Most people very often complain of violations of defecation, the duration of which can be from 3 days to a week. Such a long absence of urge to excrement significantly impairs the quality of life, both in the adult and in the child. What to do when there is such a long constipation, with what laxative or cleansing procedures get rid of the pathology in the shortest possible time, become the patient's only thought. Also, all victims are interested in what the cause of the disease may be, how much it will continue and what are the possible complications. In order to obtain answers to these questions, it is most appropriate to consult a specialist and take the necessary diagnostic test in these cases. This will help to find out the cause of hardening and persistent delay of stool in the intestines, as well as to exclude the possibility of a serious illness.
But this is not always possible and a visit to a doctor with a prolonged constipation due to some circumstances has to be postponed. To get rid of bowel dysfunction in this case, you can use some tips about emergency measures that help to eliminate the problem with the stool. But it should not be forgotten that even if the problem with the chair could be eliminated in a short time, it is necessary to consult a doctor. It is necessary to do this in order to prevent further occurrence of prolonged constipation. This is especially important if the pathology occurs in young children, the elderly or pregnant women.
Consequences of prolonged constipation, than it is dangerous?
In people of older age groups, breaks between bowel movements can range from 2 to 5 days. In most cases this is considered the norm. The appearance of a prolonged constipation is indicated not by how much the stool was absent in a person, but by its consistency and the appearance of unpleasant sensations during bowel movements or feelings of incomplete emptying of the intestine after them. How does a person feel during prolonged constipation? In the event that there are long breaks between acts of defecation, a pathological abnormality of the intestine accompanies painful sensations in the abdomen. What to do in this situation? If there is no possibility to consult a specialist in the shortest possible time, and there is a certainty that prolonged constipation did not arise because of serious pathology, but because of nutritional reasons, you can try to cope with the problem yourself. The faster this is done, the less complications due to lack of urge to empty the bowel may occur.
When choosing home methods of treatment of prolonged constipation, it should be taken into account that the use of medicinal laxatives or enemas can only be an emergency measure that allows you to get rid of trouble in a short time. Long use of them usually causes the opposite effect and provokes an increase in stool delays. First of all, you should pay attention to the diet. This is especially important with prolonged constipation in pregnant women or the elderly. There are general rules for diet therapy with long stool delays. The general characteristics characterizing them are as follows:
- All food taken with prolonged constipation should be gentle and easily assimilated;
- Stimulate the work of the intestine dishes containing a large amount of vegetable fiber, so the menu in large quantities should be present fresh vegetables and fruits;
- It is necessary to exclude products that cause increased gas production, as they during prolonged constipation aggravate the manifestation of negative accompanying symptoms.
The right menu in the presence of a long absence of stool in pregnant women is the most important element in the treatment of protracted violations of acts of defecation. It is this category of patients that should pay the most attention to food consumed in food. It is best to correct long-term constipation by a specialist. He will be able to take into account all the nuances and choose a diet in such a way that it does not cause any consequences for the developing fetus.
Long-term constipation in a child, what should I do?
This question disturbs many parents, both young and experienced enough. First of all, with a long delay in the act of defecation, you should not panic, but go to the local pediatrician who will help solve the problem in a short time. Before visiting a doctor, all measures should be taken to alleviate the condition of the child. Before deciding on what kind of independent therapeutic measures the baby will help, one should understand what could cause him prolonged constipation and whether it is pathology. Experts singled out several main factors provoking long violations of defecation in children related to stool hardness:
- Hereditary diseases( cystic fibrosis, hypothyroidism and some others).In this case only the doctor will help to solve the problem with protracted violations of defecation;
- Functional disorders of intestinal motility regulation also provoke prolonged constipation in children;
- Almentary factors. They are associated with nutrition and it is in this case that you can help the child on their own, adjusting his diet.
What is the threat of prolonged constipation to the child? If you ignore its appearance and allow a long stagnation of stool in the intestine, very quickly there can be various complications. More often, long-term violations of acts of defecation provoke a violation in the intestine of microflora. This is fraught with the fact that, because of the increased development of pathogenic and loss of beneficial bacteria, digestion and absorption processes in the digestive organs are completely violated, and decay of stool begins. All this leads to the fact that because of this there is an intoxication of the body. Also, prolonged stool congestion threatens the development of the inflammatory process in the colon and the violation of blood circulation in its walls. The most dangerous result of persistent constipation in children may be prolapse of the rectal mucosa.
Parents are often interested in how many days there is a natural lack of stool for a baby and what to do to prevent the occurrence of long, pathological delays? For children of different age categories, there are specific features and patterns. But in any case, the absence of a stool until 5 days will not be considered pathological if the baby feels well and adds weight. In this situation, you should pay attention to the nutrition of the nursing mother or the introduced complementary foods. Also, to facilitate acts of defecation, after each feeding, you can do an easy tummy tummy massage. On the long-term violation should be said when long and stubborn constipation causes painful sensations, fever and deterioration of the general condition of the crumbs. Independently in this case, do nothing. Only an experienced specialist can quickly and adequately solve the problem.
Prolonged constipation - folk methods of treatment
In the case when the long stagnation of stool in the intestines was the result of disorders of diet or lifestyle, it is best to use the proven folk methods. Their effect is not only very effective, but also completely safe, as it does not cause either adults or children, in contrast to synthetic agents, adverse reactions of the body and habituation. All of them are recognized as leading proctologists and gastroenterologists. What should be done with prolonged constipation in the first place? Specialists at chair delays recommend the following folk methods tested by many generations:
- First of all, it is necessary to empty the intestines from stony feces and slags. For this, warm water is taken in the amount of 2-2.5 liters. It is best if the enema with prolonged constipation is performed with the help of a health worker, since it is difficult to cope with it alone. It should also be noted that it is done no more than once a month, and only in emergency cases;
- After the intestines are released from the accumulated fecal matter in it, it is possible to put microclysters for which herbal decoctions and oil infusions are used. This method of therapy has a long-term effect, so it is recommended for therapeutic purposes at night;
- Help cope with persistent constipation and teas from medicinal herbs. The senna, rhubarb and bark of the buckthorn proved to be the best. The duration of their reception with prolonged constipation may be several days.
All these methods will help to cope with persistent delays in the stool, regardless of how long they last. If the pathology that appeared in the digestive organs is ignored, it threatens to result in severe consequences. Most often in conditions of prolonged constipation, such diseases of the rectum as paraproctitis and internal hemorrhoids appear. It is not excluded and the development and reflux-enteritis due to the large accumulation of feces and the reverse of his pushing. Also, prolonged constipation can lead to such a serious complication, like intestinal cancer. To avoid all this, one should not allow long stool delays, and in case of their occurrence take all measures to restore the normal functioning of the digestive organs.