Constipation
Constipation occurs when bowel movement or movement is less than normal. The normal period between bowel movements varies from person to person; it may occur in some people three times a day and may occur once or twice a week in other people. Constipation is a problem that occurs in everyone during their lives, and although it is not a serious problem most often, its disappearance leads to improvement and a sense of comfort. Constipation can cause various symptoms such as the need to stress to move the intestine, and to remove a small amount of hard waste, And the feeling of not taking them all, and the occurrence of swelling and pain in the abdomen, and vomiting.
constipation treatment
The treatment of constipation depends on the cause of the occurrence, the duration of occurrence, and the severity of the symptoms, and often can be eliminated symptoms through a change in the diet or life system, and can be used some pharmaceutical treatments such as laxatives.
Change in the life system
Change in a person’s life system and diet is considered the first choice for treating constipation. One of the ways that this may help is:
- Eat food rich in dietary fiber, and these foods vegetables, fresh fruit, and cereals.
- Eat foods that are as large as wheat bran, increasing the softness of the waste and making it easier to get out.
- Eat enough water to avoid dehydration.
- Exercise more regularly, such as walking or running daily.
- Do not delay the output process when you feel the need to, in addition to maintaining a certain time daily to go to the toilet.
- Put the foot on a small chair when going to the toilet so that the knee level is higher than the hip level, which facilitates the passage of waste.
- Check with your doctor to describe an alternative treatment in cases where constipation is caused by taking certain medications.
Laxatives
Your doctor may prescribe laxatives in cases that do not respond to changes in diet and lifestyle. Laxatives are drugs that help your body pass waste. Different types of laxatives, as each type has a different effect on the digestive system, and types of laxatives can be used as follows:
- Bulk-Forming Laxatives: This type of laxative helps waste to retain liquids, reducing the possibility of dehydration, which can cause faecal impaction. This kind of laxative makes the waste more mild and makes it easier to remove. It is important to drink large amounts of fluids when taking this type of laxatives, and not to take them before going to sleep, and can be seen in effect after two to three days, an example of this type of laxative peel Ispaghula Husk, and Methyl cellulose ( Methylcellulose), and tropical chestnut (Sterculia).
- Osmotic Laxatives: This type of laxative is described by the doctor if the waste remains harsh and difficult even after the use of laxatives, where these laxatives increase the amount of fluid in the intestine, which leads to softening the waste and facilitate the exit from the body, Of liquids when used. These laxatives may need two to three days before they begin to appear, such as lactulose, lactulose, and others.
- Stimulant Laxatives: These laxatives are used in cases where the waste is soft but difficult to remove. These laxatives stimulate the muscles of the digestive system, which helps move the waste and move it from the large intestine to the anus. It should be noted that this category of laxatives work in a shorter time, and start work in six to twelve hours, for example Senna, Seneca, Bisacodyl and Sodium Picosulphate.
Causes of constipation
Possible causes of constipation include:
Complications of constipation
Chronic and persistent constipation may cause complications and other problems, including: