Bowel

NICE has developed medical technology guidance on the UroLift system. NICE medical technologies guidance addresses specific technologies notified to NICE by companies. The ‘case for adoption’ recommendations are based on the claimed…

A new understanding of inflammatory bowel diseases has been prompted by the analysis of genetic and clinical data from more than 30,000 patients. This study reveals that genetic factors affect the location of the inflammation in the gut,…

Training in meditation and other mindfulness-based techniques brings lasting improvements in mental health and quality of life for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), according to a study in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases,…

September 16th 2015 marked the momentous achievement of 100 years of the WI. Much had been organised to celebrate the anniversary including a Centennial Fair in Harrogate, which took place from the 3rd to the 6th of September. The Fair was…

NHS England has today published new guidance to help improve the care and experience of children and adults with continence issues. Problems with the bladder affect more than 14 million people in the UK and about 6.5 million have bowel…

Dr Martin McShane's Blog:I was at a roundtable on how health and care services need to change to meet the needs of people with multiple conditions. We heard from a patient who described the problems he was facing managing his diabetes,…

If you would like to view a helpful video about how pelvic floor muscle exercises can help with SUI, especially after childbirth please click here to view it. Video shown with the permission of Women’s Physiotherapy Services, Cambridge…

The results of a clinical study were recently published, looking specifically at the use of anticholinergics (cumulative) and the development of dementia for people over the age of 65. 1   Results from the study showed that the long-term…

Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. has announced new data from the Phase 2 TERRAIN trial of enzalutamide compared to bicalutamide in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), as well as an updated overall survival analysis from the…

According to study author Prof. James Morris of the Vancouver Cancer Centre at the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) in Canada, this is the first study to compare the two techniques in the treatment of prostate cancer. The American…

Trillions of microorganisms colonize our gut and together form the intestinal flora that coats the inside of the intestine. The duties of these gut microorganisms are manifold: they digest food, produce nutrients, eliminate pollutants and…

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published final Technology Appraisal Guidance (TAG) for vedolizumab (Entyvio®), the first gut-selective treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC).1 NICE has recommended…

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued its Final Appraisal Document (FAD) recommending REMICADE® (infliximab), HUMIRA® (adalimumab) and SIMPONI® (golimumab), within their marketing authorisations, as options…

The Telegraph has reported that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will call for hospital managers to invest in safe care, following a report published by Frontier Economics, commissioned by the Department of Health, which found that the costs of…

In July NICE published new guidelines on safe staffing for nursing in acute hospitals. You can read these guidelines on the NICE webiste.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham has given a speech on health and social care at the Labour Party conference, in which he largely reiterated Labour's commitement to integrated care and repealing the Health and Social Care Act. In his…

Children who start toilet training before age 2 have a three times higher risk of developing daytime wetting problems later, according to new research at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. The study, involved 112 children ages 3 to 10.…

Men with a specific pattern of baldness at age 45 have a 40% increased risk of later developing aggressive prostate cancer, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Increasingly, evidence is suggesting that…

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men around the world, but a new study suggests that eating 10 or more portions of tomatoes a week significantly lowers the risk of developing this disease. The study, a first of its kind…

Incontinence is treatable.  It is therefore essential that assessment of incontinence is sought before you consider using pads as a permanent way to manage your bladder problem. You may wish to view the following articles…

Labour MP Rosie Cooper has tabled two written questions on continence care and UTI admissions, in which she asked the Health Secretary: Whether the revised Nursing and Midwifery Code will include provisions on bowel and bladder care to…

UCLA researchers interviewed people with diverticulitis and confirmed that many suffer psychological and physical symptoms long after their acute illness has passed. For the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Quality of Life…

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published expert analysis on the way people experience health and adult social care in England. Findings from more than 35,000 inspections underpin its fourth annual State of Care report, which…

