Millions of Americans quietly struggle with pelvic floor dysfunction – something Tracy Gallagher is working to change, one patient at a time. Seven years ago, Gallagher started focusing on this lesser-known condition affecting people who suffer in silence. Her reason was deeply personal.

“I became interested in it because I had family members that were living with incontinence,” says Gallagher, who works at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois. “I think people sometimes feel that it’s normal, especially after pregnancy, and they're not aware that help is out there. As I looked into pelvic floor therapy I knew I wanted to help that population and bring more awareness to it.”

More than 11 million men, women and children suffer from some form of pelvic floor dysfunction, including postpartum changes such as posture, muscle length and strength, which can lead to pain and discomfort. The same goes for athletes, including runners and gymnasts.

“Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to control and contract and relax the pelvic floor muscles,” says Gallagher. “That can create different issues, such as chronic constipation, urinary or fecal incontinence or pain.”

The pelvic floor consists of three layers of muscle, connective tissue and ligaments that form a supportive “hammock” at the base of the pelvis. It supports the pelvic organs, manages pressure and maintains stability. These muscles can become overactive or underactive with aging, trauma and hormonal shifts.  Besides bowel and urinary issues, pelvic floor dysfunction can also cause abdominal, back, hip and pelvic pain.

For women, pelvic floor issues happen when the muscles or tissues of the pelvic area become weak or injured – usually a result from childbirth, obesity, age or genetics. Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect one in four women at some point in their lives.

Childbirth increases the risk of developing pelvic floor disorders, strongly associated with incontinence and pelvic floor relapse. And changes to the nerves and muscles during pregnancy can lead to weakness or dysfunction, especially with each additional baby. Gallagher says pelvic floor therapy can help pregnant women who are experiencing back and pelvic pain with safe and effective exercises. That goes for post-delivery as well.

“Post-partum patients might have some pelvic pain, or they might have pain around their incision site. If they had a C-section, we could address that with manual therapy,” she says. “We can teach them exercises that might help if they're having urinary incontinence or any issues in that area as well.”

Treatment options 

Pelvic floor therapy offers many options for treatment. That includes exercises for the pelvic floor muscles, breathing exercises, diet and lifestyle changes. For example, eating a high fiber diet and increasing water intake can help with constipation, and losing weight can relieve pressure on pelvic organs.

“We utilize various manual techniques, breathing activities, exercises, there's pelvic floor relaxation positions that people can get into to kind of help relax those muscles and decrease the pain,” says Gallagher. “Sometimes pelvic floor therapy might help lower back pain or pelvic pain that somebody's been having for an amount of time and tried other traditional orthopedic therapies.” 

Pelvic floor therapy treatment can last from a couple of weeks to months. Doing therapist-recommended exercises at home also helps patients recover quicker.

And while it might be uncomfortable to discuss these types of issues with your medical provider or therapist, it’s an important step to feeling good again.

“They're embarrassed because they might have symptoms that may include incontinence or pain,” says Gallagher. “Our goal is to give them that comfort level to attend therapy and return to that quality of life.”

Learn more about pelvic floor therapy here.

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We’ve all been there. That uncomfortable feeling in your gut. The annoying stomach pain. The bloating and the difficulty of having a complete bowel movement. No matter what you do or what you try, you just can’t go.

You might be constipated.

Many times, it’s a temporary setback. Maybe it was that late night pizza or one too many hot dogs that has you backed up. But for others, it can be a chronic problem due to diet, medication, lack of exercise or dehydration. Sometimes, constipation can be a sign of something more serious.

Constipation usually means three or fewer bowel movements a week, says Breanne Gendron, a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare.

“Constipation is usually defined by discomfort in their abdomen because they haven't been going to the bathroom and having bowel movements as often as they should,” she says. “Some people have bowel movements every day. Some people have bowel movements every third day, and that's their normal.” 

There are plenty of reasons why people get plugged up from time to time. Certain medications can play a role in constipation. Pain medications, calcium supplements and some antidepressants have an influence.

Opioids bind to receptors in the intestines, which slows down the movement of food and waste (stool) through the colon. Additionally, opioids also increase water absorption in the intestines, making the stool harder and more difficult to pass.

There are other factors that can impact bowel movements such as travel, stress, a lack of activity or anything that interferes with your normal routine.

“The most common cause of constipation is dehydration, lack of activity and not enough fiber in your diet,” says Gendron, who adds that fiber provides bulk to stools, making them easier to pass. “It’s easy to add fiber powder to your coffee in the morning. But when you have fiber without hydration that can cause issues; so, it's about making sure that you're getting 40 to 60 ounces of water every day.” 

There are also non-diet and exercise-related causes of constipation. Structural changes such as a tumor or hemorrhoids can cause constipation and so can stress and anxiety.

Constipation can frustrate anyone, from young children to older people. Children between the ages of 5 to 12 will complain to their parents of stomach pain due to a lack of regularity. As for older adults, the digestive track tends to slow down as we age.

“I can say 30 to 40% of people over the age of 65 have constipation issues,” Gendron says. “So, it is a common thing that older people deal with. As we age, we have to have a plan. That means getting more active, drinking more water, eating fiber or adding a fiber supplement to their life.” 

