Do you know about Constipation? Its risk factors & prevention?

Overview

Constipation is a chronic disorder that occurs when bowel movements become slow, the stool becomes too hard and dry, and it is difficult to pass through the rectum. It commonly occurs due to less amount of fiber in the diet.

Technically, you can say having three bowel movements weekly refers to constipation. In the U.S, an estimated calculation shows that 4 million people are facing gastrointestinal constipation, while 2.5 million people visit doctors each year.

Types of Constipation

There are three types of constipations, these are following;

Normal-transit constipation

It is the most common type due to the false functioning of nerves and muscles related to the control of bowel movements. 

Slow-transit constipation

This type of constipation is due to the false functioning of food moving to the intestine.

Pelvic-floor dysfunction

In this type, muscles around the anus and rectum become too weak and tight, making bowel movement difficult.

Causes of Constipation

Mainly it is caused by slow movement of stool in the digestive tract or ineffective elimination from the rectum. As a result, the formed stool becomes hard and dry. 

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Having low fiber in the diet
• Drink less or no water
• Routine changes like pregnancy, travel, and growing older
• Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement
• Addicted to medications
• Drink less or no water

How does it happen?

Most often, constipation happens when your colon (a part of the large intestine) absorbs plenty of water from your waste (stool/poop) and makes it dry. This dryness causes difficulty in the passage of stool from the rectum (a part of the large intestine).

As food proceeds into the digestive tract, where nutrients are absorbed, the partially digested (waste) remains in the small intestine and travels to the colon (a part of the large intestine). Here, the colon absorbs water from the debris and makes it solid; that solid matter is called stool. For people with constipation, food moves slowly in the digestive tract, and the colon has more time to absorb water from waste, making it much dry, complex, and difficult to pass out.

Symptoms of Constipation

Among several signs and symptoms, some common symptoms are;

• Lumpy, rigid, or dry stools
• Feeling like a blockage in the rectum prevents movement of the small intestine.
• Feeling like complete stool is still not removed from the rectum
• Less than three bowel movements in a week
• Pain during bowel movements
• The bloating and nauseous feeling
• Stomach, aches or cramps
• Abdominal pain

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) recommends a doctor visit if symptoms don’t go away.

When to see a doctor?

See your doctor if you find any difficulty with stool movement and if there are mysterious and constant changes in the habits of the small intestine and you have been feeling pain or blood in your stool for the last three weeks.

Side effects of constipation

• Swelled rectum
• Toxin reabsorption in the colon
• Impaling of intestinal flora
• Weight gain and obesity
• Brittle nails and thin hair
• Anxiety and depression
• Poor immunity
• Fatigue

Risk factors 

• Aged or older adults
• Specific factors that can cause constipation include; 
• Dehydration 
• Having a diet that is low in fiber 
• No or less physical activity
• Taking medication such as anti-depressants, sedatives, pain relief medicines, and medications to lower blood pressure
• Mentally ill (a condition in which people have an eating disorder)

Prevention 

• Take a small portion of low-fiber diets such as processed food, meat, and dairy products,   
• Drink plenty of liquid drink
• Be active and do regular exercise.  
• Manage your anxiety
• Plan your bowel movements, especially after having a meal
• If you are a person who loves to eat solid foods, then try to add plenty of fiber-containing eatables to your diet, like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Most of the fiber is present in the skin of apples.
• Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fiber. Fruit-containing seeds like strawberries and bran-containing food like soup and yogurt have a maximum quantity of fiber. Constipated people should eat 8-10 grams of fiber each day.
• Take dietary supplements such as magnesium. Magnesium is not suitable for all kinds of people; consult your doctor first.

• Drink 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Caffeine, containing drinks should be avoided such as coffee and soft drinks until you recover. Note that Milk can cause constipation in some people.

Immediate Constipation relief 

Try some natural remedies instead of having medication. Eat fruit and vegetables that contain fiber. You can also add some herbal remedies such as clover, fennel, and senna. Ask your doctor before taking herbs and teas for constipation relief.

Tip for pregnant women

Constipation is also common in pregnant women, especially in the third trimester. It can also occur after birth.

In these cases, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests increasing fiber intake through diet to achieve a maximum of 25 grams of fiber each day. With an increase in fiber intake, drink plenty of water too. If you do not feel relief after following your routine, consult your doctor for precautions.

sources

healthline.com/health/hard-stool

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowel_movement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastrointestinal_tract

healthline.com/health/why-does-it-hurt-when-i-poop

rabiahabib.com/diabetesblog

https://rabiahabib.com/food-poisoningblog/