Contractions of the uterus herald the first phase of labor. Contractions, also informally called "labor pains," are associated with gradual dilation of the cervix. Sometimes women may mistake other causes of abdominal pain for true contractions of the uterus. These other causes of pain are known as "false labor pains"

Magnesium is available in many foods, such as nuts, beans and grains, and in multivitamins that contain minerals. People with low levels of magnesium or with certain health conditions benefit from magnesium supplements. Commercial magnesium preparations also are available for use as antacids and as laxatives.

A colonoscopy is a physical examination of the large intestine and rectum. Colonoscopies help doctors to investigate unexplained changes in a patient’s bowel habits, weight loss and abdominal pain. They are also used to screen for cancer.

When it comes to gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, the word “severe” is in the eye -- or chest, as it were -- of the beholder.

Any number of disorders can cause you to experience stomach discomfort at night. It may result from a food allergy or bowel disorders, heartburn or more serious conditions such as an abdominal aneurysm or a tumor. Stomach discomfort could originate anywhere from your mouth to your spleen.

With the help of the throat muscles, the esophagus relays food and drink to the stomach, keeping the body nourished and hydrated. Burning sensations in the esophagus can make swallowing painful, leading to poor nutrition.

Chronic bronchitis, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a lung infection that blocks airflow and makes breathing difficult. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include a lasting cough that brings up mucus, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of the ankles, feet and legs, and blue-toned lips.

The food poisoning you get from canned food is called botulism. It is most common in home-canned goods, but it is also possible to pick it up from processed canned foods.

While most people have a bowel movement every day, having a bowel movement every 2 to 3 days is not a concern if that pattern is comfortable and normal for you. Constipation means that you have difficulty moving your bowels or have a bowel movement less often than is usual for you.

Bloating, diarrhea and stomach pain from eating Greek yogurt may be a sign of lactose intolerance. Most cultured dairy products such as Greek yogurt have significantly less lactose, a sugar found in milk, than other dairy products do.

Your gallbladder stores bile, a fluid produced by your liver that aids with fat digestion. After eating, bile normally flows from your gallbladder into your intestine in spurts. Bile still flows into your intestine after gallbladder removal but does so at a slow, steady rate.

Citrus foods are enjoyed by people every day, but if you develop diarrhea after eating citrus food, you may avoid them altogether. Diarrhea is a symptom of a condition and is not a condition in itself. Diarrhea that occurs shortly after eating citrus foods as a single occurence may be the result of food poisoning.