Making changes 

Becoming regular again usually boils down to dietary and lifestyle changes. Gendron says the fiber goal should be 25 to 30 grams each day. Some of the best foods that help with fiber intake include beans, leafy vegetables, oatmeal, nuts, berries and apples.

Take time for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Walking is great way to kickstart your bowels. And establish a routine. Get in the habit of going to the bathroom at the same time each day. And never put off the urge to go.

If you’ve tried all these things and still feel stuck, talk to your medical provider, who might order an x-ray for a closer look.

“I usually recommend some combination of over-the-counter options,” says Gendron. “MiraLAX® is safe because it's not absorbed systemically. It just pulls fluid into your bowels and helps things move along.” 

Constipation is considered chronic when the problem lasts three weeks or longer. Gendron says that many people end up in the emergency department with constipation due to the length of time and discomfort they experience.

So, if your constipation does not go away through diet, hydration and exercise, or your symptoms become worse, such as blood in your stool, fever or vomiting, it’s time for medical intervention.

For more information on constipation and other gastrointestinal issues, visit the OSF HealthCare website.

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Author's note: this is part two of a two part story on staying healthy during summer vacations. Click here for part one.


Summer means getaways to de-stress and make memories. But the last thing you want is to catch a cold or worse, especially if you’re halfway across the world where health care resources might be different or scarce.

It's not too late to make some quick preparations, says Jennifer Whitfill, APRN, a family nurse practitioner at OSF HealthCare.

• Know your destination and what to do if something goes wrong.
  
  “If you have a medical condition, have your medications with dosages on a list. Have your health care provider’s information on that same page. That way in case something happens, they know how to get ahold of the provider to ask questions,” Whitfill says. “Investigate where is the closest health care facility, whether that’s a hospital or an urgent care, in case you need care quickly.”

This is especially important, for example, for people with heart conditions who might require a complex level of care at a moment’s notice.

• Consider travel insurance: It might not be needed for every trip, but it can give you some peace of mind.
   
• Crowded areas: Train stations and airports are full of people from all walks of life, and it’s a safe bet that some of them are under the weather.
  
  “Good hand hygiene is huge,” Whitfill says, especially after contacting high-touch areas like an escalator railing. “If you are immunocompromised or worried about catching something, you can always mask. Boost your immune system [prior to travel], and keep your distance [from others] as much as possible.”
   
• Sleep: If you’re crossing multiple time zones, adjust your sleep a few days in advance to avoid exhaustion. Whitfill says if you’re traveling east, go to bed and wake up a few hours earlier each day. If you’re traveling west, go to bed and wake up a few hours later.
  
  “Book a flight that lands early in the evening. After landing, try to remain awake until 10 p.m. local time. That helps adjust the body’s sleep cycle,” Whitfill explains. “Also practice good sleep hygiene. Drink plenty of fluids. When you’re flying, get up multiple times to keep blood flowing. Stay away from alcohol and caffeinated beverages.”
   
• Food and drink: You might have heard claims from friends and family that the water in [insert location here] is dirty and unsafe. That might be a bit exaggerated, but when in doubt Whitfill says to use bottled water, even when brushing your teeth. And pack some medicine in case you get diarrhea (Imodium or Pepto Bismol) or constipation (probiotic or laxative).

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From Elon Musk to TikTokers, ongoing social media chatter claims drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are the magic way to weight loss.

There’s good news, says Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare in Champaign, Illinois. Those drugs can help you lose weight when prescribed by a doctor under specific circumstances and paired with diet and exercise.

The more important bad news? There’s no magic, one-size-fits-all drug that will by itself cause you to shed pounds. And if someone on social media is claiming so, they’re wrong.

Dr. Ogun says Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are from the same family of medicine. They are usually prescribed to people with Type 2 diabetes.

“It increases the insulin in the body, which helps bring glucose into the cells,” Dr. Ogun explains.

The medications also slow food leaving your stomach and suppress appetite.

Once the drugs became more well known, Dr. Ogun says people found, not surprisingly, that weight loss was a side effect and began prescribing them for that purpose under specific circumstances. She says the patient should have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 or a BMI greater than 27 with a chronic condition like diabetes, hypertension or hyperlipidemia.

But even if you meet those guidelines, Dr. Ogun says you should talk with your doctor about whether a weight loss drug is right for you or whether simply changing habits can get the results you want.

For one, Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are expensive and may not be covered by insurance.

Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports a shortage of Ozempic and Wegovy. So Dr. Ogun says doctors may be less likely to prescribe the drugs for weight loss when diabetics may have a more critical need.

And like any other medication, there is a list of side effects.

“Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation are possible,” Dr. Ogun says. “There are also hypersensitivity side effects like angioedema and an anaphylaxis reaction. It’s also been known to cause kidney injury or pancreatitis.”

Lately, the term “Ozempic face” has been trending on social media, describing a hollowed-out appearance due to quick weight loss.

One last piece of advice you’ll hear doctors give over and over: don’t rely on social media for health tips. If you find a tip that might benefit you, talk to your doctor before starting any treatment.

“The good thing about social media is that it allows a lot of people to receive a variety of information all at once,” Dr. Ogun says. “The downside: is it a credible source?”

Find a primary care provider on the OSF HealthCare website.

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