Diet to Prevent Recurring Constipation Again

Overview

What is constipation?

Having fewer than 3 bowel movements a week is, technically, the definition of constipation. Nevertheless, how often yous "go" varies widely from person to person. Some people have bowel movements several times a day while others have them only one to two times a week. Any your bowel motility pattern is, it's unique and normal for you – every bit long as you don't stray too far from your pattern.

Regardless of your bowel pattern, one fact is certain: the longer you become before yous "go," the more than hard information technology becomes for stool/poop to pass. Other key features that usually define constipation include:

Your stools are dry out and hard.
Your bowel move is painful and stools are difficult to pass.
You have a feeling that you have non fully emptied your bowels.

How common is constipation?

You are non alone if you have constipation. Constipation is one of the well-nigh frequent gastrointestinal complaints in the United States. At least 2.5 meg people see their medico each twelvemonth due to constipation.

People of all ages tin have an occasional bout of constipation. There are likewise sure people and situations that are more likely to lead to becoming more consistently constipated ("chronic constipation"). These include:

Older age. Older people tend to be less active, have a slower metabolism and less muscle contraction force forth their digestive tract than when they were younger.
Being a woman, particularly while you are pregnant and later childbirth. Changes in a woman's hormones make them more prone to constipation. The infant within the womb squishes the intestines, slowing down the passage of stool.
Not eating plenty loftier-fiber foods. High-cobweb foods proceed nutrient moving through the digestive system.
Taking sure medications (see causes).
Having certain neurological (diseases of the brain and spinal string) and digestive disorders (see causes).

How does constipation happen?

Constipation happens because your colon absorbs too much water from waste product (stool/poop), which dries out the stool making it hard in consistency and difficult to push out of the torso.

To back upwards a bit, as food normally moves through the digestive tract, nutrients are captivated. The partially digested food (waste) that remains moves from the small intestine to the large intestine, also called the colon. The colon absorbs water from this waste material, which creates a solid affair called stool. If yous have constipation, food may move too slowly through the digestive tract. This gives the colon more time – too much fourth dimension – to blot water from the waste. The stool becomes dry, hard, and difficult to push out.

Pathway of food waste through colon, rectum and anus.

Pathway of food waste product through colon, rectum and anus.

Can constipation crusade internal harm or lead to other health problems?

There are a few complications that could happen if y'all don't accept soft, regular bowel movements. Some complications include:

Swollen, inflamed veins in your rectum (a status called hemorrhoids).
Tears in the lining of your anus from hardened stool trying to pass through (chosen anal fissures).
An infection in pouches that sometimes form off the colon wall from stool that has become trapped and infected (a condition called diverticulitis)
A pile-up of as well much stool/poop in the rectum and anus (a condition called fecal impaction).
Impairment to your pelvic flooring muscles from straining to move your bowels. These muscles help command your float. Too much straining for likewise long a period of time may cause urine to leak from the bladder (a condition chosen stress urinary incontinence).

Does not having regular bowel movements crusade toxins to build up in my body and make me sick?

Don't worry, this usually isn't the case. Although your colon holds on to stool longer when you are constipated and you may feel uncomfortable, the colon is an expandable container for your waste. At that place is maybe a slight hazard of a bacterial infection if waste gets into an existing wound in the colon or rectum.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes constipation?

In that location are many causes of constipation – lifestyle choices, medications, medical atmospheric condition, and pregnancy.

Common lifestyle causes of constipation include:

Eating foods low in fiber.
Not drinking enough water (dehydration).
Not getting enough do.
Changes in your regular routine, such as traveling or eating or going to bed at different times.
Eating large amounts of milk or cheese.
Stress.
Resisting the urge to have a bowel movement.

Medications that can crusade constipation include:

Potent pain medicines, like the narcotics containing codeine, oxycodone (Oxycontin®) and hydromorphone (Dilaudid®).
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) and naproxen (Aleve®).
Antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (like fluoxetine [Prozac®]) or tricyclic antidepressants (like amitriptyline [Elavil®]).
Antacids containing calcium or aluminum, such as Tums®.
Fe pills.
Allergy medications, such every bit antihistamines (like diphenhydramine [Benadryl®]).
Certain claret pressure medicines, including calcium channel blockers (similar verapamil [Calan SR], diltiazem [Cardizem®] and nifedipine [Procardia®]) and beta-blockers (like atenolol [Tenormin®]).
Psychiatric medications, like clozapine (Clozaril®) and olanzapine (Zyprexa®).
Anticonvulsant/seizure medications, such as phenytoin and gabapentin.
Antinausea medications, like ondansetron (Zofran®).

