Keflex
By W. Chris. Blue Mountain College. 2018.
Finally keflex 500 mg antibiotics sore throat, the results showed a belief that the illness would last a long time (the illness representation) was related to coping by suppressing competing activities order keflex 250mg on-line antimicrobial laundry detergent, behavioural disengagement (e. The relationship between illness representations and level of functioning The results showed that the illness representation components of illness identity, emo- tional causes of the illness, controllability/curability and consequences had the strongest overall association with measures of functioning, suggesting that individuals who had the most symptoms, believed that their illness was out of their control, caused by stress and had serious consequences, showed low levels of psychological adjustment and well-being and higher levels of dysfunction. In addition, the results provide support for Leventhal’s self-regulatory model as illness representations were related to coping and a measure of outcome (level of functioning). However, because of the cross-sectional nature of the design it is not possible to say whether illness representations cause changes in either coping or outcome and as the authors conclude ‘only a prospective design can clarify some of these issues’. Problems with assessment This dynamic, self-regulatory process suggests a model of cognitions that is complex and intuitively sensible, but poses problems for attempts at assessment and intervention. For example: 1 If the different components of the self-regulatory model interact, should they be measured separately? For example, is the belief that an illness has no serious consequences an illness cognition or a coping strategy? For example, is the appraisal that symptoms have been reduced a successful outcome or is it a form of denial (a coping strategy)? The individual processes involved in the self-regulatory model will now be examined in greater detail. However, symptom perception is not a straightforward process (see Chapter 12 for details of pain perception). For example, what might be a sore throat to one person could be another’s tonsillitis and whereas a retired person might consider a cough a serious problem a working person might be too busy to think about it. Pennebaker (1983) has argued that there are individual differences in the amount of attention people pay to their internal states. For example, Pennebaker (1983) reported that individuals who were more focused on their internal states tended to overestimate changes in their heart rate compared with subjects who were externally focused. Being internally focused has also been shown to relate to a perception of slower recovery from illness (Miller et al. Being internally focused may result in a different perception of symptom change, not a more accurate one. Mood, cognitions, environment and symptom perception Skelton and Pennebaker (1982) suggested that symptom perception is influenced by factors such as mood, cognitions and the social environment. Mood: The role of mood in symptom perception is particularly apparent in pain perception with anxiety increasing self-reports of the pain experience (see Chapter 12 for a discussion of anxiety and pain). In addition, anxiety has been proposed as an explanation for placebo pain reduction as taking any form of medication (even a sugar pill) may reduce the individual’s anxiety, increase their sense of control and result in pain reduction (see Chapter 13 for a discussion of anxiety and placebos). In an experimental study, participants were exposed to low intensity somatic sensations induced by breathing air high in carbon dioxide. They were then told that the sensation would be either positive, negative or somewhere between and were asked to rate both the pleasantness and intensity of their symptoms. The results showed that what the participants were told about the sensation influenced their ratings of its pleasantness. The results also showed that although people who rated high on negative affectivity showed similar ratings of pleasantness to those low on negative affectivity they did report more negative meanings and worries about their symptoms. This indicates that expectations about the nature of a symptom can alter the experience of that symptom and that negative mood can influence the attributions made about a symptom. Cognition: An individual’s cognitive state may also influence their symptom per- ception. This is illustrated by the placebo effect with the individual’s expectations of recovery resulting in reduced symptom perception (see Chapter 13). Ruble (1977) carried out a study in which she manipulated women’s expectations about when they were due to start menstruating. She gave sub- jects an ‘accurate physiological test’ and told women either that their period was due very shortly or that it was at least a week away. Pennebaker also reported that symptom perception is related to an individual’s attentional state and that boredom and the absence of environmental stimuli may result in over-reporting, whereas distraction and attention diversion may lead to under-reporting (Pennebaker 1983). Sixty-one women who had been hospitalized during pre-term labour were randomized to receive either information, distraction or nothing (van Zuuren 1998). The results showed that distraction had the most beneficial effect on measures of both physical and psychological symptoms suggesting that symptom per- ception is sensitive to attention. Symptom perception can also be influenced by the ways in which symptoms are elicited. For example, Eiser (2000) carried out an experimental study whereby students were asked to indicate their symptoms, from a list of 30 symp- toms, over the past month and the past year and also to rate their health status.
