stool softener you choose may come as a syrup, a tablet, a capsule, or a liquid mixture you take by mouth - usually before bed.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to give you clear and concise instructions on anything you may not understand. Resist the urge to take more or less than prescribed or the recommended dosage.

By now you may be wondering what has caused your constipation pain in the first place. Take a look...

· Emotional problems such as depression, anxiety and stress.

· Poor eating habits for example not drinking enough water or eating enough fiber.

· Lack of exercise.

· Some medicines like iron supplements and antacids containing calcium or aluminum.

· Eating disorders including anorexia or bulimia.

· And illness such as Irritable Bowels Syndrome (IBS)

I could go on and on but you get the picture right?

And if you are like most folks hoping to cure constipation now, a stool softener will give you the results you need quickly and effectively.

Last and final vital point: Since reading this article you've discovered the signs, symptoms and causes of constipation, but the most important thing to remember is that stool softeners are only meant to be used on a short term basis unless otherwise prescribed by your doctor.



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With age come many health problems. Our body cannot jump and hop around as it used to and simple tasks like walking and climbing up a stair becomes tedious and exhausting. They say prevention is better than cure. If you are facing difficulty and pain in walking up and down the stairs of your house, then there are possibilities that you may fall down the stairs and meet an accident or aggravate your physical problem. Thus, instead of waiting for a mishap to happen and spend thousands in hospital for treatment, get yourself a stairlift installed at your residence.


In old age our bones and muscles does not work as efficiently as they used to in younger days. Health issues like arthritis grips our joints making it harder and more painful to walk around and climb stairs. In such cases, frequent use of regular stairs makes us prone to the risk of mishaps. Hospital bills can take up all your money which you have saved for your old age.


Thus, old people or people who have difficulty in climbing up stairs should consider installing stair lifts at their residence for comfort and to remain risk free. It makes life much easier and comfortable to sail through your old age conveniently.


What are Stairlifts?


These are specially designed stair case lift units that are generally installed in residences with two to three storeys. These lifts allow the old people, disabled people or people who face problem in using stairs, to comfortably sit in a transporting chair and transcend to different levels of their abode.

Instead of having an attached transporting chair, one can also use their own wheelchair for transcending to different storeys. Not only at residences, these are also installed at offices, airports, tube stations, etc to make it convenient for disabled and old people to travel. Ever since, the government of many countries made it mandatory for government offices and public transport stations to become disabled friendly, these lifts have become highly popular.

Types of Stairlifts:

Before buying one, you should know important facts about them. These are of two types:


1. Straight: These are installed next to straight and regular staircase and are relatively cheaper.
2. Curved: These are installed along with curved stair case and are expensive than straight ones.

Stairlift prices:

Many people do not even consider installing these amazingly convenient lifts, thinking that they will be ridiculously expensive. But that is not the case. These lifts are available in many models starting from as low as $2000 to as high as $15,000. This price may or may not include installation expenses.

Straight lifts are relatively cheaper than curved ones, as curved lifts have to be custom made. Also, adding more features in the lift can considerably increase their price.


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One of the most common problems in today's society is having hemorrhoids. It occurs to 60% of the population. Mostly, these people suffer from external hemorrhoids. The most common symptom of this condition is the swollen, harden lump that you would notice just outside the anus or surrounding the anus. When the condition becomes more severe, blood clots form inside the lumps. These are usually very painful and uncomfortable. Often times it gives you discomfort, irritation, itchiness and at times bleeding. We typically get this problem due to excessive straining during bowel movement. Other factors include obesity, pregnancy, constipation and chronic diarrhea.

There are different treatments available to cure external hemorrhoids. The main ones are surgical method and natural remedies. More often than not, people opt for surgery when the condition is in its advanced stage or when it is considered severe. Other people choose this because it gives quick relief and when money is not an option. This method can be other people's last resort because of its cost. This can be really expensive because of the fees you have to pay to the doctor and hospital. You will also need a few laboratory tests and physical exams prior to surgery as well as medications.

