Constipation simply means that it takes too long for the food that kitty has eaten to travel through his digestive system. This ends up producing very hard and dry feces that are painful and difficult to pass.

Risk factors for constipation tend to be a poor diet and too little exercise. If your cat has a poor diet, is very sedentary and/or is overweight, then he’s going to be at higher risk of constipation.

Cats are also prone to a condition called megacolon. The exact cause behind most cases of megacolon is unknown. But what this condition means is that the cat’s large intestine has become enlarged and filled with hard fecal matter. Middle aged and male cats are at higher risk. This is serious stuff so you don’t want to let it get this far.

If left untreated, constipation and megacolon can ultimately be fatal. But don’t panic because there’s a lot that we can do to help improve our cats digestive health. The following steps are sufficient to sort out most cases of cat constipation. In the rare cases when kitty is showing no signs of improvement, you should visit the vet to check to see whether there is potentially something else blocking the intestines.

*   Make sure that kitty is drinking enough water and is eating good quality food.

*   Groom your cat regularly. Ingested hair is a common cause of constipation in cats.

*   Monitor your cat’s weight and control the food they eat accordingly.

*   Make sure that your cat is getting some exercise. Play with him and make him move if he is reluctant to do it himself.

*   Try a regular digestive health supplement that will increase the fiber in his diet. When such supplements are used, it’s doubly important to ensure that he’s drinking water.

*   If your cat has regular bouts of constipation and diarrhea, try a probiotic supplement to support the friendly bacteria in his gut.

If kitty is constipated, please don’t ignore it.

Getting hemorrhoids is something no one wants. However, hemorrhoids in toddlers are especially bad since it can be difficult for the young child to deal with. Therefore, it is important to make sure your toddler follows a lifestyle that avoids the constipation issues which can lead to hemorrhoids in toddlers. Straining to move the bowels can lead to painful hemorrhoids for children.

Therefore, if you suspect they are constipated or they tell you they can’t go to the bathroom then you should talk to your doctor about an appropriate stool softener for your child. To avoid these issues there are some important preventative measures you should take. You should make sure the toddler drinks eight to ten glasses of water each day and eats a high fiber diet while getting regular exercise.

Dealing With Hemorrhoids In Toddlers

If your toddler ends up getting hemorrhoids then you will need to help them control the pain as much as possible. You should make sure you continue to use the preventative measure even after the toddler has hemorrhoids. However, there are some additional steps you can take to reduce the discomfort of hemorrhoids in toddlers.

First you should make sure you keep their anal area as clean as possible. Rather than toilet paper perhaps consider used moist wipes or specifically medicated hemorrhoid pads to help sooth the discomfort of hemorrhoids in toddlers.

To make sure additional pressure is not placed on the hemorrhoids have your toddler lay down occasionally. Sitting and standing for long periods of time can cause an increase in pressure when builds in the veins and leads to a pain increase for the hemorrhoids. To cool off the rectum and easy bowel movements apply petroleum jelly to the toddlers’ rectum.

To get immediate relief from the burning have your toddlers apply an ice pack on the affected area. If possible have your toddler sit in enough warm water to cover the hemorrhoids with a stiz bath. If a sitz bath that fits onto the toilet doesn’t work for you toddler then consider using the bathtub.

Many people simply do not relate their fatigue back to their constipation. They think they are just leading a life that’s too busy, or they are not resting adequately at night, or they are under too much stress. Many people are surprised to find discover when they take steps to detoxify their bodies, and cleanse it of sludge, mucous, and accumulated fecal matter, their energy levels return.

The truth is when we are fatigued, everything becomes a chore. Simple things like getting up in the morning can seem like a monumental task. Everything from a demanding career, to pursuing higher education, to running after little ones in the home can seem like overwhelming obstacles. When you are fatigued and do not have the zest for life that you once did, it can easily lead to depression. If this sounds familiar, and you are constipated, you should get on the offensive and cleanse your system.

The colon is not supposed to be a holding tank for toxins and fecal matter. Many people have cleansed out their systems and were shocked at the quantity of waste matter they were carrying around inside their bodies. If you truly think about it, why wouldn’t you feel tired, sluggish and drained with all this garbage in you? Many people are carrying around literally pounds of toxins inside their bodies. It is no wonder many people report they lose weight after they have performed a complete colon cleansing.

To put it simply, constipation is not good. You must get the buildup of garbage out of your system before it results in a major health problem requiring surgery. Once your body is free of this debris, your energy levels can return and you can begin to develop a new outlook on life.