However purchase keflex 250 mg line treatment for uti other than antibiotics, before learning these details buy cheap keflex 750 mg script virus, let’s begin in this chapter with the basic concepts of pharmacology. Pharmacology is the study of chemicals—drugs—on living tissues and how those chemicals help diagnose, treat, cure, and prevent disease or correct the patho- physiology of living tissues. The term pharmacology is derived from two Greek words: pharmakon, the Greek word for drugs, and logos, the Greek word for science. Pharmacology has its roots in folklore and tradition that dates back to ancient times when knowledge of the medicinal effects of plants were passed down through generations. Because drugs can vary in strength and purity, pharma- cological standards have been developed that govern the manufacturing and control of drugs. The United States Pharmacopeia National Formulary is the only official book of drug standards in the United States. If a drug is included in this book it has met the standards of quality, purity, and strength. Accurate dosage and the reliability of the effect the drug will have on a patient is depend- ent upon the purity and strength of the drug. Purity is the dilution or mixture of a drug with other materials to give it a form that can be administered. The strength of drugs from plants can depend on where the plant is grown, the age at which the plant is harvested, and how the harvest is preserved. Drug packaging standards determine what infor- mation needs to be displayed on packages of drugs. In addition to these standards, there are a number of important laws that have been enacted to control the sale and distribution of drugs. This changed when a drug company distributed a sulfa drug to treat pediatric patients. With the passage of the Durham- Humphrey amendment to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938, a group of drugs was defined that could only be purchased if the patient had a prescription from a licensed practitioner. This amendment tightened con- trols on drug safety by requiring drug manufacturers to use standard labeling of drug containers. The label lists adverse reactions and contraindications or reasons why the drug should not be used. In an effort to con- tain this problem, Congress passed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevent and Control Act. This act categorized controlled substances according to a schedule based on potential for abuse. The same might be true if you ask an adult where drugs come from and he answers from the drug store. Drugs can be purchased from a drug store, but the origins are from one of four sources. Pharmaceutical firms harvest these plants and transform them into drugs that have a specific purity and strength sufficient to treat diseases. Digitalis is made from leaves of the foxglove plant and is used to treat congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. For example, Premarin is a drug that contains estrogen that is recovered from mare urine. Insulin is another hormonal drug that is used to regulate blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes mellitus. Patients lacking an adequate level of these materials may take specific mineral- based drugs to raise the level of minerals. Iron is a natural metal that is an integral part of body proteins such as hemoglobin that carries oxygen throughout the body. A synthetic drug is produced using chemical synthesis, which rearranges chemical derivatives to form a new compound. Sulfonamides are a common group of synthesized drugs that are used to treat many infections including bronchitis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Unlike drugs that are governed by the Food and Drug Administration, dietary supplements are not tested or regulated and can be sold over-the-counter without a prescription. This lack of monitoring means there are no standards for purity and strength for herbals. Two packages of the same herbal distributed by the same company might have different purity and strength that makes the effect of the herb unreliable.
An early account (1785) of the traditional uses of 28 African plants 500 mg keflex for sale virus c, entitled De Medicina Africanorum discount keflex 250mg overnight delivery bacteria synonym,14 was made by the Swedish botanist and physician Carl Peter Thunberg (1743–1828), a student of Linnaeus. Botany and medicine being closely allied professions at that time, Thunberg was keenly interested in the medicinal uses of the plants that he encountered at the Cape and clearly saw a role for them in health- care. As Smith9 noted ‘In the field of medicinal remedies, far from the original centres where the standard remedies grew, the colonists turned to the lore of the natives and adapted the native medicines to their own pharmacopoeias’. The most comprehensive account to date of the traditional medicines of Africa was published in 1932, followed by a second edition in 1962. In the course of treating 90 | Traditional medicine mineworkers who had come from all parts of Africa to seek employment in the rich gold fields of the Witwatersrand, these scientists were able to record information about the traditional medical uses of plants in their patients’ countries of origin. All information published from about 1800 onwards in respect of the species’ chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and ethno- medical use was included, as was an index of vernacular names in each of the major languages of southern and eastern Africa. These indices have proved to be essential tools for the modern pharmacognosist, ethnobotanist and ethnopharmacologist, while the work itself remains the starting point for much current ethnomedical research on African plant species. With remarkable foresight, the authors wrote, in the preface to the second edition: ‘These remedies are still in common use, but much of the folk medi- cine of the indigenous peoples of Southern and Eastern Africa is disap- pearing before the advancing tide of civilization with its synthetic medicines. There is little doubt that the greater part of it will have disappeared within measurable time and the recording of it has seemed to us to be not only a matter of urgency