Stool softeners are a type of laxative called emollient laxatives that work by wetting and softening stool. They’re gentle enough for mild, temporary constipation but are the least effective option ...

Common causes of fluffy poop include diet, digestive diseases, and infections. Eating smaller meals and staying hydrated can help relieve fluffy poop at home. Fluffy poop with severe symptoms like a ...

Your poop offers clues about your health. But how can you describe your bowel movements (BMs) to your doctor without bringing in a sample? You and your doctor can use something called the Bristol ...

Joy Emeh is a professional health writer, editor, content strategist, and career development coach with up to four years of experience in the health writing space. She is interested in all things ...

Constipation is the most common bowel change during pregnancy. It happens when increased progesterone slows intestinal muscle contractions. Pregnancy may also cause diarrhea, blood in your stool ...

Laxatives contain chemicals that help increase stool motility, bulk, and frequency -- thus relieving temporary constipation. But when misused or overused, they can cause problems, including chronic ...

Many of the foods in the American diet can lead to constipation. According to Gerard Isenberg, MD, the associate chief of gastroenterology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio, the ...

Kumkum Sarkar Patel, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist and healthcare consultant. Black specks in stool can be from foods like blueberries or dark-colored candies. Black specks may mean ...

Cleveland Clinic digestive health experts come to the rescue with "maneuvers and techniques," as they say, to get things moving when your system is slow. It’s essential for your health to have regular ...