What Is Constipation?

Constipation is a digestive system related disorder in which a person experiences hard feces, which are difficult to eliminate; it may be extremely painful, and in severe cases (fecal impaction) lead to symptoms of bowel obstruction. Obstipation refers to severe Constipation. Causes of Constipation may be Dietary, Hormonal, the side effect of medications, illness or disorder, and anatomical.

Treatment,

is with a change in dietary and exercise habits. The pain can be even worse if you have Haemorrhoids or Anal Fissure. In common Constipation, the stool is hard and difficult to pass. Usually, there is an infrequent urge to void. Straining to pass the stool may cause Haemorrhoids and anal fissures.

In later Stages of Constipation,

the abdomen may become distended and diffusely tender and crampy, occasionally with enhanced bowel sounds. Constipation is usually easier to prevent than to treat. Constipation is most common in children and older people and affects women more than men. One in 200 women has severe, continuous Constipation and it is most common before a period and in pregnancy.

There’re Basically 3 Categories of Constipation. They are:

A. Functional:

Usually caused by incomplete nutrition, water, exercise requirements, or certain food or drugs. Most people will fall into this category, especially women.

B. Idiopathic:

Unknown, may not respond to traditional treatment. Usually, nerve damage or blockages can be involved. It can require manual removal procedures periodically.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: 

Results from a spastic condition of the muscles of the bowel, moving too much resulting in diarrhea, and then too little resulting in constipation.

Who is more likely to become constipated?

Constipation is common among all ages and populations in the United States. About 16 out of 100 adults have symptoms of constipation. About 33 out of 100 adults ages 60 and older have symptoms of constipation

Certain people are more likely to become constipated, including:

• Women, especially during pregnancy or after giving birth.
• Older adults.
• Non-Caucasians
• People who:
  • Eat little to no fiber.
  • Take certain medicines or dietary supplements.
  • With certain health problems, including functional gastrointestinal disorders.

 

2. What Causes Constipation?

You may be constipated for many reasons, and constipation may have more than one cause at a time. Causes of constipation may include:

• The slow movement of stool through your colon.
• Delayed emptying of the colon from pelvic floor disorders, especially in women, and colon surgery
• Functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

A. Certain medicines and dietary supplements:

Medicines and dietary supplements that can make constipation worse include:

• Antacids that contain aluminum and calcium.
• Calcium channel blockers.
• Anticholinergics and antispasmodics.
• Diuretics.
• Anticonvulsants—used to prevent seizures.
• Iron supplements.
• Medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
• Narcotic pain medicines.
• Some medicines used to treat depression.

B. Life changes or daily routine changes:

Constipation can happen when your life or daily routine changes. For example, your bowel movements can change,

• if you:
  • Become pregnant.
  • Change your medicines.
  • And change how much and what you eat.
• As you get older.
• When you travel.
• And when you ignore the urge to have a bowel movement.

C. Certain health and nutrition problems:

Certain health and nutrition problems can cause constipation:

• Not:
• Eating enough fiber.
• Drinking enough liquids or dehydration.
• Getting enough physical activity
• Celiac disease.
• Disorders that affect your brain and spine, such as Parkinson’s disease
• Spinal cord or brain injuries
• Conditions that affect your metabolism, such as diabetes,
• And conditions that affect your hormones, such as hypothyroidism.
• inflammation linked to diverticular disease or proctitis.
• intestinal obstructions, including anorectal blockage and tumors.
• anatomic problems of your digestive tract.

 

D. Illnesses and Diseases:

Often the cause of constipation is related to an illness or disease. In some cases, constipation is a side effect of the disease – or the disease causes debilitation of the organs needed for the digestive system to work properly.

Some of the illnesses and diseases that can cause constipation are:

• Systemic disorders – such as lupus, scleroderma, and amyloidosis.
• Neurological disorders – such as spinal cord injuries, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, and chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.
• Metabolic and endocrine conditions – such as poor glycemic control, uremia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and hypercalcemia.
• Diverticulosis.
• Hirschsprung’s Disease.
• Cancer.
• Intestinal Obstruction.
• Tumors.
• Adhesions – or scar tissue.

3. Signs And Symptoms:

Constipation symptoms include the following:

• Difficulty passing feces.
• Stools that are hard, dry, and small.
• Less than 3 bowel movements per week,
• And less than 1 bowel movement per week in severe cases.
• Bloating.
• Painful passing of feces.

