What is Constipation?
Constipation is a very common type of disorder suffered by a number of persons. If the symptoms of this ailment is ignored for long it may a take a turn for the worse and pose serious illnesses. Constipation occurs when movement of stool is slow through the digestive track causing it to become hard and dry. People suffering from constipation usually have 2 to 3 bowel movements per week.
Its causes include a number of factors such as abnormalities of the colon, problem with the nerves and muscles of colon/cervix/rectum/anal, sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle or ageing. Although easy to treat, the condition must not be neglected over a prolonged period.
Many persons also suffer from 'colonic inertia' or delayed colonic action whereby stool is stored in some parts of the colon and do not progress to rectosigmoid(the advance part of colon) that transfers the stool out of the body.
Its causes include a number of factors such as abnormalities of the colon, problem with the nerves and muscles of colon/cervix/rectum/anal, sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle or ageing. Although easy to treat, the condition must not be neglected over a prolonged period.
Many persons also suffer from 'colonic inertia' or delayed colonic action whereby stool is stored in some parts of the colon and do not progress to rectosigmoid(the advance part of colon) that transfers the stool out of the body.
Symptoms
- Passing less than 3 stools a week
- Dry and hard stool
- Feeling as if there is a blockage in the rectum
- Inability to release stool completely
- Use of purgative on a daily basis
- Using glycerin or finger to remove stool from the rectum
Possible causes include
- Sedentary Life Style : This is the most common cause among men and women specially the young ones. The reasons are :
- Addiction to alcohol
- Physical inactivity - responsible not only for constipation but also for diabetes, heart ailment and cancer
- Frequent consumption of unhealthy diet such as fast/spicy food
- Remaining without food for a long time or long gap between two meals or no fixed time for breakfast/lunch/dinner
- Lack of water intake and addiction to tea/coffee instead
- Blockage in the rectum or colon : Any blockage or abnormality in the rectum or colon affect normal movement of stool. Possible causes include :
- Complications of the nerves in the colon/rectum : Neurological problems may affect the nerves that enable the muscles to contract, leading to difficulty in the movement of stool. Possible causes include :
- Problem with the pelvic muscles to allow for a smooth bowel movement
- Inability of pelvic muscles to relax or contract in the correct/normal manner
- Weak pelvic muscles due to ageing or some other medical conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) : This type of disorder also known as 'spastic colon' is a very common cause of constipation. Though much is not yet known about this but Doctors suspect that patients suffering from this type of disorder have very sensitive colons.
- Conditions Affecting Hormones In The Body : Normal functions of hormones are affected due to diseases and other medical conditions resulting in constipation. Possible causes include :
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Hypothyroidism ( Under active thyroid gland )
- Hyperparathyroidism ( Over active parathyroid gland )
- Spinal cord injury
- Parkinson's disease
- Lupus
A few things that may be done before seeking medical intervention :
- Intake of more Vegetables and Fruits rich in fibre : Foods rich in fibre facilitate movement of stool through the intestines. Slowly raise consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in fibre as sudden increase may cause gas and bloating. Eat whole grain bread and cereals. Try to avoid fast/spicy food as much as possible.
- Corn
- White beans
- Kidney beans
- Black beans
- Brown rice
- Whole wheat bread
- Almonds
- Peas
- Broccoli
- Barley
- Avocado
- Apple
- Banana
- Sufficient Drinking Water : Less fluid in body or dehydration is one of the major causes of constipation and dry, hard stool. It also affects movement of stool. How much water should we drink daily? EFSA(European Food Safety Authority) recommends at least 2.5 litres for men and 2.0 litre for women daily through both food and drink consumption. About 70 to 80 percent of this water should be from drinks and remaining 20 to 30 percent from food(fruits & vegetables). That amounts to daily intake of 10 glasses of water (each glass containing 200 ml of water ) for men and 8 glasses for women.