If surgery is not for you then you can opt for the natural way of curing. This type of treatment uses homeopathic and herbal remedies. This includes changes in diet, lifestyle and bowel habits. At the same time, herbal products are used to soothe irritation and discomfort.



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nternal piles is also known as internal hemorrhoids and this condition develops within the passage way of the anus. Although this condition is not painful it can cause a lot of discomfort and a little bleeding if a hard stool rubs against them during a bowel movement.

Natural internal piles treatment can be very effective and will bring sufferers immediate relief. How fast the treatment cures the internal piles depends on the size of the hemorrhoid. However, before you begin treating this condition you should know some of the symptoms first.

These symptoms include itching caused by mucus, skin irritation caused by large hemorrhoids that bulge from the anus and create mucus, discomfort which is caused by an uncomfortable feeling from the bulging hemorrhoid, pain which is caused by large hemorrhoids that swell and are squeezed by the muscles of the anus.

The best internal piles treatment is to adapt to a proper diet and make the necessary lifestyle changes. This includes eating a diet rich in fiber and exercising frequently. You can increase your fiber intake by eating fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Some of these food items rich in fiber include bananas, oranges, corn, and beets. You should eat at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables daily. You should also drink plenty of water if your not already doing so. About 8 glasses of water each day should be enough.

if you don't adapt to the right internal piles treatment your condition will worsen. Instead of turning to painful surgery procedures you should adapt to the right diet and lifestyle. You can stop the root of the problem not just the symptoms when you eat the right diet.


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OK, I know "Health Care Begins At Home" sounds like a cliche, but there is a depth to this simple statement that goes beyond the words and sometime the simplest advice is often the most overlooked. So I'd like to pause for a moment and look at the implications of this seemingly simple statement.

An Ounce of Prevention

Benjamin Franklin. One of America's forefathers, is credited with observing that "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!" generally meaning that it is better to make an effort to avoid problems in the first place, rather than trying to fix them once they happen.

In regard to healthcare, this can be applied in several important areas. Firstly, one's diet. I'm not talking about the kind of diet where you eat a little salad every day to try to shed excess pounds, but rather dieting in reference to overall eating practices and habits.

An Apple A Day

Eating the right foods at the right times can go a long way towards keeping you healthy, wealthy and wise. I'm sure this comes as no surprise, but with the obesity problems at epidemic levels you would think people would pay more attention to this. Obviously, many of us don't and while a great deal of research points to the conclusion that being a little overweight is actually healthier than being underweight or being "average weight for my height" going beyond that is quite unhealthy.

Eating right begins at home, and if you are a parent and responsible for the eating practices of your family it would be quite wise to learn as much as you can about what proper nutrition is all about. There is tons of information available either online or at your local library and while ignorance may be bliss, it comes with a price.

Walk A Mile In His Shoes

While I've heard it quipped "before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. Then when you do criticize that person, you'll be a mile away and have his shoes" there is a more practical side to walking a mile in any shoes. Now, before you take off and start walking your mile, do heed this warning... I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. So check with your doctor before starting any kind of exercise program or activity.

Getting proper exercise also begins at home, unless your office is big enough to run laps in it is generally advisable to have some type of regular physical activity. The recommended dose is generally a half hour a day and that has always worked well for me.

The Wobbly Stool

The final area I'd like to touch on is related to diet, but distinct enough to warrant its own paragraph. This is the area of nutritional supplements. Nutritional supplements have become the third leg of the health care stool and for good reason. It seems to me that lately some foods are losing their power and don't have the same quality of vitamins that they used to.

Perhaps the soil is losing its ability to provide what our fruits and vegetables need to grow healthy, or perhaps the oxygen levels in the air is somehow diminished... or maybe it's just due to all this global warming that everyone is talking about. The bottom line is that some type of nutritional supplement or multivitamin is necessary to help our bodies get the most out of the foods we eat and the exercise we take.

Bringing It All Back Home

All in all, attention to these three areas can go a long way towards achieving the level of health needed to thrive and survive. Are you paying attention to them?


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