Constipation - Causes and Treatment

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The problem with bowel evacuation often disturbs many people. Constipation occurs in different ages, and may indicate violations of the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. To provoke a delay of a chair the wrong food, stagnant processes in an organism and many other things can. Have constipation causes and treatment in case of their occurrence necessary.

General information about constipation, types

Normally, the emptying of the rectum should occur at least once a day. The absence of defecation more than two days indicates the occurrence of stagnation in the intestine. Such a state most often disturbs children and people in old age.

Types of obstructed defecation:

• chronic( permanent) constipation;
• episodic lack of stools( depending on the situation).

Chronic constipation is the regular retention of feces or incomplete bowel evacuation. At this time there is no defecation for two or more days, a small amount of very dense feces can be released. The process of emptying is painful enough and prolonged with a feeling of incomplete cleansing of the rectum.

Episodic or situational constipation can not be called a disease or negative pathology of the human body. It arises from certain situations and upon their expiration, the intestinal motility is restored.

Causes of episodic constipation:

• Pregnancy. Against the backdrop of hormonal changes and the restructuring of the body, temporary difficulties may arise with a stool.
• Business trips or travel. At this time a person can eat defective, which is unusual for the intestines, resulting in a condensation of stool. After normalizing normal rhythm, the problem will disappear by itself.
• Experienced stress or nervous breakdown.
• Taking medications. Some remedies have side-effect fixing effect. After the termination of a course of their reception such effect will be eliminated independently.

Situational constipation may disappear by itself or with the help of laxatives. Their peculiarity is that they have a temporary character, and are not a serious pathology.

Interesting! According to medical research, stool retention in women occurs several times more often than in males.

In adulthood, constipation disturbs people at times more than in young years. And chronic stagnation is more common, in contrast to situational ones, so they were identified as a separate disease.

It should be noted that constipation is spastic and atonic.

1. Spastic fence is associated with frequent intestinal spasms. This can be due to experiences( mental and mental), its occurrence is affected by acute poisoning.
2. Atonic constipation has a different appearance. Its main cause is a failure in innervation of some parts of the large intestine. Such a condition of the organ leads to stretching of the walls, and an increase in a large number of fecal masses.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of frequent constipation:

• intense gassing;
• severity in the anus, a feeling of incomplete bowel movement;
• change in stool mass( spherical shape, thin trickle, mucus secretion);
• bloating.

In advanced or acute stages of prolonged absence of defecation, there may be other symptoms:

• increase in body temperature;
• nausea, lack of appetite, weakness;
• development of flatulence, which is accompanied by abdominal pain and cramps due to the fact that gases do not escape.

If these signs appear, immediate hospitalization and a comprehensive examination are required. Constipation in this case can be not only an independent syndrome, but also precursors of more serious diseases( irritation of the intestine, the appearance of neoplasms in the rectum or other organs).

Important! Constipation is indicated not by the amount of emptying, but by the quality and consistency of the stool, as well as the process itself, which should proceed without any discomfort, pain or other negative manifestation.

Causes of obstructed stool

The most common permanent constipation. They may be harbingers of a more serious disease or a consequence of negative disorders in the gastrointestinal tract.

Reasons for constipation:

1. Disturbance in the functioning of the excretory system( malfunction in motor ability).This is a consequence of a disorder in a particular department of the nervous system( vegetative), which is responsible for the functions of internal organs.
2. Intestinal irritation. The syndrome alternates with constipation and diarrhea, which has a negative effect on the intestinal peristalsis.
3. Deformation processes in the organ( neoplasms, adhesions and scars, hemorrhoids, cracks).