In severe cases, the following constipation symptoms may be present: 

• Foul Breath.
• Headache.
• Coated Tongue.
• Dizziness.
• Loss of Appetite.
• Nausea.
• Depression.
• Ulcers in the mouth.
• Dark circles under eyes.
• Pimples on the face.
• Pain in the lumbar area.
• Acidity.
• Heartburn.
• Insomnia.

4. When Should You See a Doctor?

You should see a doctor if your symptoms do not go away with self-care or you have a family history of colon or rectal cancer. You should see a doctor right away if you have constipation and any of the following symptoms:

• bleeding from your rectum.
• blood in your stool.
• constant pain in your abdomen.
• inability to pass gas.
• vomiting.
• fever.
• lower back pain.
• losing weight without trying.

5. Risk Factors:

• Not having a bowel movement every day doesn’t necessarily mean the person is constipated.
• Intake of medications like including Sedatives or Narcotics, or receiving Chemotherapy.
• Sedentary life.
• Bedridden patient.
• During pregnancy, women may have bouts of Constipation because of hormonal changes. Later in your pregnancy, pressure on your intestines from your uterus also can cause Constipation.
• Intake of a daily diet that lows in fiber content.
• Drinking an inadequate quantity of water (daily).

6. Complications:

• Although Constipation can be extremely harassing,
  • it usually isn’t serious. If it persists, and especially if straining results,
  • you may develop complications such as Haemorrhoids and cracks or tears in your Anus called abrasions or fissures.
• Very severe or chronic Constipation can sometimes cause fecal impaction,
  • a mass of hardened stool that you can’t eliminate by a normal bowel movement.
  • An impaction can be dangerous, and 19  you may need to have it manually removed.
• If you use laxatives frequently,
  • you may develop Lazy Bowel Syndrome, a condition in which your bowels become dependent on laxatives to function properly.
  • In fact, laxative use can cause a number of problems, including poor absorption of Vitamins and other nutrients, damage to your intestinal tract, and worsening constipation.

Diagnosis of constipation:

How do doctors find the cause of constipation?

Doctors use your medical and family history, a physical exam, or medical tests to diagnose and find the cause of your constipation.

1. Medical and family history:

Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history, such as:

• Whether you have ever had surgery to your digestive tract
• if you have recently lost or gained weight,
• And if you have a history of anemia.

 

Your doctor also is likely to ask questions about your symptoms, such as:

• How often do you have a bowel movement?
• How long have you had symptoms?
• What do your stools look like?
• Do your stools have red streaks in them?
• Are there streaks of blood on your toilet paper when you wipe?

 

Also, Your doctor is likely to ask questions about your routines, such as: “What”,

• Are your eating habits?
• Is your level of physical activity?
• Medicines, including supplements, and complementary and alternative medicines, do you take?

 

You may want to track your bowel movements and what your stools look like for several days or weeks before your doctor’s visit. Write down or record the information so you can share it with your doctor.

If you’ve been constipated a long time, your health care professional may ask whether anyone in your family has a history of conditions that may cause long-lasting constipation, such as:

• Anatomic problems of the digestive tract
• Intestinal obstruction.
• Diverticular disease.
• Colon or rectal cancer.

2. Physical exam:

During a physical exam, a health care professional may:

• Check:
  • Your blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate.
  • For dehydration.
• Use a stethoscope to listen to sounds in your abdomen
• Check your abdomen for:
  • Swelling.
  • Tenderness or pain.
  • Masses, or lumps.
• perform a rectal exam.

7. Prevention of constipation:

I. Drink Plenty of Liquids:

The exact amount of water and other fluids you should drink each day varies and depends on your age, sex, health, activity level, and other factors. An average adult individual should drink 3 liters of water daily. Read more on drinking water.

II. Try Fiber Supplements:

• Psyllium Husk can be taken with water or milk after consulting your family Doctor.
• Check with your doctor about using stool softeners. If you use fiber supplements, be sure to drink plenty of water or other fluids every day.
• Otherwise, fiber supplements may cause Constipation or make Constipation worse.
• Add fiber to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.

III. Limit Problem Foods:

Foods that are high in Fat and Sugar and those that tend to be low in fiber content, such as Ice cream, cheese, and processed foods, may cause or aggravate constipation.

IV. Increase Physical Activity:

Engage in regular exercises, such as walking, biking, or swimming, on most days.

