Constipation
can be an uncomfortable experience
and one that may have concerned you
for some time. This information can
help answer your questions about constipation
and help you understand your doctor's
choice of treatment.
What
Is Constipation?
Technically,
constipation is the passage of two or
fewer stools per week. In reality, people
have very individual ideas about what
constipation is and what constitutes
"normal" bowel function.
While it may be normal for one person
to have a bowel movement three times
a day, the next person may have one
three times a week. To some people,
constipation may mean hard, dry stools
which are difficult to pass. Chances
are you know what is regular for you--and
therefore what is irregular for you
also.
What
Causes Constipation?
In
trying to understand why you sometimes
experience constipation, remember that
your body's needs are unique. From time
to time these needs change, sometimes
as a result of diet and exercise. In
turn, your body responds with certain
symptoms, including constipation.
Common
causes of occasional constipation
include:
- Poor
eating habits (for example, too
much junk food, too much caffeine,
irregular eating times)
- Diet
lacking in fiber and/or liquids
- Lack
of exercise
- Some
medications
- Stress
- Pregnancy
- Travel
More
serious causes such as surgery or
disease are not often responsible
for the mild constipation most people
occasionally experience. However,
if you are constipated frequently
and non-prescription medications
do not improve your condition, be
sure to tell your doctor.
What
Can I Do About Constipation?
Help
yourself maintain regularity by adding
some of these simple steps to your daily
routine:
- Gradually
add high-fiber foods to your
diet, including
- fruit (unpeeled when appropriate)
- dried fruits (apricots, prunes,
raisins, and dates)
- unpeeled raw vegetables
- bran cereals and whole-grain
breads
- Drink
6 to 8 glasses of juice or water
each day.
- Follow
a regular exercise program. Walking
is good for the heart and body,
and abdominal exercises help
improve intestinal muscle tone.
Ask your doctor about a program
that would be right for you.
- Respond
to the urge to have a bowel movement.
When you feel the urge, relax
and let your body take the time
it needs. If you ignore the urge,
you could prolong the problem.
- If
one is recommended by your doctor,
take a high-fiber laxative to
help you stay regular.
- Use
other laxatives only as your
doctor recommends.
Should
I Take a Laxative?
Your
doctor may prescribe a laxative for you.
There are many types of laxatives, each
one having benefits and drawbacks for
certain patients.
Bulk-forming
laxatives absorb liquid in the
intestine and then swell to form
a soft, bulky mass which stimulates
a bowel movement. Because bulk
laxatives mimic the body's own
actions, they are said to work
naturally. However, they may lead
to increased gas and can take up
to three days to have an effect.
Stool
softeners do not cause a bowel movement
but ease the difficult passage often
associated with hard stool. They
may work in one or two days but may
take up to five days.
Stimulant
laxatives are effective and predictable.
They increase the muscle contractions
in the intestine that lead to a bowel
movement. While all stimulant laxatives
work basically in this way, they
are not all the same; some are more
likely to cause cramping or irritation
and rarely nausea and vomiting. These
types of laxatives should not be
taken for prolonged periods of time.
Saline
laxatives ("salts") draw
water into the intestine, causing
pressure to build up and sending
the bowel the message to empty. Too
much water can be drawn in, though,
resulting in loose bowel movements
and upsetting the body's balance
of fluids.
Enemas
fill the colon with fluid, which
softens the stool and stimulates
a bowel movement.
With
so many products available, it is
not easy to know which laxative is
best for you. Follow your doctor's
recommendation.
It
is always a good idea to look for
natural ways to meet your body's
needs and avoid long-term use of
medication. Excessive use of stimulant
laxatives can actually cause constipation
and dependence upon laxatives because
the colon loses it normal tone and
the ability to contract. Bulk-forming
agents are safe to take for a long
time. They are essentially a substitute
for fiber in your diet. |