So, how do you cleanse the body? After all, it’s not like pouring some injector cleaner into your car’s gas tank . . . or is it? First, you should forget about laxatives and enemas. These just treat the present constipation and do nothing to get to the root of the problem. To thoroughly cleanse your body and rid it of mucous, fecal matter, and sludge, you need a product like Oxy-Powder®. This is an all-natural product in a capsule form. It doesn’t work harshly like an enema or strong laxative. As the name implies, Oxy-Powder® oxidizes away the years of waste in your system with natural ingredients released over a 12-hour period.

It is important to note the solid matter in your system will be pretty much liquefied; but this should not be misconstrued for diarrhea, which is caused by viral infection. Yes, you will go to the bathroom frequently. The only way to get rid of the buildup is to get it out. You will pass stools that are liquid in composition and you will also experience extra gas.

This is all part of the oxidation process and it is much easier on the system than using a laxative or enema. So, you should make sure you are near a bathroom during the first few days of the cleansing. Unlike laxatives and enemas, Oxy-Powder® truly cleanses the digestive system. It is not a one-time process. The product label details the dosage recommendations for the first seven days of your cleanse. There is also a maintenance dosage recommendation to help you keep your digestive system working at its best thereafter. Oxy-Powder® is also non-addictive and safe for your body.

It’s amazing how negatively something like constipation can affect your energy levels. It is also quite surprising how many people do not connect their constipation with their fatigue. Yet, it is easy to understand why these people feel tired. Their bodies, already polluted by the high levels of toxins, are fighting stress as a by-product of the natural, defensive process. Ironically, the colon may even attempt to absorb the waste to eliminate it, but that just puts even more poison into your system!

If you are suffering from fatigue and constipation, you should take steps necessary to thoroughly cleanse your system. Once you rid your body of the waste that it has stored over time, you will probably feel like the weight of the world has been lifted from your shoulders – or at least from your stomach!

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Cymbalta has side effects on par with most antidepressants of the SSRI class. The additional effect on the brain’s norepinephrine levels appears to have added few side effects. Common side effects include high blood pressure, drowsiness, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, fatigue, changes in appetite, and increased sweating. These side effects may occur when you first begin to take Cymbalta and may persist for up to a month. If they persist longer than a month, then you may wish to contact your doctor to consider taking another antidepressant. More serious risks include mania, high blood pressure, seizures, liver damage, and an increased risk of suicide. If you are suffering from these symptoms, alert a health professional. It is important to be monitored by a health professional or loved one to prevent suicide attempts during the first month of taking Cymbalta, as it has been shown that antidepressants can increase the risk of suicide in the first month, especially among adolescents. In a clinical trial testing the efficacy of Cymbalta for treating women with stress-related urinary incontinence, some of the participants attempted suicide or reported suicidal thought despite showing no prior signs of willingness to commit suicide. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor all persons taking antidepressants even if they are using them for purposes other than treating depression.

Cymbalta shares the severe withdrawal symptoms that plague many other SSRI class antidepressants, even though it is an SNRI. If you suddenly stop taking Cymbalta after having been taking it for a while, you may experience a feeling of electric shocks running through your body, mania, wild mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of incredible sadness. These symptoms may persist for a few weeks to a few months after you suddenly stop taking Cymbalta. If you wish to stop taking Cymbalta, you must contact your doctor and get your dosage gradually lowered in order to prevent these withdrawal symptoms, as they are not pleasant.

Cymbalta is a useful drug for treating depression and neuropathy that may accompany it. All drugs carry a risk of side effects, and Cymbalta is no different, so you must keep in mind that side effects may occur when you start taking Cymbalta.

With the first cry, your baby will bring in his or her first breath of air. This is normal and expected for healthy babies to cry and should not upset the mother, father and family members; though it sometimes does. If, by chance, your baby doestn’t cry upon arrival into the world, the doctor will then initiate a reaction from your your baby. The normal practice is to clean air passages and pinch or gently strike his or her feet, thus surprising the baby into crying.

It is understood and accepted, babies can not express themselves with words early in life. First and for most, your baby will cry to communicate with you and others he or she will come into contact with. There may be other physical ways he or she will communicate, such as kicking feet, waving harms, moving his or her head. As you and your baby learn this wordless form of communicating, crying will be most effective.

Since the crying habit varies from baby to baby, how do you explain ‘excessive’ crying? As some babies are easily soothed, while others are more difficult to calm. You and your baby will learn the different types of cries for the different needs that arises. Excessive crying of distress will be very distictive.

