What is Constipation?
Constipation is a common condition that can be treated with various methods, ranging from lifestyle changes to medical interventions.
Symptoms
- ILess than three bowel movements per week
- Straining more than 25% of the time
- Hard and lumpy stools more than 25% of the time
- Feeling of incomplete evacuation more than 25% of the time
- Stomach ache and cramps
- Feeling of bloating
- Feeling of fullness with loss of desire to eat, nausea
- Extremely foul smelling feces and flatulence
- Needing help to empty your rectum, such as using your hands to press on your abdomen or using a finger to remove stool from your rectum
Causes
- A diet that is poor in fiber ( fruits, vegetables, cereals )
- A change in your routine or lifestyle, such as a change in your eating habits
- Ignoring the urge to pass stool ( common in children )
- Not drinking enough fluids
- As a side effect of certain medications ex. Iron supplements, anti-depressants
- Sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise
- Pregnancy – The female hormone Progesterone causes the muscles of the intestines to relax, making the peristaltic movements sluggish.
- Obesity
- Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome ( IBS )
- Constipation is one of the symptoms of dysbacteriosis — a condition where the normal, intestinal flora is dead and missing
- Hormonal problems like Hypothyroidism
Lastly, constipation may be functional, caused by Obstructed Defecation Syndrome ( ODS ), a relatively common cause that can now be diagnosed with newer tests like MRI Defecography ( MRD ).
Treatments
