MedicineNet

Laxatives For Constipation Center - Danville, VA

Danville 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 Danville *

Danville Gastroenterology Center PC
Bhushan H Pandya
501 Rison St
STE 130
Danville, VA 24541
(434) 791-1152

Internal Medicine Associates
Douglas W Shiflett
101 Holbrook St
Danville, VA 24541
(434) 792-4041

Internal Medicine Associates
Jack B Spainhour
101 Holbrook St
Danville, VA 24541
(434) 792-4041

Halifax Gastroenterolgy Assoc
Charles H Parker
1627 Seymour Dr
South Boston, VA 24592
(434) 572-1171

Gastroenterology Associates of Central Virginia
Charles J Catalano
121 Nationwide Dr
STE A
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 384-1862

Gastroenterology Associates of Central Virginia
Larry E Clark
121 Nationwide Dr
STE A
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 384-1862

Gastroenterology Associates of Central Virginia
Robert E Hickman
121 Nationwide Dr
STE A
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 384-1862

Gastroenterology Associates of Central Virginia
Wei Hou
121 Nationwide Dr
STE A
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 384-1862

Gastroenterology Associates of Central Virginia
Loretta Maffei
121 Nationwide Dr
STE A
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 384-1862

Gastroenterology Associates of Central Virginia
Chalmers M Nunn
121 Nationwide Dr
STE A
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 384-1862

Gastroenterology Associates of Central Virginia
Robert D Richards
121 Nationwide Dr
STE A
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 384-1862

Gastroenterology Associates of Central Virginia
Ralph M Wisniewski
121 Nationwide Dr
STE A
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 384-1862

Gastroenterology Consultants
A S Barritt
202 Duke Of Gloucester St SW
Roanoke, VA 24014
(540) 345-4900

Gastroenterology Consultants
Michael D Lee
202 Duke Of Gloucester St SW
Roanoke, VA 24014
(540) 345-4900

Gastroenterology Consultants
R Lee Meyers
202 Duke Of Gloucester St SW
Roanoke, VA 24014
(540) 345-4900

Gastroenterology Consultants
John E Morgan
202 Duke Of Gloucester St SW
Roanoke, VA 24014
(540) 345-4900

Gastroenterology Consultants
Donald G Seibert
202 Duke Of Gloucester St SW
Roanoke, VA 24014
(540) 345-4900

Gastroenterology Consultants
Dennis B Weiserbs
202 Duke Of Gloucester St SW
Roanoke, VA 24014
(540) 345-4900

Pediatric Gastroenterology
Richard A Cordle
102 Highland Ave SE
STE 305
Roanoke, VA 24013
(540) 985-9832

Gastrointestinal Associates
Kevin R Dye
1201 Franklin Rd SW
Roanoke, VA 24016
(540) 985-0244

Valley Gastroenterology
M J Bern
1906 Braeburn Dr
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 776-6300

Valley Gastroenterology
Vikas P Chitnavis
1906 Braeburn Dr
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 776-6300

Valley Gastroenterology
Douglas Kirtley
1906 Braeburn Dr
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 776-6300

Valley Gastroenterology
Robert D Moylan
1906 Braeburn Dr
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 776-6300

Valley Gastroenterology
Joseph Nelson
1906 Braeburn Dr
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 776-6300

Valley Gastroenterology
Brian VanderLinden
1906 Braeburn Dr
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 776-6300

Primary Care Associates PC
Firdaus C Dastoor
1955 W Main St
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-0441

Carilion New River Gastroenterology PC
Thomas E Noble
110 Akers Farm Rd
Christiansburg, VA 24073
(540) 382-9405

Carilion New River Gastroenterology PC
Mark A Ringold
110 Akers Farm Rd
Christiansburg, VA 24073
(540) 382-9405

Tri-County Gastroenterology
H Richard Allen
500 N Thomas St
South Hill, VA 23970
(434) 447-2300

Harish Grover MD
Harish Grover
118 Broad St
Dublin, VA 24084
(540) 674-2485

Danville, Virginia

Upcoming Local Events

2012-06-16
Sappony 5K Trail Run
Roxboro, North Carolina
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Greensboro
Throughout Greensboro, North Carolina
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Raleigh
Throughout Raleigh, North Carolina
2012-07-21
Viking 5 km and 1 Mile Fun Run
Creedmoor, North Carolina
2012-10-13
Matt Gfeller Memorial Doughnut Run
WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina
2012-10-20
2012 RHABA Flat & Fast 10K
Rural Hall, North Carolina
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Winston - Salem ...
Throughout Winston - Salem, North Carolina
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Greensboro
Throughout Greensboro, North Carolina
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Raleigh
Throughout Raleigh, North Carolina
2012-11-17
Star City Half Marathon
Roanoke, Virginia

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 Danville

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Danville Hospitals *

Danville Regional Medical Center
142 S Main St
Danville, VA 24541
(434)799-2100

Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute
382 Taylor Dr
Danville, VA 24541
(434)799-6220

Morehead Memorial Hospital
117 E Kings Hwy
Eden, NC 27288
(336)623-9711

Annie Penn Hospital
618 S Main St
Reidsville, NC 27320
(336)951-4000

Person Memorial Hospital
615 Ridge Rd
Roxboro, NC 27573
(336)599-2121

Memorial Hospital of Martinsville & Henry County
320 Hospital Dr
Martinsville, VA 24112
(276)666-7200

Halifax Regional Hospital
2204 Wilborn Ave
South Boston, VA 24592
(434)517-3100

*Provider Directory Terms of Use:

The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval.

You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or "scraping" for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Directory or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.

The Provider Directory is provided on an "AS-IS" basis. WebMD disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, WebMD does not warrant or represent that the Provider Directory or any part thereof is accurate or complete. You assume full responsibility for the communications with any Provider you contact through the Provider Directory. WebMD shall in no event be liable to you or to anyone for any decision made or action taken by you in the reliance on information provided in the Provider Directory.

The use of WebMD Provider Directory by any entity or individual to verify the credentials of Providers is prohibited. The database of Provider information which drives WebMD Provider Directory does not contain sufficient information with which to verify Provider credentials under the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) of the Utilization Review Accreditation Committee (URAC).

By using the WebMD Provider Directory, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.