A sudden burst of excessive crying will indicate the urgency of your baby’s needs. The cause can be as simple as parental seperation or as extensive as life threatening situations; in which case needs immediate attention. Quite often it is difficult to determine the cause of his or her crying, here are some common reasons…

1) hunger – your baby will cry on a regular schedule of maybe three to four hour segments, at first, to feed. Here the adage ‘crying baby gets the milk’ rings true.

2) wetting – when your babies diaper becomes wet and soiled, it causes discomfort and he or she will respond by crying until the diaper is dry again.

3) company – the higher percentage of babies and children alike strive on the stimulation of compnay. Feelings of being alone or dropping a favorite toy will be cause to cry.

4) tired – anytime of tiredness will bring on a wimper, whine or cry. From being tired after traveling, being sick or just growing spirts, babies need sleep and they also fight sleep to see what is happening around them.

5) heat and cold – if your baby becomes too hot or becomes very cool he or she will become restless, then cry for relief. Having good ventilation is important for your chld’s comfort.

6) tight clothing – Tight fitting clothes, particularly in warm climates or during warm seasons, is hard on children. Too tight of elastic in dresses and waist bands; or around wrists and ankles, can cause soreness and discomfort. Crying will express these feelings.

7) dark room – When a baby awakes in the night, in a dark room, he or she will cry and disturb mother and father. then becomes further distressed when the strong light comes on and cries louder. A good practice is to have a dim light on in your baby’s room.

mosquito – The surprise of the sting from these insects will result in a crying baby.

9) nasal blockage – Stuffed or blocked nasal passages will result in your baby crying until these passages are cleared for proper breathing.

10) phlegm in throat – This too will cause crying to occur, phlegm makes for difficult breathing. This condition can often be heard as your child breaths.

11) General aching – During the stages of flu or other infectious diseases, the body aches and becomes restless resulting in possible continual crying.

12) hibitual crying – Occasionally, much to the parents agony, babies cry without a cause. Often a call to the doctor is pursued for help.

13) nappy rash – This can result if, for long periods of time, the nappy is wet. Allergic reaction can also be the cause of a rash. With the appearance of a nappy rash, your baby becomes restless and cries from lack of sleep and discomfort. Other conditions that also causes this problem would be eczema, ecthyma, candidiasis, ect.

14) earache – This is most common in wet climates. Often times this infection will start in the throat. Ear infection can become risky and cause the ear drum to rupture and discharge pus, if not taken care of properly. An earache will eueally become worse at night when lying down. Some children will frequently rub the infected ear, trying to communicate the discomfort. Crying is most assured to occur and when vary painful, won’t allow you to touch the ear.

15) colic – This is connected to rumbling and cramping of the abdomen while in a parallel position and is relieved slightly is an upright or vertical postion. Some children will find relief while lying on their abdomen. This condition is hard to diagnose and the exact cause is uncertain. If your child continuously cries consult your doctor.

16) Infections – All infections result in pain or irritation one way or another causing your child to cry. This can occur anywhere on the body or inside the bady. Most often joined with fever, redness and swelling.

17) reactions to certain foods – One adage to keep in mind ‘one man’s food is another man’s poison’. Some foods are connected directly to allergic reactions. Reactions such as redness, breathlessness, gastric symptom and continual crying should alert parents to a posible health problem with the child and consult your doctor.

18) hard stools – Constipation in babies can cause him or her to cry when the urge for stool arises. Occassionally a child may try to hold back their stool due to pain.

19) gastro exophagial reflex – When your baby cries after burping up right after eating; if this is a regular occurrence it could be gastroesophageal reflex. When the lower part of the esophagus fails to close after food resulting in regurgitation from the stomach. However; it is hard to diagnose this condition. Doctors will start by prescribing antireflex medicine.

20) dentition – When a child experiences dentition or teething he or she will become restless and cry often. This condition is also connected to gastric troubles and diarrhoea.

Rare causes maybe…

1) bowel obstruction – Bowel obstructions will cause severe pain and vomiting. Your child’s abdomen can be swellen and rumbling with discomfort. Baby will be constipated and the absences of stomach acid.

2) septicemia – Organisms, such as pathogenic micros, invading the blood with accompanied fever.

3) torsion of testes in male children – When male babies cry continuously, check his scrotum. This condition produces severe pain and worsens at the touch. If the testes are pressed upward toward the body will relieve the pain. Proper treatment is required, if steps are not taken the affected testes can become damaged by lack of circulation and blood supply.

4) meningitis – Fever may not be present with this condition. If your baby cries with alternation vacant stare and irritability consult your doctor promptly. Other sympoms will follow, such as, rigid neck and may be seizures.

5) retention of urine – If your child retains urine, the blatter becomes overly full causing intense pain, resulting in restlessness and crying.

