Dear Doctors: I’m a 77-year-old man and was having trouble with hard stools. My doctor suggested a stool softener. It worked for about a week, but then I developed diarrhea. Over-the-counter diarrhea ...

Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD Key Takeaways While holding a bowel movement occasionally should not cause any health ...

Water is often dubbed the elixir of life, and for a good reason. It is a crucial component of our bodies, making up about 60 percent of our total body weight. Every cell, tissue and organ in our body ...

Over the years, I have observed how certain conditions such as stool problems provide greater degrees of angst as compared to others within my patient population. I’m sure many of you remember those ...

Julia is the associate news editor for Health, where she edits and publishes news articles on trending health and wellness topics. Her work has been featured in The Heights, an independent student ...

Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD Key Takeaways Pale poop can mean a problem with the liver or gallbladder.Bile is ...

Without treatment, long-standing constipation can lead to bowel problems such as anal fissures. Some can lead to serious problems, such as fecal impaction, which could lead to hospitalization, surgery ...

Constipation — having bowel movements less often than usual or stools that are hard or difficult to pass — can affect how you feel throughout your day, disrupt routines, and make other multiple ...

The gallbladder is an important part of digestion. If you’re experiencing issues, they may affect your bowel movements and cause symptoms like constipation. Your gallbladder is an important organ that ...

Splinting is a technique people may use to relieve constipation. It involves using a finger to press against the perineum or vaginal wall to help move a stool out of the rectum. There is little ...

Dear Doctors: I’m a 77-year-old man and was having trouble with hard stools. My doctor suggested a stool softener. It worked for about a week, but then I developed diarrhea. Over-the-counter diarrhea ...