Dear Doctors: I’m a 77-year-old man and was having trouble with hard stools. My doctor suggested a stool softener. It worked for about a week, but then I developed diarrhea. Over-the-counter diarrhea ...

Blood in stool isn’t always piles. A doctor explains hidden gut problems in young adults, warning signs to watch, and when to seek medical care.

Chronic constipation often persists despite laxative use because the root cause can be dyssynergic defecation, a muscle ...

Possible causes of blood in stool include gastroenteritis, anal fissures, hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, and more. Treatment can depend on the underlying cause. Below, learn more about the ...