|
|
 |
| |
|
CONSTIPATION
 WHAT
IS CONSTIPATION?
Constipation refers to infrequent or incomplete bowel
movements with stools that are hard and difficult to pass.
The frequency of bowel movements among healthy people
varies greatly, ranging from 3 movements/day to 3 movements/wk.
As a rule, if more than 3 days pass without a bowel movement,
the stool will harden, and a person may have difficulty
or pain passing the stool.
HOW
IS STOOL CRATED?
Food flows through the small intestine
as a liquid mixture of digestive juices and the food you
eat.
By the time it reaches the large intestine, all the nutrients
have been absorbed.
The large intestine absorb the water from the waste liquid,
and turn it into stool.
WHAT
ARE THE COMMON CAUSES?
Constipation can be caused by many different
conditions :
| • |
Poor
diet |
| |
A
diet that is high in animal fats (meats, dairy products,
eggs) and refined sugar ( rich dessert, sweets )
but low in fibre ( vegetables, fruits, whole grains)
may result in constipation. |
| • |
Laxative
abuse |
| |
Certain
laxatives can also cause constipation ! With continuous
use your body becomes accustomed to the effects
of the laxative, and if you stop taking it, the
colon slows down and its contractions become very
weak. This is called laxative dependency constipation,
and it can be severe. |
| • |
Poor
bowel habits |
| |
By
ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement, you
keep the stool in the colon longer, where more water
will be absorbed and stools get harder. After a
while, a person may stop feeling the urge and this
leads to progressive constipation. |
| • |
Medication |
| |
Medications
that cause constipation include pain medications
(especially narcotics), antacids that contain aluminium,
antispasmodic drugs, antidepressants, tranquilizers,
iron supplements, and anticonvulsants for epilepsy. |
| • |
Being
inactive |
| • |
Pregnancy |
| • |
Hormonal
disturbances e.g underactive thyroid gland |
| • |
Fissures
and Haemorroids |
| • |
Specific
diseases e.g lupus, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s
disease. |
DIAGNOSTIC
TESTS WHICH CAN DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF CONSTIPATION
| • |
Routine
blood test |
| • |
Stool
test |
| • |
Sigmoidoscopy |
| |
The
doctor inserts a flexible, tube like instrument
through the anus to examine the rectum and lower
intestine. |
| • |
Colonoscopy |
| |
A
colonoscope is longer than a sigmoidoscope and allows
the doctor to inspect the entire colon. |
| • |
Barium
enema |
|
A
special XRay that examines the colon with contrast
injected through the anus |
HOW
CAN CONSTIPATION BE PREVENTED?
| • |
Eat
3 meals/day at least 4 hours apart. Frequent meals
keeps your intestines contracting and |
| |
moving
stool along. |
| • |
Drink
at least 32 oz ( 1 quart ) of water per day, not
including what you drink at meal time. |
| • |
Avoid
caffeine and alcohol, which deplete your body water
stores. |
| • |
If
your diet is not high in fruits, vegetables and
whole grains, you should take a bulk fibre supplement. |
TREATMENT
If
constipation is severe, or special circumstances e.g haemorroids,
make it important to control quickly, then consider these
laxative groups :
| • |
Bulk
fibre laxatives |
| |
They
add bulk to the stool which increase the sense of
urgency and also prevent too much water from being
absorbed. They may take a while to take effect (12
hours to 3 days). |
| • |
Stool
softeners |
| |
They
help to soften the stool, thereby making it easier
for bowel movement. |
| • |
Stimulant
laxatives |
| |
These
stimulate bowel contractions quickly, but do not
soften stool. They are often combined with stool
softeners. |
| • |
Glycerin
suppositories |
| |
Usually
takes 1/2 hour to work. They both soften the stool
and stimulate contractions. |
| • |
Enemas
and oral magnesium solutions |
| |
Avoid
these unless prescribed by doctor. |
WHEN
SHOULD I CONSULT A DOCTOR?
When
stools are so hard that they won’t come out no matter
what you do ! This is called stool impaction. See a doctor
immediately, otherwise it may result in total bowel obstruction
and require hospitalisation.
If your constipation persists despite good bowel habits,
consult a doctor. There might be an underlying condition
causing the problem. |
|
| |
|
|
