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Laxatives For Constipation Center - Asheville, NC

Asheville 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 Asheville *

Asheville Gastroenterology
James R Alexander
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Thomas M Bond
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Craig J Cender
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Kenneth J Clark
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Timothy B Deering
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Andrew Dukoweiz
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
John W Garrett
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Michael W Grier
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
William R Harlan
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Brentley D Jeffries
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
David T May
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Michael K Newcomer
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Rodney A Perez
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Richard L Smith
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Asheville Gastroenterology
Matthew Wood
191 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0881

Mountain View Gastroenterology
Robin D Wright
200 Charlotte St
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 250-0510

Larry R Cain MD
Larry R Cain
3 Doctors Park
STE H
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 285-0014

Carolina Mountain Gastroenterology
Carl P Stamm
7 Glenn Bridge Rd
Arden, NC 28704
(828) 687-9838

Carolina Mountain Gastroenterology
Donald R Varner
7 Glenn Bridge Rd
Arden, NC 28704
(828) 687-9838

Carolina Mountain Gastroenterology
Andrew I Rackoff
1032 Fleming St
Hendersonville, NC 28791
(828) 696-3099

Carolina Mountain Gastroenterology
James Rholl
1032 Fleming St
Hendersonville, NC 28791
(828) 696-3099

Mountain Medical Associates
Filiberto Colon
600 Hospital Dr
STE 9
Clyde, NC 28721
(828) 452-0331

Mountain Medical Associates
Henry P Nathan
600 Hospital Dr
STE 9
Clyde, NC 28721
(828) 452-0331

Western Carolina Digestive Consultants
Maria M Olmeda
26 Westcare Dr
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-9200

Rutherford Internal Medicine Associates PA
Stephen J Melson
181 Daniel Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 286-9036

Rutherford Internal Medicine Associates PA
Gary R Schafer
181 Daniel Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 286-9036

Mushtaq A Bukhari MD
Mushtaq A Bukhari
107B Mica Avenue
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-8314

Mushtaq A Bukhari MD
Suneel Mohammed
107B Mica Avenue
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 437-8314

Cleveland Gastroenterology
Garth George
808 N Washington St
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 480-0008

Cleveland Gastroenterology
Karel F Rybnicek
808 N Washington St
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 480-0008

Cleveland Gastroenterology
Brian D Smith
808 N Washington St
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 480-0008

Appalachian Gastroenterology
Douglas M Trate
870 State Farm Rd
STE 102
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-0029

Gastroenterology Associates
Simon J Allport
415 N Center St
STE 300
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-3300

Gastroenterology Associates
Gregory Diamonti
415 N Center St
STE 300
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-3300

Gastroenterology Associates
Caroll D Koscheski
415 N Center St
STE 300
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-3300

Gastroenterology Associates
John H Meier
415 N Center St
STE 300
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-3300

Gastroenterology Associates
Frank D Wright
415 N Center St
STE 300
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-3300

The Caldwell Medical Center
Lawrence M Caldwell
24 S Brady Ave
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 464-4550

Gaston Medical Group
Perry W Aycock
660 Summit Crossing Pl
STE 301
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 867-0735

Asheville, North Carolina

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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 Asheville

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Asheville Hospitals *

Mission Hospitals St Joseph's Campus
428 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)213-1111

Mission St Joseph's Memorial Campus
509 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)213-1111

CarePartners Rehabilitation Hospital
68 Sweeten Creek Rd
Asheville, NC 28803
(828)274-2400

Asheville VA Medical Center
1100 Tunnel Rd
Asheville, NC 28805
(828)298-7911

Park Ridge Hospital
Naples Rd
Fletcher, NC 28732
(828)684-8501

Pardee Hospital
800 N Justice St
Hendersonville, NC 28791
(828)696-1000

Haywood Regional Medical Center
262 Leroy George Dr
Clyde, NC 28721
(828)456-7311

Transylvania Community Hospital
90 Hospital Dr
Brevard, NC 28712
(828)884-9111

The McDowell Hospital
430 Rankin Dr
Marion, NC 28752
(828)659-5000

St Luke's Hospital
101 Hospital Dr
Columbus, NC 28722
(828)894-3311

Spruce Pine Community Hospital
125 Hospital Dr
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
(828)765-4201

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