Happy Belly
Preventing, Easing Constipation and IBS

Eating right and maintaining a healthy lifestyle affect the whole body. This includes the gastrointestinal tract. Functional disorders are the most common problems affecting the colon and rectum. They include constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

So what are these common problems? Constipation is the difficult, infrequent (less than three times a week) or incomplete passage of stools (bowel movements). Inadequate consumption of “roughage” or fiber
in a diet, or a disruption of the regular routine or diet may cause it.

	Tanya R. Davis, MD Join Tanya R. Davis, MD, who specializes in gastroenterology, for a FREE community class, “How to Maintain a Healthy Belly.” It will be held at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital on Wednesday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m. The class is FREE but to better serve you, we ask that you register by calling 1-855-694-6682 or going here.

IBS is a condition in which the
colon contracts more readily than
in people without IBS. Symptoms
include abdominal pain and
cramps, excess gas, bloating and
a change in bowel habits. Other
sufferers have alternating
constipation and diarrhea.

These conditions are typically not
serious and may be controlled or
prevented. Here are some ways
to help keep your colon healthy:

• Eat a diet high in fiber.
  
• Exercise.
  
• Consume moderate amounts
  of dairy products.
  
• Keep stress to a minimum.
  
• Try not to overuse laxatives (stool softeners) over time,
  as they weaken the bowel muscles.
  
• Avoid caffeine if you have IBS.
  
• Monitor foods that may trigger IBS.
  

Two-Wheel Drive Simple Precautions Can Prevent Biking Injuries When the weather is nice, what better mode of transportation could there be than your bicycle? It’s environmentally friendly, good exercise and plain old fun. Just remember to take a few precautions before you ride. The No. 1 rule for anyone riding a bicycle is to wear a helmet at all times — even on a quick trip to the park or around the block. Parents should enforce this rule with their children and model good behavior by wearing their own helmets. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s estimates, bicyclists receive about 151,000 head injuries each year that require treatment in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Nearly 7 percent of those emergency room visits result in hospitalization. Wearing a helmet greatly reduces the risk of head injury. Bike safety tips: Always wear a bike helmet. Avoid riding at night. Ride a bike that fits you — make sure you can touch the pedals and can easily reach the ground. Stay alert. Always keep a lookout for obstacles in your path. Don’t wear headphones. Consider adding a fluorescent safety flag to the rear of your bike. Stop and check traffic before riding into a street. Ride on the right side of the road in the same direction as traffic. Ride single file, not side-by-side. Give cars and pedestrians the right-of-way.

The Truth About Back Pain
Separating Fact From Fiction

Myths abound regarding back pain. Here we debunk a few of them:

Myth: Exercise is bad for back pain.
Fact: Regular exercise prevents back pain. Core strengthening exercises, like Pilates, and flexibility exercises may improve low back and chronic pain.

Myth: Bed rest is the best solution for back pain.
Fact: Resting can help an acute injury or strain causing back pain, but prolonged bed rest, as in a day or two in bed, can make back pain worse.

Myth: Lifting heavy objects is bad for your back.
Fact: It’s not how much you lift; it’s how you lift the object. When you lift, squat close to the object with your back straight and head up. Do not twist or bend your body while lifting or you may hurt your back.

Myth: Injury causes back pain.
Fact: Disc degeneration, injuries, diseases, infections and even inherited conditions can cause back pain.

Myth: Firmer mattresses are better.
Fact: Depending on their sleep habits and the cause of their back pain, different people need different mattresses.