but one of necessity. This endeavour has, in the last 30 years, greatly accelerated, at continental, regional, national and provincial level. Although a welcome addition to the literature, this work cannot claim to be particularly African in character, in that more than 60% of the mono- graphs presented (±100) deal with plant species not indigenous to Africa (although some have become naturalised there). Few African countries have recognised the African Pharmacopoeia as official; in South Africa the British Pharma- copoeia and British Pharmaceutical Codex are used. In view of the increasing number of scientific papers dealing with African traditional medi- cines published during the past 15 years in journals such as Phytomedicine, Planta Medica, Phytochemistry, Phytotherapy Research, Fitoterapia, Phar- maceutical Biology and Journal of Ethnopharmacology,18 a revival of the African Pharmacopoeia project now seems likely. Materia medica used in traditional medical practice Many African states have extremely rich floras, often characterised by a high degree of endemicity, i. A list of 1046 plant species (from 150 angiosperm families) considered to be most important to traditional medical practice in Africa is given by Iwu. This finding is not surprising, given that Asteraceae and Fabaceae are the two largest angiosperm families and also boast a great variety of secondary chemicals with known therapeutic application, including alka- loids, sesquiterpene lactones and saponins. Fabaceae is reputed to have provided more medicinal species than any other plant family. Given the extent of intraspecies variation in, as well as the effects of external factors such as fertiliser/water regime, altitude and soil type on, plant secondary chemistry, this view is not necessarily unreasonable. An aware- ness of seasonal, diurnal or age variation in therapeutic activity is also Traditional medical practice in Africa | 93 Table 5. These may be prepared using fresh or dried plant material (whole, powdered or in small pieces). Powders for internal use may be mixed with gruel or porridge, whereas ointments are usually prepared using plant oils or animal fats as a base. Inhalations may be moist (plant material added to boiling water and the steam inhaled or directed to specific body parts) or dry (dried herbs placed on heated stones and the smoke inhaled). Safety/efficacy/quality • An adequate evidence base for traditional medical practice therapies and products • International/national standards for ensuring safety/efficacy/quality assurance • Adequate regulation of herbal medicines • Registration of traditional medical practice providers • Research methodology. Access • Data measuring access levels and affordability • Official recognition of the role of traditional medical practice providers 96 | Traditional medicine • Cooperation between traditional medical practice providers and allopathic practitioners • Attention to the unsustainable use of medicinal plant resources. National policy and regulation Regulatory/legal mechanisms During the colonial period, traditional medical practice was discouraged or prohibited in most African countries. A legal framework for the practice of traditional medicine is in place in 53% of states and management bodies for the coor- dination of matters pertaining to traditional practice in 57%. In 2006, South Africa established a Directorate of Traditional Medicine within the Health Ministry and in 2007 enacted the Traditional Practitioners Act (No. In 2008 a Draft National Policy on African Traditional Medicine (Government Gazette No.
Either com- pressed nitrogen or a rifle primer acts as a propellant to fire two barbs from the front of the unit to the skin or clothing of the individual requiring restraint keflex 250 mg cheap antibiotic quotes. The barbs remain attached to the unit by lengths of wire to a maximum range in some units of 6 buy keflex 250 mg free shipping virus compression. This increased separation gives more effect from the 50,000-V shocks as more muscle groups are affected. The barbs are not barbed like a fish hook but only have small projections on them. The generalized involuntary muscular contractions produced by the Taser result in victims falling in a semicontrolled fashion. There is a poten- tial for injuries depending on the exact nature of the fall, but normally, recovery is prompt and uneventful. In the target areas of the torso and legs, there are few complications, but a direct hit on the eye could cause a pen- etrating injury, requiring urgent specialist assessment, and superficial blood vessels elsewhere could be punctured. Taser usage has been associated with fatalities, although the exact cause is not known. Nearly all who died in one study either had taken drugs (phen- cyclidine, amphetamine, or cocaine), had heart disease (that may only be found postmortem) or had other contributing injuries. Death was delayed for up to 30 min after Taser use, but it should be noted that the Tasers used in this study were using lower energy levels than those in current usage. Just as those suffering from extreme agitation need careful consideration when in custody, individuals who have been agitated or unwell at the time of Medical Issues of Restraint 203 Taser use should have their acid–base balance checked. Taser use could exac- erbate an already disturbed acid–base balance by increasing skeletal muscle activity and predispose to the development of ventricular arrhythmias. Taser is being tested in a few United Kingdom police forces to be used by firearms-trained officers, and it seems likely to be issued nationally. In the United States, it has decreased in use since mace oleoresin capsicum sprays became widely issued because the latter appeared more effective. Tasers are available in parts of Australia to specialist officers and also subject to review of their effectiveness. More research on the medical effects of Taser usage will no doubt be forthcoming over time. Bean Bag Rounds Available widely in the United States and some Australian states but not the United Kingdom, bean bag rounds consist of rectangular, square, or circu- lar synthetic cloth bags filled with lead pellets and fired from a shotgun. For