This roughage is important in prevention of constipation and may be beneficial in preventing colon cancer and diverticulosis, the development of small pouches off the intestine.

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Roughly one-third of the women in the soy group also reported constipation as a side effect, versus 21% in the placebo group.

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Early ovarian cancer may not cause obvious symptoms - but as the cancer grows symptoms may include a swollen or bloated abdomen, constipation, pressure in the abdomen and fatigue.

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Afzal N, et al. Constipation with acquired megarectum in children with autism.

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The FDA has announced that it has approved a new drug to treat chronic idiopathic constipation and to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults.

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The two companies have moved linaclotide into late-stage testing in 2, 500 patients with IBS and chronic constipation.

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Add in the various over-the-counter remedies for flatulence, constipation, diarrhoea, hay fever and the common cold, and the average American might seem to be a pill-popping hypochondriac.

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In the past three months the FDA has slapped cautionary labels on sleeping pills and yanked Novartis' constipation drug Zelnorm after that company's analysis showed heart problems.

FORBES: Magazine Article