Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. It is a common situation that usually passes on its own. Serious consequences await people who fail to get this resolved. There are many causes and a few of them require medical treatment. Most of the time, however, the problems can be resolved without having to visit a doctor.

In all cases, constipation is not normal and it should never occur, especially in children. Adults are generally fully aware of the benefits from healthy bowel movements, but children often aren’t. In children there may be both a physical and an emotional problem. Something in the diet – or even a medication – can lead to a mild case of constipation in a child. Dehydration is one of the more common causes and it is far easier to bring on dehydration in a small child’s body than in a large adult.

Ask Larry:

Your Question: I'm a 63 year old ex-smoker. I had a good warning last August and wound up with a stent. I've been on FOUR prescriptions since then, including SIMVASTATIN 20mg and AMLODIPINE BESYLATE 5mg. I am not a fan of either of these drugs after reading about negative side effects and interactions. Cholesterol is under 200 and I am not diabetic. Thoughts?

Larry's Response: Amlodipine stimulates an increase in blood flow to the heart. It also lowers blood pressure and slows the heart (because it lowers the resistance to blood flow). It is usually intended to lower discomfort from angina. It may also be ordered to lower the force on the implanted stent. It can make it difficult to increase heart rate. You may find it difficult (impossible?) to hit your target heart rate (yours is around 157, based on age) regardless of how much you work or sweat. As long as you are taking amlodipine you may want to change your target rate and just shoot for that number. You already know the possible side effects, so watch out for them.

If our LEADERS have their way, compounders will be banned.

Personally, I don't want that to happen. I'm a compounder after all, and I'd prefer to remain working. I would certainly appreciate all the support we can garner to throw out the baby with the bathwater (metaphor alert! I'm the baby and the dirty guys are the bathwater).

I also received this note yesterday and wanted to share it with all of you:

Larry, I imagine you're aware of this but thought you might want to let your readers know.

Caroline is 67 years old. She’s had a few health issues over the years, including a bout with cancer that she overcame. A couple of months ago she noticed she was short of breath when she brought a basket of clothes up from the basement. It passed quickly and she didn’t give it a thought. It happened a few more times and she began to notice discomfort in her chest. It wasn’t pain, but it felt “funny”. Then, her teeth hurt, the back ones on her right side. It lasted a little while then passed. Caroline did a number of searches online and determined she was probably having some mild angina discomfort.

Regardless of her search results, Caroline told her doctor, three of them in fact – a rheumatologist, a neurologist, and another “ologist.” None of them suggested she do anything about the mild symptoms. Then came a visit to the general practitioner who arranged for Caroline to visit a cardiologist. He performed some tests and sent her directly to the hospital, where she underwent open heart surgery three days later. Caroline had several blockages and came through the long surgery very well. Three days after the open heart work, Caroline is in a chair, eating regular food, attending to her own personal needs, and planning to go home a mere four days after surgery.

Psoriasis is sometimes referred to as an autoimmune disease, which suggests that somehow a person develops an immune response to his/her own body. In reality, it seems psoriasis is like many chronic conditions. The condition is the manner in which an individual manifests internal (systemic) inflammation. This is where the belief originates that certain diseases/conditions are genetically linked. The genetic part is HOW an individual responds to an assault on their immune system.

Psoriasis is commonly treated with potent drugs, often applied to the affected area. If nothing else, topical preparations can help alleviate some symptoms. The real work is done internally when the person improves the immune system and stops doing things that damage it or cause inflammation.