Constipation Relief, Home Remedies, Symptoms & Causes

Constipation generally means that you have three or fewer bowel movements in a week. In simple words being constipated means your bowel movements are tough happen less often than normal. Almost everyone goes through it sooner or later. Although it’s not a serious problem and you will feel much better when your body is back on track. Constipation is generally occurs because too much water is absorbed from your food. Some causes of constipation include some medications, physical inactivity and aging. In some cases people can get rid of this problem by change their lifestyle. Here are some causes, symptoms and treatment in detail. Constipation happens when the colon absorbs too much water and this can occur if the muscles in the colon are contracting slowly or poorly. It can cause your stool to move too slowly and lose more water. Some most common causes of constipation are-

Poor diet and life style

Poor diet and inactive lifestyle are the most common causes of constipation. A lack of exercise and eating too much junk food can cause destruction in your digestive health. People whose diet includes a good quantity of fiber are significantly less likely to suffer from constipation. Here are some diet related factors that can leave you feeling constipated.

Dairy products Foods high in fats and sugar Lack of high fiber foods like ( fruits, vegetables and whole grains) Lack of water and other fluids Alcohol and caffeine

It is very important to consume foods which are rich in fiber like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Adding fiber in your food can prevent constipation.

Medication

Constipation is a common side effect of many frequently prescribed medications. If you have just started taking a new drug and notice that your bowel movements have changed in form or frequency, ask your doctor because your drug could be the cause. Some medication can cause constipation are antacids (with aluminum and calcium), diuretics, anti-depressants and blood pressure treatments.

Physical inactivity

Constipation can occur if someone becomes too physically inactive and this is especially the case in the older adults. For individuals who have bedridden for a long time, for a several time and weeks then their risk of having constipation is significantly increased. Study shows that doing physical activity on a daily basis keeps our metabolism high, making the process in your body happen more rapidly. Physically active people are less likely to become constipated than inactive people.

Aging

As you get older your metabolism slows down and it makes less intestinal activity. The muscles in the digestive track do not work as well as they used to. There are many reasons by which you can get this disease like stroke, diabetes etc. Talk with your doctor to get more personalize information and find out if your constipation is a side effects of another health problem. It is a good idea to check with your doctor if there is significant change in your bowel movements.

Changes in routine

When you travel anywhere, the normal routine changes and this can have effects on your digestive system which can be the reason of constipation. Meals are eaten in different times, we might go to bed, get up, and go to toilet at different times. All these changes can raise the risk of constipation.

Some disease and conditions

Disease that tend to slow the movements of feces through colon, anus and rectum can cause constipation such as

Neurological disorders

Parkinson’s disease, spinal injury, stroke, chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo obstruction.

Endocrine and metabolic conditions

Uremia, diabetes, poor glycemic control and hypothyroidism.

Systemic disease

These are diseases that affect a number of organ and tissues or affect the whole body. Like lupus, scleroderma and amyloidosis.

Cancer

Mainly due to medication and chemotherapy. Also if a tumor blocks your digestive system.

Not drinking enough water

If you are already suffering from constipation, drinking more liquids might not relieve it. However, regular drinking plenty of water can reduce the risk of constipation. There are many sodas and drinks available which contains caffeine and this can cause dehydration and worsen your situation. Alcohol also dehydrates the body so if you are suffering from constipation, try to avoid drink alcohol.

Symptoms

Passing fewer than three stools in a week Having lumpy and hard stools Straining to have bowel movements Feeling as though there’s a blockage in your rectum that prevents bowel movements Feeling as though that you can’t completely empty the stool from your rectum Swollen belly and belly pain

Treatments

In the majority of cases, constipation resolves itself without any treatment and risk to health. The treatment of recurring of constipation can include physical activity, eating more fiber and drinking more water or if you want you can take these steps Drink 2 or 4 glass of water in day unless your doctor told you to limit fluids for another reasons.

Try warm liquids especially in the morning Add fruits and vegetables in your diet. Eat prunes and bran cereal Increase your fiber intake Exercise most days of the week

Take olive oil

Take olive oil before eating a breakfast in the morning. It simulates the digestive track. Magnesium foods- Magnesium is essential to muscle health or the movement of food and digestive track. Low magnesium can increase the risk of constipation.

Baking soda with warm water

Take 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 cup of warm water. If you drink this, it will reduce the risk of constipation. The quicker you finish drinking, the better it seems to work.

Herbs

Flax seeds and fenugreek is one of the most effective ingredients, when it comes to fight against constipation. These are meant for short-term use.

Beans

Beans are rich in fiber, a meal containing beans shares many similarly benefits as one containing prunes.

Usually laxatives will successfully treat most cases of constipation. But do not use this more than 2 weeks without asking your doctor about it. If you overdo it, your symptoms may get worse. It is important to understand the cause of constipation, there could be an underlying illness or condition. Take advice from your doctor regarding this I know this is very awkward topic to discuss. But constipation can be uncomfortable to talk about, even more uncomfortable to deal with it. Try to take a close look at your daily habits and lifestyle. Then you will be able to pinpoint what might be causing your constipation. Call your doctor right away if you have sudden constipation with belly pain or cramping and you are not able to pass gas and stool. A healthy body means a healthy digestion, feeling from inside and outside both.

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