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Program Description
Constipation is a common symptom that presents more often in women and as patients get older. What are the primary and secondary causes of chronic constipation? What are some of the differentiating factors between chronic constipation and IBS-C? Dr. David Peura, professor of medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, joins host Dr. Mark DeLegge to discuss algorithms for diagnosing chronic constipation. When are lifestyle changes not enough for treating chronic constipation, and what are the most effective alternatives?
Transcript Excerpt
DR. MARK DELEGGE:
David I am bombarded with commercials and print ads about having a normal or comfortable bowel movement or changing my bowel movements to be less constipated. Just how common is this diagnosis of constipation?
DR. DAVID PEURA:
Well Mark that really depends, I guess, on you know where you are seeing the patients, what sort of practice. It is estimated some where over may be between 10% and 15% of the adult population is going to have a diagnosis of constipation. Many of those people don’t actually see their physicians or health care providers. About 10% to 15%, much more common in women, about 2 to 3 to 1 woman to men and it also increases with age. So if you are seeing a large number of chronologically gifted patients, let's say, in your practice, you are going to be seeing more patients with constipation. It is estimated that almost a third of individuals say over the age of 60 are going to have constipation and it's almost as high as 50% if you look at institutionalized patients. So its really a common problem. No wonder you are inundated....read more
Series
GI Insights
Guest
David Peura, MD
Dr. David Peura is professor of medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Dr. Peura graduated from the University of Vermont Colleg...more
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