example, the “Flexible Baton” fires a bag containing 40 g of number 9 lead shot with a projectile velocity of approx 90 m/s. At impact, projectiles are designed to have separated from the shotgun shell and wadding, opened out to strike the target with its largest surface area before collapsing as they lose energy. The effect is to provide sufficient blunt force from an ideal range of 10–30 m to stop an adult’s progress. In one study (11), the most common injuries were bruising and abra- sions, followed by lacerations without having retention of the actual bean bag. However, significant other serious injuries have been documented, including closed fractures, penetrating wounds with retention of the bean bag projectile (and at times parts of the shell and/or wadding), and internal organ damage. Blunt injuries included splenic rupture, pneumothorax, compartment syndrome, tes- ticular rupture, subcapsular liver hematoma, and cardiac contusions. It was noted that retention of the bag was not always suspected on an initial clinical examination, being detected on subsequent scans. Clearly, this device has potential for significant trauma to anywhere on the body. Just as with other nonlethal alternatives for restraint, the forensic physician should always consider why such techniques needed to be deployed; use of drugs or alcohol and psychiatric illness are all common concurrent prob- lems in these situations. Cooper, Biomedical Sciences, Defence Sci- ence and Technology Laboratory, Porton, England, for information regarding baton rounds, and Sgt. John Gall and colleagues from Australia for providing information rel- evant to their jurisdiction.
When we are dieting keflex 750 mg with visa infection bladder, we may be more likely to have a big binge on a day when the scale says that we have met our prior day‘s goals discount keflex 500 mg fast delivery virus mutation rate. And when we are lonely, the motivation to be around other people is aroused and we try to socialize. In many, if not most cases, our emotions and motivations operate out of our conscious Attributed to Charles Stangor Saylor. We begin this chapter by considering the role of affect on behavior, discussing the most important psychological theories of emotions. We will discuss how the experience of long-term stress causes illness, and then turn to research onpositive thinking and what has been learned about the beneficial health effects of more positive emotions. Finally, we will review some of the most important human motivations, including the behaviors of eating and sex. The importance of this chapter is not only in helping you gain an understanding the principles of affect but also in helping you discover the important roles that affect plays in our everyday lives, and particularly in our mental and physical health. The study of the interface between affect and physical health—that principle that “everything that is physiological is also psychological‖—is a key focus of the branch of psychology known as health psychology. The importance of this topic has made health psychology one of the fastest growing fields in psychology. Velocity toward goal attainment in immediate experience as a determinant of affect. The unconscious regulation of emotion: Nonconscious reappraisal goals modulate emotional reactivity. The most fundamental emotions, known as the basic emotions, are those ofanger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise. The basic emotions have a long history in human evolution, and they have developed in large part to help us make rapid judgments about stimuli and to [1] quickly guide appropriate behavior (LeDoux, 2000). The basic emotions are determined in large part by one of the oldest parts of our brain, the limbic system, including the amygdala, the hypothalamus, and the thalamus. Because they are primarily evolutionarily determined, the basic emotions are experienced and displayed in much the same way across cultures (Ekman, 1992; [2] Elfenbein & Ambady, 2002, 2003; Fridland, Ekman, & Oster, 1987), and people are quite accurate at judging the facial expressions of people from different cultures. Video Clip: The Basic Emotions Not all of our emotions come from the old parts of our brain; we also interpret our experiences to create a more complex array of emotional experiences. For instance, the amygdala may sense fear when it senses that the body is falling, but that fear may be interpreted completely differently (perhaps even as “excitement‖) when we are falling on a roller-coaster ride than when we are falling from the sky in an airplane that has lost power. The cognitive interpretations that accompany emotions—known as cognitive appraisal—allow us to experience a much larger and more complex set of secondary emotions, as shown in Figure 10. Although they are in large part cognitive, our experiences of the secondary emotions are determined in part by arousal (on the vertical axis of Figure 10. They are determined by both their level of arousal (low to high) and their valence (pleasant to unpleasant). When you succeed in reaching an important goal, you might spend some time enjoying your secondary emotions, perhaps the experience of joy, satisfaction, and contentment. But when your close friend wins a prize that you thought you had deserved, you might also experience a variety of secondary emotions (in this case, the negative ones)—for instance, feeling angry, sad, resentful, and ashamed. You might mull over the event for weeks or even months, experiencing [3] these negative emotions each time you think about it (Martin & Tesser, 2006). Our response to the basic emotion of fear, for instance, is primarily determined by the fast pathway through the limbic system. When a car pulls out in front of us on the highway, the thalamus activates and sends an immediate message to the amygdala. Secondary emotions are more determined by the slow pathway through the frontal lobes in the cortex. When we stew in jealousy over the loss of a partner to a rival or recollect on our win in the big tennis match, the process is more complex. Information moves from the thalamus to the frontal lobes for cognitive analysis and integration, and then from there to the amygdala.