VI. Eat Fiber Regularly:

Choose lots of high-fiber foods, including fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole-grain cereals and bread. Experiment to see if particular fruits or vegetables have a laxative effect for you. Adding fiber to your diet gradually may help Reduce gas and bloating.

VII. Don’t Rely On Stimulant Laxatives:

These include products such as Correctol and Dulcolax, which cause muscle contractions in the intestines. Habitual use can damage your bowels and make Constipation worse. For occasional relief try saline laxatives, such as milk of magnesia.

Saline laxatives draw water into the colon to allow stool to pass easier. Keep in mind that long-term use of laxatives can cause dependency. For constipated children, give them plenty of fluids to drink, but avoid giving them laxatives unless your doctor says it’s OK.

VIII. Respect Nature’s Call:

The longer you delay going to the toilet once you feel the urge, the more water that’s absorbed from the stool, and the harder it becomes.

8. Constipation Cures:

Before you begin treating constipation, you should consult your physician for a proper diagnosis. Treating constipation when it is just your body’s natural cycle can actually cause you to begin suffering from constipation. If you visit your physician and get a diagnosis of constipation, you should discuss with your physician some constipation cures. The most common cause of constipation is an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise.

Sometimes,

changing your eating habits and beginning a regular exercise regimen can effectively eliminate constipation symptoms. Other times, your physician may wish to run tests to find out if there is a medical cause for your constipation – constipation is often the symptom of a more serious illness or disease.

Your physician will also review any medications that you may be currently taking to see if your constipation is a side effect.

Constipation cures can include the following:

• A healthy diet including fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and fiber
• Regular exercise routine
• Laxatives in severe cases – but, as with many medications, you should discuss with your physician the side effects of the medication, and medications should only be used as a short-term option. The overuse of laxatives can cause your digestive system to become dependent and make it difficult for your digestive system to clean your body of wastes naturally.
• Drink plenty of fluids – you must keep your body properly hydrated in order for your digestive system to work naturally

Avoid,

• Foods that cause constipation – milk and dairy products, dry beans, cabbage, cauliflower, fried foods, and red meat
• Corn Syrup – one tablespoon of corn syrup mixed in eight ounces of liquid is a great remedy for infants
• Folic Acid – be sure that your body has the proper amounts of folic acid
• Sugar – sugar added to liquids can act as a natural cure for constipation
• Aloe Vera Juice – helps to heal and clean the digestive system making the deposit of waste easier.
• Apple Pectin – gives your body fiber that is essential for normal bowel movements.
• Triphala – consisting of Harad, Bahera, and Amla (herbs), this ground powder should be ingested with warm water or milk at bedtime.

Knowing,

Constipation symptoms and controlling the symptoms are important for a healthy, happy life. The most important and controllable constipation cure is a healthy diet and regular exercise – and avoiding things that you know can bring on the symptoms of constipation.

9. Treatments:

How can you treat your constipation?

You can most often treat your constipation at home by doing the following:

Change what you eat and drink:

Changing what you eat and drink may make your stools softer and easier to pass. To help relieve your symptoms

• Eat more high-fiber foods.
• Drink plenty of water and other liquids if you eat more fiber or take a fiber supplement

 

How do doctors treat constipation?

If self-care treatments don’t work, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to treat your constipation. If you’re taking an over-the-counter or prescription medicine or supplement that can cause constipation, your doctor may suggest you stop taking it, change the dose, or switch to a different one. Talk to your doctor before changing or stopping any medicines.

I. Prescription Medicines:

Your doctor may prescribe one of the following medicines for constipation:

A. Lubiprostone:

medicine prescribed to increase fluid in your digestive tract, which can help reduce pain in your abdomen, make your stool softer, and increase how often you have bowel movements.

B. Linaclotide  or Lecanatide:

Medicines that help make your bowel movements regular if you have irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or long-lasting constipation without a known cause.

C. Prucalopride:

a medicine that helps your colon move stool if you have long-lasting constipation without a known cause.

II. Biofeedback Therapy:

If you have problems with the muscles that control bowel movements, your doctor may recommend biofeedback therapy to retrain your muscles. By using biofeedback therapy, you can change how you make your muscles work.

III. Surgery:

Your doctor may recommend surgery to treat an anorectal blockage caused by rectal prolapse if other treatments don’t work. Your doctor may perform surgery to remove your colon if your colon muscles don’t work correctly. If your doctor recommends surgery, ask about the benefits and risks.

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