Constipation – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Constipation may be defines as a common disturbance of the digestive tract. It is difficulty with irregular bowel movements, or passing hard and dry stool. Constipation is the major cause of many diseases as it produces toxins which find their way into the bloodstream and are carried to all parts of the body. Appendicitis, rheumatism, arthritis, high blood pressure, cataract, and cancer are few of the diseases in which chronic constipation is an important predisposing factor.

The stomach churns and mixes food so it can be digested. The near-liquid food then enters the small intestine which extracts calories, minerals and vitamins. The small intestine ends in the right-lower abdomen where it enters the colon. The colon, or large bowel, is 5 to 6 feet long. Its function is to withdraw water from the liquid stool, so that by the time it reaches the rectum there is a soft formed stool. If an excessive amount of water is extracted, the stool can become hard and difficult to expel.

Other causes include faulty and irregular habit of defecation, frequent use of purgatives, weakness of abdominal muscles due to sedentary habits, lack of physical activity and emotional stress and strain.

Common Causes:

Poor diet – diets rich in animal meats but low in fibre are the most common cause of constipation. Fibre helps bowel movements to be easy and regular.

Poor bowel habits - this is a common cause especially in children. Once children are toilet trained, they must be encouraged to go to the toilet regularly everyday. Adults usually suffer from the problem when they ignore the urge to evacuate over a long period of time.

Constipation signs include fewer than three bowel movements per week, one or more episodes of stool incontinence per week, passing of stools so large that they obstruct the toilet, retentive posturing (withholding behaviour) and painful defecation.

Symptoms:
a) If you experience a variation in your routine that means that you go to the toilet less often, this is constipation.
b) If you are going to the toilet as often as usual but you are having difficulty passing stools because they are hard and small, this is also constipation.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which deplete body water stores. If you can’t avoid these, then match your caffeinated or alcoholic beverage intake with an equal amount of water.

Eat three meals per day at least 4 hours apart. Frequent feeding keeps your intestines contracting and moving stool along.

Constipation Treatment:

Changes in your lifestyle may be the safest way to manage constipation. To help ease symptoms, try using a fiber supplement, such as oat bran, Metamcil, Konsyl or Citrucel. These natural supplements help make stools softer and are safe to use every day. Be sure to drink plenty of water or other fluids every day. Otherwise, fiber supplements can actually make your constipation worse. And add fiber to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.

Water is beneficial not only for constipation but also for cleaning the system diluting the blood and washing out poisons. Normally six to eight glasses of water should be taken daily, as it is essential for digesting and dissolving food nutrients so that they can be absorbed and utilized by the body. But one must remember that water should not however be taken with meals as it dilutes the gastric juices essential for proper digestion.

Read about Natural Herbal Home Remedies and Pregnancy Information Guide. Also read about Dental and Tooth Care Guide

Title:
Constipation – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Article Distribution and Free Web Content by www.reprint-content.com

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated