Digestive Disorders Medical Reference
- Chronic Constipation: Your Doctor’s Visit
Dealing with chronic constipation? Here’s what to expect at your doctor’s visit.
- Risks and Benefits of Probiotics
Probiotics are "good" bacteria found in some foods and supplements. They keep your gut healthy and have other benefits for your body, but may have some risks, too.
- What Does My Stool Color Mean?
What does it mean if your poop is green? What about red, yellow, white, or black? Find out possible causes and when to call a doctor.
- Best Types of Probiotics
How to get the most from probiotics for digestive health, including whether to use supplements, foods, or yogurt depending on your condition.
- What Are Probiotics?
Everything you need to know about probiotics from why you'd take them to the differences between the different types, and then some.
- When Can Probiotics Help?
A look at how probiotics may help with diarrhea, pouchitis, irritible bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcerative colitis.
- Ascites: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Ascites is a condition, usually caused by cirrhosis, where excess fluid builds up in your abdomen. Learn the symptoms of ascites and how it’s treated.
- Fecal Impaction: What Is It and How Is It Treated?
When you haven’t had a bowel movement in so long that a hard mass of stool gets stuck in your colon or rectum, it’s known as a fecal impaction. Find out the causes and treatments for this dangerous problem.
- Bowel Obstruction
If a section of your bowel becomes blocked, you'll need to be hospitalized to get better. Learn what causes a bowel obstruction, what the symptoms are, and how it's treated.
- Tips for a Quiet Tummy, Restful Sleep
There are some simple steps you can take to help ease the symptoms of indigestion and set yourself up for a restful night's sleep.
- How Is PBC Diagnosed?
Primary biliary cholangitis often doesn't have symptoms early on. Your doctor will use blood tests and imaging tests to help diagnose the disease.
- Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: Treatment and Complications
There's no cure for primary biliary cholangitis, but you can ease symptoms and stop the disease from getting worse. Here's a look at some treatments for the condition.
- What Is Primary Biliary Cholangitis?
Primary biliary cholangitis is a chronic liver disease. Learn about its causes, symptoms, treatment and more.
- What Is Eosinophilic Esophagitis?
Doctors used to think that eosinophilic esophagitis was the same thing as acid reflux. Now they know that it’s not, and more people are being diagnosed than ever before.
- Cholecystitis
If you’re nauseated and in pain, it may not be a stomach bug. Learn what cholecystitis is, what it has to do with the gallbladder, and how it is treated.
- Understanding Hiccups: Causes and Remedies
Everyone’s had them, but do you know where hiccups come from? Learn why these funny sounds sometimes happen.
- What Is Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome?
Doctors don’t know for sure what causes cyclic vomiting syndrome, a rare condition that can bring on intense nausea and vomiting. Find out about symptoms and how to manage the condition.
- What Is Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis?
Find out about this potentially deadly disease of the bile ducts that can gradually cause serious liver damage.
- What Is Pseudomyxoma Peritonei?
Find out more about this rare abdominal disease that may or may not be cancer.
- How Do I Get Rid of the Hiccups?
The hiccups can be awfully annoying. You’ve been told you can scare them away, but how can you really get rid of them?
- What Is Hypokalemia (Low Potassium)?
Do you have low potassium? Find out the causes, symptoms, and treatment of hypokalemia.
- Achalasia: What You Should Know
Trouble swallowing? Pain in the chest? A rare condition called achalasia may be to blame.
- Best and Worst Foods for Hemorrhoids
"Eat more fiber." "Stay hydrated." That's good advice when you have hemorrhoids, but what does it mean in practical terms?
- Why Do I Need a Liver and Spleen Scan?
Liver-spleen scan: Why do I need one?
- What Is Primary Biliary Cholangitis?
Primary biliary cholangitis is a disease affecting the bile made by your liver. Here’s what to know about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and outlook.
- Is Your Treatment for Frequent Diarrhea Working?
When diarrhea strikes, you may turn to an over-the-counter medicine for relief. But do you know how to use it right?
- How to Try an Elimination Diet
Do certain foods seem to keep giving you diarrhea? An elimination diet may help you find the problem foods.
- IBD vs. IBS
These two gut conditions have some things in common. But IBS and IBD aren’t the same. Find out about their different causes and treatments.
- What Your Gut Bacteria Say About You
The bacteria in your digestive system can give you and your doctor clues about your health. Find out how.
- Suppositories: What They Treat and How to Use Them
Suppositories aren't scary, they're just a different way to deliver medicine.
- How to Treat Hemorrhoids at Home
You don't need to see a doctor for quick ways to ease your itching and pain or for ongoing help to keep the discomfort from getting worse.
- Bristol Stool Chart: Types of Poop
The Bristol Stool Scale is a way to talk about shapes and types of poop, what doctors call stools. It's also known as the Meyers Scale.
- Why Can’t I Poop?
Can’t go? You’re not alone. Over 42 million Americans have bowel movements less than three times a week.
- Digestive Health Tips
Learn what’s causing your digestive problems and how to treat and prevent heartburn, constipation, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids.
- EPI and Your Body
With exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), your gut reactions can offer valuable clues to the condition.
- What Is Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency?
Find out why your pancreas might not be working right.
- Why Is EPI Hard to Diagnose?
There are tests to help you and your doctor figure out what's causing your symptoms.
- Why Take a Sitz Bath?
A sitz bath, or warm-water bath covering the hips and buttocks, can help heal hemorrhoids, bowel issues, and infections.
- What Is Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency?
WebMD explains exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), a condition in which the pancreas isn't producing enough enzymes to break down and absorb nutrients.
- Child Severe Digestive Disorders: An Overview
WebMD provides an overview of intestinal diseases that affect children, from ulcerative colitis to celiac disease.
- Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
The causes, symptoms, and treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, which causes cysts to grow on the kidneys.
- Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)
Sick with the "stomach flu"? Learn what causes a stomach "bug" (gastroenteritis) and how it's treated.
- 9 Tips for Smooth Digestion
Want a "recipe" for smoother digestion? Try these nine tips. They'll help you prevent symptoms such as bloating, belching, or burning.
- Recipe Substitutions for Lactose Intolerance
Need help making recipe substitutions for lactose intolerance? Get healthy and delicious recipe ideas.
- Anal Fissures
WebMD explains the causes, symptoms, and treatment of anal fissures.
- Anal Fissure Symptoms
An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of your anus. Learn more about the symptoms of this painful condition.
- Eat Healthy to Avoid Constipation
WebMD offers lifestyle tips for avoiding constipation - and staying regular every day.
- Constipation Relief: Tips and Treatments
You don’t have to suffer from constipation. Find relief with these tips and simple remedies from WebMD.
- Bowel Incontinence
WebMD explains the causes and treatments for bowel incontinence.
- What Does Blood in the Urine Mean?
Learn more from WebMD about the causes of blood in the urine.