Constipation North Carolina

One of the most commonly reported gastrointestinal symptoms is constipation. North Carolina residents who experience this condition may not know the cause or how to handle it without help from a physician. Carolina Digestive Health Associates offers a full range of gastrointestinal procedures, screenings, and treatments. Our 14 highly qualified gastrointestinal doctors operate in our five endoscopy clinics and eight private offices. They also provide patient care at every major hospital in the Charlotte area.

What Is Constipation?

Constipation is the medical term for difficulty passing bowel movements or irregularly infrequent bowel movements. Essentially, constipation simply describes poor ability to pass solid waste, and this can occur for many reasons. Some people experience this issue acutely due to specific medical issues while others may struggle with gastrointestinal abnormalities or conditions that cause constipation. North Carolina residents can visit Carolina Digestive Health Associates to check if their constipation is cause for concern.

Is Constipation a Sign of Something Worse?

In the majority of cases, constipation is usually a symptom of a minor medical issue or dietary choices. A very low-fiber diet, dehydration, and a sedentary lifestyle are all common causes of constipation. It is also possible to experience constipation as a side effect of certain medications like psychiatric medications, blood pressure medication, or narcotics.

Although most constipation cases arise from lifestyle and dietary choices, this issue can also indicate a more sinister medical condition. Most cases of constipation caused by medications, acute illness, or reactions to certain foods clear up on their own relatively quickly. However, constipation that seems constant or that accompanies other symptoms like bloody stools and abdominal cramps could indicate a more troublesome medical issue. Constipation may be an early sign of colon, anal, or rectal cancers, a structural disease of the intestines like Crohn’s disease, or a symptom of hypothyroidism, diabetes and several other medical conditions.

Common Treatments for Constipation

The first line of treatment for constipation usually involves changes to the patient’s daily routine. The attending physician will assess the patient’s current usual diet, recommend foods to add or avoid, advise increased fluid intake, and recommend a reasonable exercise regimen for the patient. If the patient eats a low-fiber diet, adding fiber-rich foods or supplements to his or her diet can have great results in a relatively short time.

If a patient suffers constipation as a symptom of a chronic or ongoing medical condition like diabetes, the patient will likely require laxatives or stool softeners on a regular basis. Some patients may struggle with colonic inertia, or structural weakness inside the colon that prevents the efficient passage of solid waste. Since these conditions won’t fade on their own, ongoing management of the associated symptoms is necessary. While enemas, laxatives, and stool softeners may help individuals in these situations, these are not acceptable long-term treatments for constipation without a physician’s approval.

Lifestyle Changes vs. Medical Treatments for Constipation

If an individual discovers that poor diet or lack of exercise is causing infrequent or difficult bowel movements, a gastrointestinal doctor can recommend lifestyle and dietary changes to encourage better digestion. If constipation occurs as a side effect of a prescription, the symptoms will likely subside once the patient completes the prescription or the attending gastrointestinal doctor can prescribe a method for managing chronic constipation from an ongoing prescription.

In rare cases, a doctor may suspect that constipation is due to a structural abnormality in the patient’s intestinal tract or is a symptom of a serious disease. The doctor may recommend a colonoscopy to visually inspect the patient’s digestive system internally or use a number of other screening procedures like x-rays or barium enemas to confirm a patient’s condition.

Constipation, though typically mild and temporary, can still cause a great deal of discomfort. It’s vital to know where to turn when you need medical advice about your constipation. North Carolina residents can depend on the gastrointestinal doctors of Carolina Digestive Health Associates for accurate diagnosis, comprehensive treatment, and compassionate advice that takes the individual into account. Call us today during regular business hours at (704) 486-5194 to schedule an appointment.

Carolina Digestive Health Associates

Carolina Digestive Health Associates is a group of gastroenterologists serving the residents of North Carolina. We have fourteen highly rated GI doctors who provide service at eight offices and five endoscopy centers. Our doctors work in all major hospitals in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Our physicians, together with our highly trained physician assistants and nurse practitioners, cover a wide range of specialties and are skilled in diagnosis and treatment. Whether you have chronic problems with your digestive tract, a recent, acute attack or simply want a checkup, our team is here in North Carolina to help you reach your healthcare goals.

What We Do

Our team of gastroenterologists in North Carolina is trained to diagnose gastric conditions involving the esophagus, the stomach, the liver, the colon and the rectum. Once we make a diagnosis, we can form a treatment plan tailored to the specific patient and their needs. Some of the common conditions we treat include:

• Constipation
• Bloating and gas
• Celiac disease
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Colorectal cancer
• Diarrhea
• Esophageal cancer
• Fatty liver
• Gallstone
• Gastritis
• GERD
• Hemorrhoids
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Lactose intolerance
• Obesity
• Ulcers

Our team has experience diagnosing and treating these conditions and many more. North Carolina residents in the Charlotte area have come to trust our expertise and our friendly customer service.

Procedures

Our specialists cover a wide variety of fields within gastroenterology and can perform an array of procedures once they have made a diagnosis. Some of the more common procedures are:

• Rectal manometry. This test determines if the rectum is functioning properly and helps to diagnose fecal incontinence and chronic constipation.
• Breath test. A GI doctor can diagnose certain digestive conditions by measuring the gases which a patient exhales.
• Colonoscopy. By means of a camera inserted into the body, doctors can view the intestine and look for polyps, ulcers, bleeding, inflammation and even cancer.
• Polypectomy. If doctors discover polyps during an endoscopy, they will use this procedure to remove them.
• Upper endoscopy. Similar to a colonoscopy, this procedure views the esophagus, stomach and upper duodenum for inflammation, ulcers and abnormal growths.
• Esophageal manometry. This test is to determine the strength of the muscles that you use to swallow, which can affect conditions like heartburn.
• Feeding tubes. A GI doctor can insert a feeding tube when necessary if a patient is not able to feed him or herself.
• ORBERA Gastric Balloon. The FDA has approved our non-surgical program to help patients lose weight and form healthy habits to maintain a stable, healthy weight in the long term.

Research

At Carolina Digestive Health Associates in North Carolina, we participate in many clinical research trials. Medicine is a field that constantly advances, and we encourage and participate in this process to discover new and better ways to diagnose and treat digestive disorders. Sometimes, these trials provide treatment options to our patients in North Carolina that they would not be able to get anywhere else.

When Should You Come to See Us?

Persistent or severe symptoms are reasons to schedule a consultation with us in North Carolina. We also recommend regular screenings starting at age 45 for colon cancer. You may need to see a general practitioner first to get a referral. Come see us if you experience any of the following:

• Constipation. Fewer than three bowel movements a week means constipation. If it persists, contact us.
• Diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common problem, but if it doesn't go away it could be a sign of something more serious.
• Heartburn. A burning your stomach and chest could be your stomach acid inflaming the lining of your esophagus.
• Stomach pain. Severe stomach pain could mean you have a gallstone. More persistent, burning pain could be an ulcer.
• Bloating. If you bloat after a meal, your body might be reacting to something you ate. A gastroenterologist can diagnose the cause.
• Hemorrhoids. If the veins in your rectum are swollen or feel irritated, you may have hemorrhoids, which a GI doctor can treat.
• Blood in your stool. If your stool is black and tarry, or if there is red in the water after a bowel movement, you may have a severe problem that requires immediate attention.

For any of the above symptoms or a cancer screening in North Carolina, contact Carolina Digestive Health Associates for a consultation. Call us at (704) 486-5194 and let one of our highly skilled gastroenterologists assist you.