All About Constipation If you’ve never been constipated, you probably know someone who has. Evacuating feces can be a complicated and sometimes even painful task. That’s why we’ll explain the causes, symptoms, and treatment for constipation.
What is it Constipation is the name given to the malfunctioning of our intestines. As a result, we have difficulty evacuating feces regularly. Children, women and the elderly are the most common cases.
Constipation is characterized by two or fewer bowel movements per week. In other words, people who have bowel movements every other day are not necessarily constipated. This is because the frequency of bowel movements varies greatly. In many cases, some people go 5 or more days without going to the bathroom.
Therefore, people with more serious cases need to see a doctor as soon as possible to solve the problem. Defecating is important, since we eliminate from our body everything that is no longer useful. If a person does not defecate, they will keep substances in their body that are harmful to their health.
Causes Stressed, sedentary people, with a diet lacking in fiber and an unbalanced routine suffer greatly from constipation. They cannot avoid intestinal problems due to the lack of healthy habits in their daily lives. In addition, health professionals indicate other causes that influence the onset of constipation, such as: Diseases that cause inflammation; Fissures in the rectum that are painful; Hypothyroidism; Immobility; Use of antidepressants and other medications with side effects; Neurological problems.
As soon as the patient deals with the causes of constipation, improvement will be noticed. Furthermore, it is important that people pay attention to changes in intestinal flow to deal with the problem quickly.
Symptoms People who suffer from constipation may experience discomfort differently from one another. However, those who are constipated have characteristic symptoms, such as: Changes in mood, especially when stressed; Abdominal pain, which is worse near the navel or lower back; Incomplete bowel movements, i.e., when you go to the bathroom and are unable to evacuate the entire volume at once; Very hard stools, which make it difficult to expel them from your body; Swelling in the abdomen; Small volume of stools expelled
You will identify constipation through these symptoms. In addition, constipation always forces a person to strain while defecating. If you experience these symptoms frequently, seek professional help. This way, the professional will study your lifestyle and habits that you maintain. If necessary, you will undergo some tests, such as a blood count, imaging test and fecal occult blood test.
Make an effort People who suffer from constipation often strain to expel feces. According to doctors, this almost instinctive habit can be harmful to health. So much so that many people develop lesions in their rectums because they force out very hard feces.
Additionally, there are some cases of people who have forced part of their intestines out of their bodies by straining too much. For example, some pregnant women while they are in labor.
They use so much force that they accidentally detach part of their intestines. However, it is possible to correct the problem with surgery and avoid risks by defecating properly.
Best Treatment For constipation, you need to change your daily habits. This way, you can keep your body functioning properly and without complications. Doctors recommend: Adding foods rich in fiber to your diet.
For example, brown rice, almonds, broccoli, carrots, cereals, oranges and flaxseed; Drink more liquids, such as water or juice. This way you keep your body hydrated, increasing the amount of water in your stool and making it easier to evacuate; Eat foods that improve intestinal health, such as plums or papaya; Avoid processed foods.
Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge to defecate; Practice physical activities and exercises; Make your diet healthier, consuming more cereals, fruits, vegetables and greens.
Medical Recommendation You should only use laxatives, medications or do lavages if your doctor recommends it. After all, you don't want to make constipation worse by taking irregular measures without supervision, right? As soon as you identify the signs of constipation, it is important to seek medical help. This way, you will discover the causes of the discomfort in order to guarantee your quality of life. In addition, you will be more willing and in a good mood with your intestines working well.
Change Suggestion We don't always have control over what happens around us. For example, you may feel stressed or anxious because of something that happens in your daily life. As an unconscious reaction, you create tension in your body and may have more difficulty defecating healthily.
Therefore, people need to consider changing their habits and behaviors. This way, they will achieve an internal balance that can sustain the health of the body. In addition to a healthy diet and fluid intake, also invest in relaxing physical activities. For example, cycling, meditation and other activities that make you feel good.
internet playback
Always choose enjoyable activities to relax and keep your body functioning well. It is important that people do not feel ashamed of suffering from constipation. After all, we are all vulnerable to the changes that our bodies go through every day.
Therefore, it is important that we take the necessary precautions to avoid future problems. In addition, it is important that we undergo routine examinations to check our health. This way, we will discover any changes in the body and treat them immediately.
References The research on constipation is based on the bibliographic reference: UJJAL PODDAR. Approach to Constipation in Children. Indian Pediatrics, v. 53, p. 319-327, 2016.
Enthusiastic about football, applications and finance, graduated in systems analysis and development. Passionate about technology and sports, where he combines his education and interests to publish insightful articles.
