Constipation and Bowel movement - PART - II

 

Constipation treatment

Most cases of constipation are easy to treat at home with diet and exercise. Some cases require doctor recommendations, prescription medicine, or a medical procedure.

 

At home treatment includes:

• Diet: Eating a healthy diet with fiber and drinking plenty of fluids (water is the most helpful) can usually clear up constipation.

ü  High fiber foods include beans, dried fruits, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain foods (choose brown rice or whole wheat bread instead of white), flaxseed meal, and powdered products containing psyllium. For example, 3 cups of popped popcorn has a little more than 3 grams of fiber. One cup of oatmeal has 4 grams of fiber. Adding fiber to each meal and snack will help you reach your goal for the day. Fiber supplements are helpful. Processed foods, such as desserts and sugary drinks, only make constipation worse.

ü  Men over the age of 50 should get at least 38 grams of fiber per day.

ü  Women over 50 should get 25 grams per day.

ü  Children ages 1 to 3 should get 19 grams of fiber per day.

ü  Children between 4 and 8 years old should get 25 grams per day.

ü  Girls between 9 and 18 should get 26 grams of fiber each day. Boys of the same age range should get between 31 and 38 grams of fiber per day.

• Bowel training: Teach your children to go to the bathroom when they have to. Holding it can lead to constipation. This also may be necessary for your elderly parents, if you are caring for them.

• Laxatives: This is over-the-counter medicine that helps you have a bowel movement. Laxatives should only be used in rare instances. Do not use them on a regular basis. If you have to use a laxative, bulk-forming laxatives are best. These work naturally to add bulk and water to your stools so they can pass easily. Bulk-forming laxatives can cause some bloating (when your stomach feels full) and gas.

·        Doctor recommended treatments:

• Mineral oil: Do not use this without your doctor’s recommendation. Your doctor may recommend using it if you recently had surgery and should not strain for a bowel movement. Do not use it regularly. It causes your body to lose important vitamins A, D, E and K.

• Enema: This is a liquid medicine. It is inserted into your anus to help with constipation. It is often used after a surgery or before some medical procedures.

• Prescription medicine. Your doctor will prescribe a medicine based on the reason for your constipation.

• Medical procedures. This is done to help remove stool from the intestine.

• Surgery: This is rare. It might involve removing a damaged intestine for serious reasons.

GOOD NEWS - Natural Remedies

Making smart food choices and adopting good habits can make a difference. Foods high in fiber may help keep your bowels working regularly.

 

Choose a Variety of Foods with Dietary Fiber

Dietary fiber may help promote health in a variety of ways. Fiber may help manage both cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Fiber may also speed up the transit of stool through the digestive system, which can help keep you regular.

 

 

The daily recommendation for dietary fiber is 14 grams for every 1,000 calories, which is about 25 grams for women and 31 grams for men per day.

 

Sources of dietary fiber include:

- Fruits, such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, pears, apples with skin on, prunes (dried or

  stewed) and raisins.

• - Unsalted nuts and seeds, such as almonds, peanuts, pecans and walnuts, as well as 
•    pumpkin, sunflower, flax and chia seeds.
• - Vegetables, such as green peas, broccoli, sweet potato, winter squash and pumpkin.
• - Whole grain foods such as brown rice, whole grain bread and rolls, whole grain pastas,
•    wheat bran and bran cereals.

In contrast, a low fiber eating pattern may contribute to constipation. Foods low in dietary fiber include refined grains, such as white bread and rolls, white rice, spaghetti and other pastas, cereals and baked goods made from white flour.

 

Become a Label Reader:

The amount of fiber in foods is included on the food label under the “Carbohydrates” heading. Your goal is to eat 100% of the recommended daily value of fiber. When selecting products:

1. Aim for foods with over 5% daily value dietary fiber per serving.
2. High fiber foods contain 20% or more dietary fiber per serving.

Increase Your Fiber Intake Slowly

Adding fiber too quickly may cause abdominal discomfort. If you have not been eating foods high in fiber, slowly increase your fiber intake. Increase your fiber intake slowly across five days. Be careful not to increase it by more than 5 grams each day. Follow this practice until reaching your desired intake.

Pair High Fiber Foods with Fluids

Drink plenty of water or other unsweetened beverages throughout the day. Fluids help keep your stool soft, which makes them easier to pass. Including prune juice in your daily eating plan may also help keep you regular. Starting the day with a warm beverage can be helpful, too.

 

If you don't consume enough fluids, high fiber foods may increase your risk of constipation. How much fluid you need depends on many factors including your age, gender, activity level and the climate where you live.

 

Get Moving

Being active may also help to keep your bowel movements regular. Individuals who do not participate in regular physical activity may be more likely to become constipated. Short, 10 to 15 minute walks after each meal can help keep your bowels working normally.

Constipation and Bowel movement - PART- I

 

Constipation is a common condition that makes it difficult to have a bowel movement. A bowel movement occurs when the food you eat passes through your digestive system. Your body takes the nutrients it needs from that food. What’s left over is called stool. Your stool can be soft or hard. Bowel movements usually happen on a regular basis.

Everyone has a bowel movement schedule (how often, how consistent, and what time of day it occurs). However, if your bowel movements become less frequent (based on your history), are hard (and difficult to pass), and you are physically uncomfortable, you may be constipated. People of all ages experience constipation occasionally. Usually, it goes away and is not serious. See your doctor if your constipation is chronic(frequent). It may be a problem with your diet or a health problem.

Symptoms of constipation

·        Feeling like you still need to have a bowel movement, even after you’ve had one.

·        Feeling like your intestines or rectum (bottom) are blocked.

·        Having hard, dry stool that is difficult to pass.

·        Having fewer than 3 bowel movements in a week.

·        Straining to have a bowel movement.

 

More serious symptoms include:

·        Constipation is new and unusual for you.

·        You have been constipated for 3 weeks or more despite dietary changes to help.

·        You have abdominal (stomach) pain.

·        You lose weight without trying.

·        You notice blood or white mucous in your stool.

·        You cannot pass the stool on your own.

 

Complications of chronic constipation include:

·        Anal fissure (a tear in the skin around your anus).

·        Stool impaction (when your stool becomes too large to pass on your own).

·        Hemorrhoids

·        Rectal prolapse (when a small piece of your intestine comes out of your anus from  

  straining to have a bowel movement).

 

Complications of constipation can become serious if left untreated. They may require surgery.

What causes constipation?

Constipation can be caused by your diet (too many processed foods and not enough fiber), certain medicines (opioid medicines given for pain and even too many laxatives, which usually help you have a bowel movement), dehydration (especially not enough water), too little physical activity, intestinal problems, and major life changes, such as pregnancy. Constipation becomes more common as you age. Certain diseases also can cause constipation. These include multiple sclerosis, stroke, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and lupus.

Dehydration (not enough fluids) and dietary changes are the most common causes of constipation in babies. For example, changing from breast milk to cow’s milk or from baby food to solids can cause constipation.

 

How is constipation diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. This will include asking you about any medicines you take. Your doctor also will ask you when you had your last bowel movement and how often you have them. Think about that before you see your doctor. It might be helpful to write it down for yourself or a child before your appointment. During the visit, your doctor may examine your rectum (the end of your large intestine near your anus). The doctor will insert his or her finger (while wearing rubber gloves) into your rectum to feel for blockages.

 

Your doctor may order additional tests, including a blood test and X-ray. A more thorough test is a colonoscopy. This is an invasive procedure done with anesthesia. Your doctor will examine your colon with a long, flexible scope attached to a camera.

 

Can constipation be prevented or avoided?

There are things you can do to reduce constipation. This includes:

 

·         Add more fiber to your diet. Adults should eat between 20-35 grams of fiber each

   day. Foods, such as beans, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are high in fiber.

 

·        Drink more water. Being dehydrated causes your stool to dry out. This makes

  having a bowel movement more difficult and painful.

 

·        Don’t wait. When you have the urge to have a bowel movement, don’t hold it in. This

  causes the stool to build up.

 

·        Get physical. Exercise is helpful in keeping your bowel movements regular.

 

·        Beware of medicines. Certain prescription medicines (especially pain medicines)

  can slow your digestive system. This causes constipation. Talk to your doctor about

  how to prepare for this if you need these medicines.

 

·        Talk to your Nutritionist if you are being treated for certain diseases that are related to

  constipation. He or she may have additional guidance for lowering your risks.