6) major injuries – Major injury, anywhere on his or her body results in pain. On occasion a child may fall resulting in a head injury. This can be connected with reflex vomiting and convulsions.

Medical History

A careful medical history from a patient with constipation is critical for many reasons, but particularly because it allows the physician to define the type of constipation. This, in turn, directs the diagnosis and treatment. For example, if defecation is painful, the physician knows to look for anal problems such as a narrowed anal sphincter or an anal fissure. If small stools are the problem, there is likely to be a lack of fiber in the diet. If the patient is experiencing significant straining, then pelvic floor dysfunction is likely.

The history also uncovers medications and diseases that can cause constipation. In these cases, the medications can be changed and the diseases can be treated.

A careful dietary history-which may require keeping a food diary for a week or two-can reveal a diet that is low in fiber and may direct the physician to recommend a high-fiber diet. A food diary also allows the physician to evaluate how well a patient increases his dietary fiber during treatment.

Physical examination

A physical examination may identify diseases (for example, scleroderma) that can cause constipation. A rectal examination with the finger may uncover a tight anal sphincter that may be making defecation difficult. If a stool-filled colon can be felt through the abdominal wall, it suggests that constipation is severe. Stool in the rectum suggests a problem with the anal, rectal, or pelvic floor muscles.

Blood tests

Blood tests may be appropriate in evaluating patients with constipation. More specifically, blood tests for thyroid hormone (to detect hypothyroidism) and for calcium (to uncover excess parathyroid hormone) may be helpful.

Abdominal X-ray

Large amounts of stool in the colon usually can be visualized on simple X-ray films of the abdomen; the more stool that is visualized, the more severe the constipation.

Barium enema

A barium enema (lower GI series) is an x-ray study in which liquid barium is inserted through the anus to fill the rectum and colon. The barium outlines the colon on the X-rays and defines the normal or abnormal anatomy of the colon and rectum. Tumors and narrowings (strictures) are among the abnormalities that can be detected with this test.

Colonic transit (marker) studies

Colonic transit studies are simple X-ray studies that determine how long it takes for food to travel through the intestines. For transit studies, individuals swallow capsules for one or more days. Inside the capsules are many small pieces of plastic that can be seen on X-rays. The gelatin capsules dissolve and release the plastic pieces into the small intestine. The pieces of plastic then travel (as would digesting food) through the small intestine and into the colon. After 5 or 7 days, an X-ray of the abdomen is taken and the pieces of plastic in the different parts of the colon are counted. From this count, it is possible to determine if and where there is a delay in the colon.

In non-constipated individuals, all of the plastic pieces are eliminated in the stool and none remain in the colon. When pieces are spread throughout the colon, it suggests that the muscles and/or nerves throughout the colon are not working, which is typical of colonic inertia. When pieces accumulate in the rectum, it suggests pelvic floor dysfunction.

Defecography

Defecography is a modification of the barium enema examination. For this procedure, a thick paste of barium is inserted into the rectum of a patient through the anus. X-rays then are taken while the patient defecates the barium. The barium clearly outlines the rectum and anus and demonstrates the changes taking place in the muscles of the pelvic floor during defecation. Thus, defecography examines the process of defecation and provides information about anatomical abnormalities of the rectum and pelvic floor muscles during defecation.

Ano-rectal motility studies

Ano-rectal motility studies, which complement defecography tests, provide an assessment of the function of the muscles and nerves of the anus and rectum. For ano-rectal motility studies, a flexible tube, approximately an eighth of an inch in diameter, is inserted through the anus and into the rectum. Sensors within the tube measure the pressures that are generated by the muscles of the anus and rectum. With the tube in place, the patient performs several simple maneuvers such as voluntarily tightening the anal muscles. Ano-rectal motility studies can help determine if the muscles of the anus and rectum are working normally. When the function of these muscles is impaired, the flow of stool is obstructed, thereby causing a condition similar to pelvic floor dysfunction.

Colonic motility studies

Colonic motility studies are similar to ano-rectal motility studies in many aspects. A very long, narrow (one-eighth inch in diameter), flexible tube is inserted through the anus and passed through part or all of the colon during a procedure called colonoscopy. Sensors within the tube measure the pressures that are generated by the contractions of the colonic muscles. These contractions are the result of coordinated activity of the colonic nerves and muscles. If the activity of the nerves or muscles is abnormal, the pattern of colonic pressures will be abnormal. Colonic motility studies are most useful in defining colonic inertia. These studies are considered research tools, but they can be helpful in making decisions regarding treatment in patients with severe constipation.