Many drugs can cause constipation. Ask your physician or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Medical and health weather condition that can cause constipation include:

Endocrine issues, similar underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), diabetes, uremia, hypercalcemia.
Colorectal cancer.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Diverticular illness.
Outlet dysfunction constipation. (A defect in the coordination of pelvic floor muscles. These muscles support the organs inside the pelvis and lower abdomen. They are needed to help release stool.)
Neurologic disorders including spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson'south affliction, and stroke.
Lazy bowel syndrome. The colon contracts poorly and retains stool.
Abdominal obstruction.
Structural defects in the digestive tract (like fistula, colonic atresia, volvulus, intussusception, imperforate anus, or malrotation.)
Multiple organ diseases, such as amyloidosis, lupus, and scleroderma.
Pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of constipation?

Symptoms of constipation include:

You have fewer than iii bowel movements a week.
Your stools are dry out, difficult and/or lumpy.
Your stools are difficult or painful to pass.
You have a tum ache or cramps.
You feel bloated and nauseous.
Y'all feel that you haven't completely emptied your bowels subsequently a motility.

Diagnosis and Tests

What should I expect when I talk to my doctor about my constipation?

Talking to your doctor – or anyone – about your bowel movements (or lack of them) is not the almost pleasant of topics. Know that your doctor is there for you lot. Doctors are trained wellness professionals who accept discussed just almost every health topic you lot tin can think of with their patients.

Your doctor will first inquire you lot questions about your medical history, bowel movements, and your lifestyle and routines.

Medical history

These questions may include:

What are your current and past diseases/health conditions?
Accept you lost or gained any weight recently?
Have you lot had whatsoever previous digestive tract surgeries?
What medications and supplements do you take for other disorders and for the relief of constipation?
Does anyone in your family have constipation or diseases of the digestive tract or a history of colon cancer?
Accept you had a colonoscopy?

Bowel motility history

These questions may include:

How often practise yous have a bowel movement?
What do your stools look like?
Have y'all noticed any blood or ruby streaks in your stool?
Have you lot ever seen blood in the toilet basin or on the toilet paper after y'all wipe?

Lifestyle habits and routines

What food and beverages do you eat and drink?
What is your exercise routine?

Your physician will also perform a physical exam, which includes a check of your vital signs (temperature, pulse, blood pressure). He or she will utilize a stethoscope to listen to the sounds in your abdomen. Your belly will also be touched to cheque for pain, tenderness, swelling, and lumps.

Be enlightened that your physician will also perform a rectal test. This is a finger test of the inside of your rectum. It's a quick check for whatsoever masses or problems that can be felt by finger.

What lab tests and other medical tests may be done to find the crusade of my constipation?

Your doctor can order no tests or many types of tests and procedures. The decision of which ones your doctor might order for you depends on your symptoms, medical history, and overall wellness.

Lab tests: Claret and urine tests reveal signs of hypothyroidism, anemia, and diabetes. A stool sample checks for signs of infection, inflammation, and cancer.

Imaging tests: Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or lower gastrointestinal tract serial may be ordered to identify other bug that could be causing your constipation.

Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy– an internal view of your colon with a scope – may be performed. During this procedure, a small sample of tissue (biopsy) may exist taken to test for cancer or other problems and any constitute polyps will be removed.

Colorectal transit studies: These tests involve consuming a small dose of a radioactive substance, either in pill form or in a meal, and then tracking both the corporeality of time and how the substance moves through your intestines.

Other bowel function tests: Your physician may order tests that check how well your anus and rectum hold and release stool. These tests include a sure type of x-ray (defecography), washed to rule out causes of outlet dysfunction constipation, and the insertion of a small airship into the rectum (airship expulsion examination and anorectal manometry).