Not long into his See also Bayley cheap 500 mg keflex antibiotic for staph, Nancy work with patients using psychoanalysis purchase 750 mg keflex otc infection kidney stones, Beck began to Further Reading alter his approach. Assessment of sity of Pennsylvania (Penn) in 1954, where he began to Young Children. In his research, Beck attempted to discover a corre- Know About 150 of the Most Common Medical, Education- lation between depression and masochism. Beck cognitive method involves a person using rational thoughts to overcome fears rather than delving into the 1921- American neurologist and father of cognitive therapy. In cognitive therapy the fears of the client are carefully examined and con- fronted rationally. Beck was born in Providence, Rhode Is- Beck and his wife, Phyllis, a Superior Court Judge in land, on July 18, 1921, the third son of Russian Jewish Philadelphia, have four children and eight grandchildren. For years his main Beck’s childhood typified middle-class America, com- supporter was his wife, at a time when his beliefs were plete with his involvement in Boy Scouts and athletics. Throughout his career he has continued to From this mediocrity rose one of America’s ground- meet his critics by encouraging them to test his theories breaking psychotherapists. Rather than being a boorish scientist too known as cognitive therapy, which is used for cases smug to be proven wrong, Beck welcomes any challenges ranging from depression and panic attacks to addictions, in his pursuit of what is best for his patients. A life-threatening staph infection at Prozac and other modern anti-depressant drugs have the age of eight changed his life. More com- transformed from a very active young man to a quiet one plicated problems bring people to their doors at the be- who preferred reading to playing football. These are problems developed a fear of hospitals, blood, and even the scent that might take more than the usual eight to ten sessions a of ether, which made him feel as if he would faint. Even- relatively simple case of depression would take to re- tually, he overcame those fears rationally. Beck insists that his cognitive approach can be to be concerned about the faint feeling, but just to keep used to treat psychotic disorders,even those as serious active,” he later recounted. A prolific writer, Beck has authored several books and articles both on his own as well as under collaboration. His books include Prisoners of Hate (1999), Depression: Clinical, Experimental, and Theoretical (1980), Cognitive Therapy and the Emotion- al Disorders (1979), and Depression: Causes and Treat- ment (1972). The Beck Depression Inventory and Scale for Suicide Ideation are among two of the widely used tools that he developed for use by therapists. After the publication of this work, and with the general support of the medical community, Beers became a leading fig- Clifford Beers ure in the movement to reform the treatment of, and at- 1876-1943 titudes toward, mental illness. In the same year his American reformer and founder of the mental hy- book was published, Beers founded the Connecticut giene movement. Society for Mental Hygiene (a name suggested by the psychologist Adolf Meyer, another supporter of Clifford Whittingham Beers was born in New Beers’s efforts). This organization lobbied for im- Haven, Connecticut, studied at Yale University, and proved treatment of mental patients and heightened began a professional career in the insurance industry. In 1909, Beers or- 1900 he was institutionalized for a mental breakdown ganized the National Committee for Mental Hygiene after a suicide attempt and diagnosed as manic-depres- and served as its secretary until 1939. Confined to both public and private institutions establish the American Foundation for Mental Hygiene over a three-year period, Beers found the treatment of in 1928. When his ef- Beers’s influence eventually spread beyond the forts to complain directly to hospital administrators United States. Hincks were ignored, Beers smuggled letters out to state offi- found a mental hygiene society in Canada, the Canadian cials, and his efforts met with some success. Beers was ac- Beers was able to return to his career, but continued to tive in organizing the International Congress on Mental work on behalf of reforming the treatment of the men- Health in 1930, and three years later received an award tally ill. Beers’s autobiogra- a popular autobiographical study of his confinement phy remained popular and influential, having gone into and recovery, which was praised by the prominent psy- 26 printings by the time of his death in 1943. A treatment approach, based on the principles of operant conditioning, that replaces undesirable be- haviors with more desirable ones through positive This famous urban legend was perpetuated by a or negative reinforcement. The box was, in fact, a cli- Behavior modification is based on the principles of mate-controlled, baby-sized room that Skinner built, operant conditioning, which were developed by Ameri- called the “aircrib. In his research, sorbing wood, had a humidifier, an air filter, and was he put a rat in a cage later known as the Skinner Box, in temperature-controlled by a thermostat. Dissatisfied which the rat could receive a food pellet by pressing on a with traditional cribs, Skinner built the box to keep his bar.
