Temple U. Testing New Pill To Gently Shake Your System Into Regularity
By Lynne Adkins
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Temple University is testing a new way to keep you going.
Twenty-percent of the population suffers from chronic constipation, according to Dr. Ron Schey, associate director of the Gastrointestinal Motility and Esophageal Program:
"Chronic constipation could cause some medical issues. First of all, discomfort which is bloating and abdominal pain affect your daily function, and of course if your daily function is affected, you're more tired and more stressed -- and that could cause even more damage."
Sufferers often take medication, which may help.
Temple is testing a vibrating capsule which is swallowed and vibrates three times a minute, gently shaking the intestine into action.
"It is a non-dissolving and it does not excrete any chemicals or anything else," explains Dr. Schey. "It just sits there, vibrates and eventually you have a bowel movement and excrete it out."
Two capsules a week should keep a patient regular.
