American's reliance on laxatives has spurned a nationwide shortage. But there are several other ways to produce free-flowing bowel movements in the meantime. One of the trendiest constipation ...

The US has been dealing with a shortage of laxatives. But a doctor said she wouldn't recommend laxatives unless a patient had upped their fiber intake. Doctors recommend high-fiber foods such as ...

Gastroenterologists share what your stool’s buoyancy can reveal about your digestion, diet, and overall health.

Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN’s Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. This predicament is known as ...

Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is a board-certified gastroenterologist who serves as vice chair of Ambulatory Services at Lower Manhattan Hospital and professor of medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical ...

Squatting may help people complete a bowel movement, particularly if they are constipated, but this position can be difficult with a pedestal toilet. Using a foot stool can help replicate a squatting ...

Eating high-fiber foods like whole grains and legumes helps relieve constipation. Drinking plenty of water can soften dry stools and improve digestion. Abdominal massage and regular exercise are other ...

Stool softeners make stools easier to pass by increasing moisture. Stool softeners can take up to 72 hours to work. Other ...

Constipation is difficulty emptying your bowels. Fecal impaction is the buildup of hardened stool in your bowel that you can’t pass. Fecal impaction is a potential complication of chronic constipation ...

Patients often arrive in pain, miserable, and desperate for relief from constipation. Defined as fewer than three bowel movements per week lasting more than 4 weeks, chronic constipation affects about ...