- Exercise and Physical Activity : Some kind of physical activity such as 'freehand exercises' , swimming, yoga, sports, regular morning walk is absolutely essential not only to get rid of 'constipation' but also for healthy living. Physical activity increases blood supply to the entire body including the intestines and colons and help relieve constipation.
- Anxiety, Stress and Lack of Sleep : This is a curse of modern fast life specially in metros. It affects proper digestion of food and result in gas, bloating and constipation. To get rid of anxiety and stress is not an overnight affair. One has to be health conscious and disciplined to achieve this.
- Common Laxatives : These days several laxatives are handy and easily available in the market. All of them work differently but with one common aim - easy movement of bowel :
Fibre Supplements : Fibre supplements add bulk to the stool and common ingredient calcium, psyllium, polycarbophil, guar gum etc. under the brand name 'FiberCon', 'Metamucil', 'Citrucel' etc.
Ostomotics : These include 'milk of magnesia', 'magnesium citrate', 'polyethylene glycol'
and 'sodium phosphate enema' help fluids move through the colon thus softening the stool.
Lubricants : Lubricants like mineral oil force stool move through the colon.
Stool Softeners : Softeners like 'Colace' 'Dulcolax' and 'Surfak' moisten the stool by drawing water
from the intestines.
Remember laxatives are not meant for permanent use and must be followed as per prescribed doses. If constipation is due to leading a 'sedentary lifestyle' then it can be easily cured by following the five
(1 - 5) steps as discussed above. If these steps cannot give you comfort and relieve constipation, consult with a Physician without further delay.
Tests and Diagnosis
- Sigmoidoscopy ( Investigation of the rectum or lower colon ) : It's a procedure the doctors uses to look inside the rectum and lower part of the large bowel. The Doctor examines the rectum or lower colon by inserting a light, narrow, flexible tube-like video camera called sigmoidoscope into the rectum through the anus. Usually no anaesthetic procedure is followed prior to performing this test. If any polyps is found during this test the doctors removes and preserves them for a biopsy test. Sigmoidoscopy is very effective in detecting cancer in certain areas of the bowel. This test is aimed at detecting polyps and bowel cancer in advance before the patients actually develops symptoms.
- Colonoscopy ( Investigation of the rectum and entire colon ) : This is done by insertion of a camera equipped with a flexible tube named 'colposcope' into the rectum through the anus. A colonoscopy enables the doctor to examine the cervix more closely. The colposcope magnifies the cervix and the doctor sees through the colposcope. The inside view of the cervix may also be projected onto a monitor. The whole operation takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
- Anorectal Manometry ( Examination of rectum muscle function ) : In this test the doctor evaluates bowel functions in patients with a history of constipation or stool leakage. This test is done with a flexible tube equipped with an inflatable balloon at the tip of it. The device is connected to a computer and a recording device that measures the pressure and strength of the anal and rectal muscles. This test enables the doctor to verify the strength of the 'anal sphincter muscles', reflexes or elasticity of the rectal/anal muscles and movements of the rectal and anal muscles.
- Colon Transit Study ( Evaluation of movement of food through the colon ) : A colon transit study is a test that determines how long it takes for a food to travel from the stomach to exit the body as a bowel motion i.e. from the point of digestion to the point of exit. The patient has to swallow a few plastic markers over a period of three days to perform this test. On the fourth day an X-ray of the abdomen is taken. If there are any markers left in the colon on the fourth day, they become easily visible. With this, the doctor is able to calculate the time a food takes to move through the colon.
- Defecography ( X-ray of the rectum during defecation ) : Defecography is an x-ray that shows the rectum and anal canal as they change during the process of defecation. This is done by inserting a paste of semi-solid barium into rectum through the anus and in case of women both through anus and vagina. The patient is then asked to sit on a specially designed commode and exert pressure to empty the rectum. This helps the doctors to evaluate how the pelvic and rectum muscles perform during defecation. Since the test is quite awful and embarrassing, the doctors explain to the patient why the test is being done and how it is going to be done before the start of the test.
Read more
0 comments:
Post a Comment