Dr Martin McShane, NHS England's Director for Patients with Long Term Conditions, explains why we must ask patients the right questions and not let them suffer in silence. Domain 2 of the NHS outcomes framework is about 'enhancing the…

A new study, published in the UEG Journal reveals that 10% of IBD patients are misdiagnosed with IBS and in 3% of cases the misdiagnosis can persist for five or more years. The case-controlled study, conducted in the UK, assessed the…

Constipation in children can usually be relieved by making changes to your child’s diet and drinking habits. It can also be helpful to chart your child’s bowel movements by using a bowel diary. This may help your GP or Healthcare…

Treatment for bowel cancer is determined by a number of factors including the stage of your cancer, the location of the tumour (whether it’s located in the colon or rectum) and your health in general. Your MDT (multidisciplinary team),…

Colitis and Crohn’s are chronic illnesses for which there is currently no cure. Both conditions can be controlled with medication and in more complex, severe cases surgery may also be necessary to relieve inflammation. There are several…

The key to irritable bowel syndrome treatment is to understand what is causing it in the first place. There are numerous possible causes, and each will require a specific treatment in the short term, either medical, non-medical, or a…

There are various things you can do to help keep your bowels healthy and avoid becoming constipated.

Bowel Retraining is a conservative treatment that is generally aimed at people who have recurring constipation or diarrhoea, or limited or reduced sensation in their rectum due to nerve damage.

A high fibre and fluid diet is a healthy diet and is suitable for all the family. However, if constipation is a result of Colitis or Crohn’s disease, increasing fibre intake could have a detrimental effect, so it’s best to discuss this with…

Constipation can usually be treated by making some adjustments to your diet or lifestyle such as making sure that you eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of fibre and regularly exercising to aid good digestion. Occasionally…

Haemorrhoids are usually an inconvenience that can be treated at home and will usually resolve themselves after a few days. There are some methods to help prevent or relieve the symptoms of haemorrhoids such a avoiding constipation or…

The bowel is part of our digestive system and it works to digest the food we eat, absorb the goodness and nutrients into our blood stream, then process and expel the waste that the body cannot use. The digestive system works by…

If you have been diagnosed with constipation your GP may prescribe a laxative as a first step alongside dietary and lifestyle advice. Laxatives are a type of medicine that help you pass stools. There are several different types and each one…

Faecal incontinence or bowel incontinence is more common than you would think, affecting over 53 million people in Europe making it more prevalent than many well-known diseases such as asthma or diabetes.

What are Haemorrhoids (Piles)? Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are enlarged and swollen blood vessels which are in or around the lower rectum and the anus. Most of the time you are not aware of having haemorrhoids but in most cases you…

Bowel cancer is also called colorectal cancer and includes large bowel cancer (colon cancer) and cancer of the back passage (rectal cancer or cancer of the rectum).

Colitis and Crohn's disease are Inflammatory Bowel Diseases where the intestines can become swollen, inflamed and ulcerated. The symptoms for these conditions include abdominal pain, loss of weight, diarrhoea, urgent need to go to the…

What Is Constipation? Constipation is a very common condition that affects people of all ages. It means you are not passing stools (faeces) as often as you normally do, you have to strain more than usual or you are unable to completely…

Most cases of diarrhoea will clear up after a few days once what has caused it such as bacteria or a virus has passed through. The most important thing to do is make sure you stay hydrated whilst you are unwell. If your symptoms last longer…

What is Diverticular Disease? Diverticular Disease - also known as DD -  is the name given to small pouches (sacs) known as diverticula, that protrude outwards from the wall of the large intestine. Each diverticulum consists of a small…

An upset digestive system can make you feel bloated and sluggish, so maintaining a healthy bowel is really important for your quality of life. The digestive system can be upset easily; an unhealthy diet, antibiotics, stress and travel are…

The key to treating bowel incontinence - also known as faecal incontinence - is to find the condition that is causing this. Chronic constipation and a weak pelvic floor are two of the most common causes of faecal incontinence and in many…