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Laxatives For Constipation Center - Anchorage, AK

Anchorage Gastroenterologist Doctors for Laxatives For Constipation

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Anchorage *

Internal Medicine Associates
Douglas B Haghighi
2841 Debarr Rd
STE 50
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 276-2811

Internal Medicine Associates
Steven B Ingle
2841 Debarr Rd
STE 50
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 276-2811

Internal Medicine Associates
Geronimo Sahagun
2841 Debarr Rd
STE 50
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 276-2811

Richard Farleigh MD PC
Richard Farleigh
4120 Laurel St
STE 202
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 561-4293

Brian F Sweeney MD
Brian F Sweeney
4048 Laurel St
STE 301
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 562-2928

Ronald Boisen MD
Ronald Boisen
385 Providence Dr
STE 466
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 569-1333

Daryl McClendon MD
Daryl McClendon
385 Piper St
STE 466
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 569-1333

Pioneer Gastroenterology Clinic APC
Saket K Ambasht
3300 Providence Dr
STE 208
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 562-6001

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage is a consolidated city-borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Anchorage has been named All-America City four times, in 1956, 1965, 1984/85, and 2002, by the National Civic League. It has also been named by Kiplinger as the most tax friendly city in the United States.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorage)

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Laxatives For Constipation

What is constipation?

Constipation is a condition that is characterized by infrequent bowel movements that are painful or difficult, or stools that are hard in consistency. Infrequent bowel movements alone are not a reliable indicator of constipation because bowel frequency can vary between three times a day to once a week among normal individuals. Therefore, hard stools that are difficult to pass or infrequent stools accompanied by abdominal pain, back pain, and abdominal bloating define important constipation.

What are the causes of constipation?

There are many causes of constipation including:

  • Diets low in fiber. Fiber is vegetable material that is resistant to digestion. It promotes soft stools by adding bulk to the stool and causing water to be retained in stool.
  • Side effects of medications such as narcotic pain killers, antidepressants, iron supplements, calcium channel blockers (a class of medications for high blood pressure), and certain types of antacids.
  • Narrowing or blockage of the large intestine (colon) due to colon cancer or advanced diverticulosis.
  • Ineffective contraction or spasm of the colon's muscles due to irritable bowel syndrome or other diseases of the colon's muscles.
  • Hormonal (endocrine) disturbances such as an under- active thyroid gland and diabetes mellitus with nerve damage.
  • Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurologic conditions.

Examples of common medications that can cause constipation:

  • Narcotic pain medications: codeine (Tylenol #3), oxycodone (Percocet), and guaifenesin/hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and others
  • Antidepressants: amitriptyline (Elavil), fluoxetine (Prozac), and imipramine (Tofranil)
  • Anticonvulsants: phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol)
  • Iron supplements
  • ...

Recommended Reading Related to Laxatives for Constipation

Melanosis Coli »

What is melanosis coli?

Melanosis coli is a condition usually associated with chronic laxative use in which dark pigment is deposited in the lamina propria (one of the lining layers) of the large intestine (colon). The pigment deposition results in a characteristic dark brown to black discoloration of the lining of the large intestine. This condition is sometimes called pseudomelanosis coli because the pigment deposits consist of a pigment known as lipofuscin and do not contain melanin as implied by the term "melanosis." Lipofuscin is a cellular pigment that forms when cells are destroyed, often called "wear and tear" pigment that can be found throughout the body.

The dark color of the intestinal lining may be uniform or patterned, and the discoloration may be slight or very pronounced. The intensity and pattern of the discoloration may even vary among different sites in the colon of a patient. The condition may also be reversed upon disc...

Emergency Contact for Anchorage

  • In case of Emergency, call 911
  • Police (808) 529-3111
  • Fire (808) 723-7139

Nearby Anchorage Hospitals *

North Star Behavioral Health System
2530 DeBarr Rd
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)258-7575

Alaska Regional Hospital
2801 Debarr Rd
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)276-1131

Alaska VA Healthcare System
2925 DeBarr Rd
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)257-4700

Alaska Psychiatric Institute
2800 Providence Dr
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)269-7100

Children's Hospital at Providence
3200 Providence Dr
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)261-3130

Providence Alaska Medical Center
3200 Providence Dr
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)562-2211

Alaska Native Medical Center
4315 Diplomacy Dr
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)563-2662

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
2500 S Woodworth Loop
Palmer, AK 99645
(907)861-6000

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