loose stool

Constipation can severely impair the quality of life of those affected: Defecation is difficult and painful – the faeces are usually hard and can only be excreted in small portions through strong pressing. How often we have bowel movements is highly subjective and depends on many factors such as stress, diet or exercise. According to experts, anything between three times a day and three times a week is considered normal for the frequency of bowel emptying.

Acute constipation is usually caused by changes in lifestyle, lack of exercise due to sitting in the car or plane on long-haul flights or a change in diet.

Chronic constipation has many causes, for example, medications, poor bowel habits, low fibre diets, possibly abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon, prolonged sitting.

HIV stands for “Human Immunodeficiency Virus”, the pathogen that weakens the human immune system. Infection with HIV most often occur during unprotected sexual intercourse or through HIV-infected blood. Failure to treat HIV infection means that at a certain point in time the body will no longer be able defend itself against other infectious pathogens and falls seriously ill with normally harmless diseases. This condition is then called “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome” (AIDS). People with AIDS often suffer from pneumonia and fungal diseases.

Indigestion is a collective term for complaints of the digestive organs. In most cases, the causes are harmless, such as eating too fast or eating spicy, greasy and fatty foods. Sometimes the reason for indigestion is to be found in rather serious illnesses like inflammation of the stomach, ulcers, pancreas inflammation, intestinal blockage or reduced blood flow in the intestine. Symptoms of indigestion may be felt occasionally or as often as daily. Common symptoms are stomach aches, diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence, heartburn, acid reflux and fatigue.