Treating constipation in seniors: A review of current treatments
2013-01-28
(Press-News.org) For seniors who are constipated, the use of polyethylene glycol and lactulose are effective, according to a review of current treatments published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). The article reviews the latest evidence on the efficacy and safety of treatments to help doctors treat their patients.
Constipation, which increases with age, is a common complaint in seniors that can have serious health consequences and affect quality of life. Excessive straining in frail people can cause fainting and the risk of injury from falling or restrict blood flow to the heart and brain. Fecal impaction can cause nausea, loss of appetite and pain, which can lead to functional decline.
"Given the growing proportion of older adults in North America, effective management of constipation by health care professionals will be increasingly necessary," writes Dr. Dov Gandell, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, with coauthors.
Constipation can be caused by medications such as opioids and iron pills as well as metabolic conditions and diseases, although the main cause of the condition is not well understood.
Evidence from randomized controlled trials indicates that the use of osmotic agents such as polyethylene glycol and lactulose are effective in increasing the secretion of water in the colon, although these agents (especially lactulose) can cause bloating, gas and diarrhea. Soluble fibres such as psyllium are often used, although there is not strong evidence for effectiveness. Stimulant laxatives, such as senna and cascara which are naturally derived, have been shown to be effective but may become less effective with long-term use.
Increased fluid intake and exercise were not shown to alleviate constipation but should be undertaken for other health benefits.
The authors recommend a 9-step process to help patients manage constipation, which includes identifying symptoms and possible secondary causes, verifying or excluding impaction, optimizing behaviour, modifying diet and undergoing trials of various laxatives. Referral to a gastroenterologist or geriatrician would be the final step if the previous steps were unsuccessful.
"The symptoms [of constipation] can have a profound impact on quality of life and in certain circumstances may lead to functional decline," state the authors. "Physicians should educate their patients on the wide range of normal bowel habits and the potential benefits of dietary modifications to improve symptoms."
INFORMATION:
END
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
2013-01-28
Japanese researchers show for the first time that primates modify their body movements to be in tune with others, just like humans do. Humans unconsciously modify their movements to be in synchrony with their peers. For example, we adapt our pace to walk in step or clap in unison at the end of a concert. This phenomenon is thought to reflect bonding and facilitate human interaction. Researchers from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute report today that pairs of macaque monkeys also spontaneously coordinate their movements to reach synchrony.
This research opens the door ...
2013-01-28
GRAFTON, Mass. (January 28, 2013)—A popular dog treat could be adding more calories than pet owners realize, and possibly be contaminated by bacteria, according to a study published this month by researchers at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and the University of Guelph.
The treat in question: the "bully" or "pizzle stick." The American and Canadian researchers analyzed the caloric density and bacterial contamination of these popular items, made from the uncooked, dried penis of a bull or steer. They also administered a survey to pet owners ...
2013-01-28
Synapse development is promoted by a variety of cell adhesion molecules that connect neurons and organize synaptic proteins. Many of these adhesion molecules are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders; mutations in neuroligin and neurexin proteins, for example, are associated with autism and schizophrenia. According to a study in The Journal of Cell Biology, another family of proteins linked to these disorders regulates the function of neuroligins and neurexins in order to suppress the development of inhibitory synapses.
Like neurexins and neuroligins, the neuronal proteins ...
2013-01-28
Just as the body can become resistant to antibiotics, certain methods of killing cancer tumors can end up creating resistant tumor cells. But a University of Central Florida professor has found a protein present in several types of cancer, including breast and ovarian cancer, which could be helpful in preventing tumors from coming back.
The protein, KLF8, appears to protect tumor cells from drugs aimed at killing them and even aid the tumor cells' ability to regenerate.
"All cells have a DNA-repair mechanism," explained Jihe Zhao, a medical doctor and researcher who ...
2013-01-28
Hyderabad, India, and Shenzhen, China (28 January 2013) – In a scientific breakthrough that promises improved grain yields and quality, greater drought tolerance and disease resistance, and enhanced genetic diversity, a global research team has completed high-quality sequencing of not one but ninety genomes of chickpea.
Nature Biotechnology, the highest ranked journal in the area of biotechnology, featured the reference genome of the CDC Frontier chickpea variety and genome sequence of 90 cultivated and wild genotypes from 10 different countries, as an online publication ...
2013-01-28
Sophia Antipolis, 28 January 2013: The radial approach for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) was developed 20 years ago and is used for more than 50% of procedures in France, Scandinavian countries, the UK, Spain and Italy. Despite the advantages of radial access some countries in Europe such as Germany use radial access for fewer than 10% of PCI.
Evidence has accumulated in the literature showing the benefits of radial over femoral access for PCI including reduced bleeding and improved survival. In addition, the development of smaller and thinner devices has ...
2013-01-28
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — When researchers sequence the RNA of cancer cells, they can compare it to normal cells and see where there is more RNA. That can help lead them to the gene or protein that might be triggering the cancer.
But other than spotting a few known instigators, what does it mean? Is there more RNA because it's synthesizing too quickly or because it's not degrading fast enough? What part of the biological equilibrium is off?
After more than a decade of work, researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed a technique to ...
2013-01-28
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ⎯ The heat generated by everyday energy consumption in metropolitan areas is significant enough to influence the character of major atmospheric circulation systems, including the jet stream during winter months, and cause continental-scale surface warming in high latitudes, according to a trio of climate researchers that includes Ming Cai, a professor in Florida State University's Department of Meteorology.
Led by Guang Zhang, a research meteorologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, the scientists ...
2013-01-28
Research conducted by Matthew Shaffer, a doctoral psychology student at UT and C. Veronica Smith, an assistant psychology professor at the University of Mississippi, reveals that the first sexual experience can set the tone for the rest of one's sexual life.
The study is published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy and is the first to look at whether the circumstances of losing one's virginity have lasting consequences.
"The loss of virginity is often viewed as an important milestone in human development, signifying a transition to adulthood," said Shaffer. ...
2013-01-28
The majority of Americans support a broad array of policies to reduce gun violence, according to a new national public opinion survey conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. These policies include: requiring universal background checks for all gun sales (supported by 89 percent); banning the sale of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons (69 percent); banning the sale of large-capacity ammunition magazines (68 percent); and prohibiting high-risk individuals from having guns, including those convicted of a serious crime as a ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
[Press-News.org] Treating constipation in seniors: A review of current treatments
