Constipation is a common condition that will effect almost everyone at some time in their life, although some people may have a much harder time with this digestive ailment than others. There is no strict rule for determining what constipation is -it can vary by person. Not everyone has a bowel movement every day and some may only have three or four a week which can still be considered normal, but any less than that is constipation if it is conjuction with any discomfort. Hard stools or having difficulty passing a stool is also constipation and it can cause many problems from pain to bloating and lack of energy or even poor immune function.
Many factors affect digestion and bowel movement frequency. The foods you eat, whether or not you exercise, water intake, and even the layout of your digestive tract can play a part in the problem. In general, it can be caused when food lingers too long in the large intestine where water is extracted the food you have eaten which means that the remaining food in the tract becomes hard and difficult to budge. Other causes of constipation can be stress, not eating enough fiber, not going to the bathroom when you feel the urge, taking too much iron and taking certain drugs/painkillers.
A raft of medical conditions may also result in forms of constipation. These include pregnancy, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, muscle or nerve problems, and a malfunctioning thyroid gland. A physical examination may be needed to determine the exact cause of constipation, and this should be done if the problem is persistent or interferes with your lifestyle. Procedures like colorectal transit studies, colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy are a few familiar tests that can be helpful for diagnosis of the reasons for persistent constipation.
General advice to relieve constipation usually includes eating more fiber in the diet and drinking more water. Certain fruits, vegetables, and grains are very helpful for proper digestion. Prunes, squash, beans and whole grain cereals are often recommended, along with many others. Getting enough exercise and going to the bathroom frequently are important. Only use laxatives upon your doctor’s advice, although some over the counter remedies are perfectly safe to try such as Metamucil or Sienna tablets. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist, however, if you have an existing medical condition which may be causing the constipation and if you are on any medications which can be effected by over the counter remedies.
Constipation is a difficult and sometimes painful problem but it can be corrected and managed with the right treatment and lifestyle changes.