In addition to the causes of constipation that are associated directly with the intestine and adjacent organs, there are other causes of delay or problematic emptying:

1. Rhythm of life and habits. If you often postpone visits to the toilet, endure, then with time the urge weakens, the feces accumulate and solidify. A big role in the formation of constipation in women is diet for weight loss, which are devoid of vegetable fibers, the use of liquid in very small quantities, low levels of fiber in food.
2. Too thick mixtures with artificial feeding cause constipation in infants.
3. Presence of stressful situations and neuroses in children.
4. Taking medications( for lowering pressure, against depression, heartburn, diuretics).

If we talk about constipation in old age, in elderly people they can arise because of the weakening of the muscles of the intestine. Over the years, their tone decreases, and irregularities appear in the stool. Also, changes in microorganisms are of great importance. For example, with age, E. coli loses its protective properties, which entails the multiplication of infections. With age, the development of food enzymes, which are responsible for stability in the intestinal microflora, deteriorates.

Constipation during pregnancy

Quite often constipation occurs in women during pregnancy.

Causes of obstructed stool during gestation:

1. Intestinal pressure on the side of the enlarged uterus. During this period stagnation occurs in the vessels and veins due to impaired blood circulation in the pelvic organs, the peristalsis weakens.
2. Reducing the susceptibility of the musculature of the intestine to stimulants that the body produces. This is because the intestines and uterus are closely related, have a common innervation. If intensive reduction of the walls of the rectum begins, stimulation of the uterus begins, and a threat of premature birth arises. Therefore, the susceptibility of the intestine is weakened.
3. Suspicion and fears during pregnancy. Excessive experiences negatively affect the work of the intestines.

It should be noted that after birth, the percentage of women suffering from constipation is significantly reduced.

Important! If after long and unsuccessful attempts to go to the toilet a person has pain in the lower abdomen( left), the temperature rises, then this may be a harbinger of diverticulitis( inflammation of the inner layer of the large intestine).In advanced stages, the disease can cause a dangerous complication - peritonitis.

Diagnosis of pathology

Frequent difficulties with stools should not be ignored. But before proceeding to treatment, it is worth a test. This is necessary in order to exclude or confirm the presence of other diseases that could provoke constipation.

Complex of measures that are necessary for the diagnosis of pathology:

• thorough examination by a proctologist or gastroenterologist( if constipation is in men);
• examination in a gynecologist( with a delay in stool in women);
• X-ray examination by filling the intestine with a special liquid of contrasting color( irrigoscopy - done by enema);
• examination with a colonoscopy - introduction into the anal opening of a special instrument for a detailed examination of the rectum.

There are situations when additional diagnoses are required for the diagnosis:

• fecal delivery;
• ultrasound examination( examination of the abdominal cavity organs);
• check of colon motility;
• examination from an endocrinologist, therapist or neurologist.

Additional examination options may be required if there is a suspicion of the presence of neoplasms in the pelvic organs and rectum. Also, there are cases where constipation is caused by nervous disorders or other diseases that are not related to the intestine.

Important! Complex diagnostics will help not only to identify the cause of constipation, but also will provide an opportunity to determine the treatment.

Treatment of constipation in children and adults with diets

In the normalization of the stool, a big role is played by diet. The patient should be made a special diet to improve digestion. To establish peristalsis of the intestine, it is important to understand what substances affect it positively, and which products slow down the body.

First of all, a diet for adults and children should be balanced, nutritious and high-calorie. This is necessary in order to restore the strength of the body, and to adjust the work of the intestine. With the right selection of products, the possibility to gain excess weight is excluded, besides, after elimination of constipation, food can be adjusted.

It is worth remembering that vegetables and fruits in fresh form should account for more than half of the entire daily diet. They have enough of the dietary fiber, which is so lacking in the body.

1. In summer such vegetables are useful, as: cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, sweet pepper, pumpkin.
2. Cabbage, onions are available throughout the year. Vegetables can be combined in salads, filling only with vegetable oil.

When pregnant, it is necessary to refuse cabbage, sorrel, beans and spinach. These are products that promote increased gas production. Otherwise, the diet of a pregnant woman with constipation does not differ from a similar diet in children and adults.