During the digestive process generic keflex 250mg antibiotics kidney failure, food passes from the stomach to the intestine where nutrients and water are absorbed into the body buy cheap keflex 500 mg online antibiotic soap. The waste products of digestion create a stool, which travels through the intestines with muscle contractions. Anything that slows the passage of stools through the intestines or increases the amount of water absorbed by the body—such as a lack of fibre, fluids, or physical activity; medication; or ignoring the urge to def- ecate—can lead to constipation. Chronic constipation affects 31 percent of people between 19 and 65 years, and approximately 45 percent of people over 65 years. This can be a debilitating and uncom- fortable problem, but there are a number of lifestyle recommendations that can help. Note: See your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or have black stools, as this could signify a serious problem. Ex- amples include Dulcolax (bisacodyl), Senokot (senna), castor oil, and cascara. These drugs work quickly (overnight), but may cause abdominal cramping and are recom- mended for short-term (a few days) use only. Bulk-forming laxatives add bulk and water to the stools, which improves passage through the intestines. They are taken daily with plenty of fluids, and it may take a week to notice benefits. Stool softeners, such as Colace (docusate) cause water and fats to penetrate the stool, easing movement through intestines. Mineral oil makes the stool slippery to facilitate pas- sage; however, it should not be used regularly, as it can reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Those who take laxatives for a long time may need to go off them slowly to allow the bowels to return to normal function. Eat whole-grain breads and cereals (made with wheat bran, whole oats, rye, and flaxseed), fresh fruits (especially strawberries, apples, and rhubarb), dried fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Foods to avoid: • Refined and processed foods are high in sugar and contain little fibre. In one study, two-thirds of the infants had constipation that was relieved when cow’s milk was removed from their diet. Lifestyle Suggestions C • Increase physical activity, as exercise helps stimulate intestinal and bowel contractions. The longer you delay going to the toilet once you feel the urge, the more water that is absorbed from the stool and the harder it becomes. Top Recommended Supplements Fibre supplements: Products containing psyllium husks, flaxseed, oat bran, guar gum, glucommannan, and fenugreek are effective and can be taken regularly. Start with a small amount (one tablespoonful daily) and gradually increase to allow your bowels to adjust. Probiotics: Supplements containing these “friendly bacteria” help to restore the normal gut flora and have been shown in studies to relieve constipation. Complementary Supplements Aloe vera juice: Aids bowel movements by working as a stimulant and improving intestinal contractions. Magnesium: Aids intestinal function and helps stool retain water; may be deficient in those with constipation. These diseases affect the digestive system and cause the intestinal tissue to become inflamed, develop sores, and bleed. These diseases can be painful and debilitating and may lead to life-threatening complications, especially if untreated. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are very similar in that they both inflame the lining of your digestive tract and can cause severe bouts of watery or bloody C diarrhea and abdominal pain. Where they differ is that Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere in your digestive tract, often spreading deep into the layers of affected tis- sues whereas ulcerative colitis usually affects only the innermost lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum. Symptoms may come and go and those affected may also experience long periods of remission. Stress can aggravate symptoms, and was once considered to be the underlying cause, but that is no longer the case.