Management and Treatment

How is constipation treated?

Cocky-care

Most cases of mild to moderate constipation tin be managed by you at home. Cocky-care starts by taking an inventory of what y'all eat and beverage and so making changes.

Some recommendations to help save your constipation include:

Drink two to four actress spectacles of water a solar day. Avoid caffeine-containing drinks and booze, which can cause dehydration.
Add together fruits, vegetables whole grains and other high-fiber foods to your diet. Consume fewer high-fatty foods, like meat, eggs and cheese.
Eat prunes and/or bran cereal.
Keep a nutrient diary and single out foods that constipate you.
Get moving, exercise.
Check how you lot sit on the toilet. Raising your feet, leaning back or squatting may make having a bowel movement easier.
Add an over-the-counter supplemental fiber to your diet (similar Metamucil®, Citrucel®, and Benefiber®).
If needed, accept a very mild over-the-counter stool softener or laxative (such as docusate [Colace®] or Milk of Magnesia®). Mineral oil enemas, similar Fleet®, and stimulant laxatives, like bisacodyl (Dulcolax®) or senna (Senokot®), are other options. There are many laxative choices. Enquire your pharmacist or dr. for help in making a selection. Do not utilise laxatives for more than than two weeks without calling your doctor. Overuse of laxatives tin can worsen your symptoms.
Do not read, utilize your phone or other devices while trying to move your bowels.

Medication/supplement review

In improver to self-care methods, your doctor volition review your medications and supplements (if you take any). Some of these products tin cause constipation. If they do, your doctor may alter the dose, switch to another drug and/or inquire that yous finish taking the supplement. Never end taking your medications or supplements before talking with your medico first.

Prescription medications

A few prescription drugs are available to treat constipation. These include lubiprostone (Amitiza®), prucalopride (Prudac®, Motegrity®), plecanatide (Trulance®), lactulose (Cephulac®, Kristalose®) and linaclotide (Linzess®). Your doctor volition pick the drug that might work best for you based on the results of your tests.

Surgery

Surgery is rarely needed to treat constipation. Your doctor may, however, recommend surgery if constipation is caused past a structural trouble in the colon. Examples of these bug include a blockage in the colon (intestinal obstruction), a narrowing in a portion of the intestine (intestinal stricture), tear in the anus (anal fissure) or the collapse of part of the rectum into the vagina (rectal prolapse). Some causes of outlet dysfunction constipation may exist treated with surgery. This is all-time discussed later testing. Yous may also demand surgery if cancer was found in your colon, rectum or anus.

Prevention

How can I prevent constipation?

Use the aforementioned home-based methods you used to treat constipation to forbid it from condign a chronic problem:

Consume a well-balanced diet with enough of cobweb. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole-grain breads and cereals. Fiber and water assist the colon pass stool. Virtually of the fiber in fruits is found in the skins, such as in apples. Fruits with seeds you tin can eat, similar strawberries, have the about fiber. Bran is a great source of fiber. Eat bran cereal or add together bran cereal to other foods, like soup and yogurt. People with constipation should eat between eighteen and xxx grams of fiber every day.
Potable viii 8-ounce glasses of water a day. (Note: Milk can crusade constipation in some people.) Liquids that contain caffeine, such as java and soft drinks, tin dehydrate yous. You may demand to stop drinking these products until your bowel habits render to normal.
Do regularly.
Treat mild constipation with a dietary supplement like magnesium. (Not everyone should have magnesium. Cheque with your doctor earlier taking.)
Move your bowels when you feel the urge. Do not look.

Living With

When should I telephone call my doc?

Call your healthcare provider if:

Constipation is a new problem for you lot.
You see blood in your stool.
Y'all are losing weight unintentionally.
You have severe pain with bowel movements.
Your constipation has lasted more than three weeks.
You have symptoms of outlet dysfunction constipation.

Remember, talk openly and honestly with your doctor well-nigh your bowel movements and whatsoever questions or concerns you may have. Pooping is something nosotros all should be doing. Constipation may exist a temporary situation, a long-term problem or a sign of a more serious condition. Be safe. See your doctor, specially if you've noticed a change in your bowel pattern or if your life is being ruled by your bowels.

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Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4059-constipation