Please note! During dietary nutrition with constipation, it is not recommended to use mayonnaise, vinegar, cheese, and brynza. Such foods slow down the metabolism and work of the intestine.

1. If you talk about fruits, you can eat everything except blueberries, cherries, cranberries and lemon. These products produce the opposite effect, and can cause constipation.
2. Very useful dried fruits( dried apricots, prunes, raisins).They gently act on the restoration of the musculature of the colon. Purchased dried fruit is better to pour with boiling water or rinse thoroughly, previously soaking in warm water for 10-15 minutes.
3. If there are no problems with the heart and other contraindications, then you should drink plenty of fluids( up to 2 liters per day).
4. Proper nutrition with constipation in children and adults should contain low-fat fish and dietary meat( chicken, beef).It is recommended that they be eaten with boiled food, eliminating fried and spicy.
5. Dietary diet for constipation involves the use of black bread, pasta from wheat, hard varieties, bran.
6. Diets with constipation in adults should contain sour-milk products. The main thing to remember is that laxative action is contained only in fresh form. That is kefir three days ago will not produce the desired effect on the body, on the contrary, aggravate the problem.

You should try not to overeat. It is recommended to divide the intake of food into small portions every 3 or 4 hours. This will reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, and will facilitate emptying.

Important! For constipation, it is worth to refrain from sweet, buttery and floury. It is better to eat jam, honey, dried fruits, you can have natural marmalade.

The main nuances in nutrition with constipation in children

Often constipation occurs in infants. They are recommended to give a decoction with dill( a small amount of the plant boil on low heat, insist and strain).When breastfeeding such a decoction is useful to drink and mum. Also, water, in which bran was previously cooked, also helps.

In teenagers, constipation can occur on the background of puberty. Relieve the stool will help the sprouts of wheat. To prepare such a product, a small amount of grain should be rolled into a damp cloth. In a few days, the wheat will start to germinate. Grain should be taken before each meal by a teaspoonful.

• exclusion of products that reduce intestinal motility. These include rice porridge, strong broth, jelly, chocolate, cocoa, mango;
• addition to the diet of fruits( figs, bananas, grapes), vegetables( cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, radish), dried fruits( dried apricots, prunes);
• the exclusion of fatty, salty and smoked products from the diet. Food should be rich in coarse fibers( muesli, bran).

It is not necessary to adhere strictly to these rules. It is enough to diversify the nutrition of the child with these products, and this will give a positive result. Children should drink compotes and home broth. This will make up for the necessary dose of fluid in the body.

Laxatives in the treatment of constipation

Drugs that promote bowel evacuation should be selected carefully, taking into account the individual tolerability of each person. It is also not recommended to take laxatives often, it is addictive, and reduces the natural urge to go to the toilet.

If difficulties with the stool have arisen against a background of malnutrition, it is forbidden to use medicines. It is necessary to adjust the emptying of the correction of the diet.

If frequent and prolonged constipation is observed, treatment with synthetic drugs is prescribed( Gutalax, Bisacodyl, Regulax).They act on the receptors of the rectum, and excite her peristalsis. Do not take more than 2 weeks. Otherwise, the sensitivity of the organ is impaired, and desires are weakened. Such drugs are contraindicated for pregnant, breastfeeding women and infants.

There are osmotic drugs that are based on magnesium hydroxide, citrate( Forlax product).The effect of such drugs is not addictive, but they remove only the symptoms, the causes do not heal. Long-term use of such laxatives is not recommended, as it can lead to elimination of sodium and potassium salts from the body, which is very dangerous for heart failure in elderly people.

Prebiotics are good laxatives. They almost do not cause side effects( sometimes flatulence for several hours).These include Dufalac, Prelax and Lactusan. Such drugs can be taken in old age.

Important! Prolonged intake of laxatives can cause intense diarrhea, itching in the anus, bowel obstruction, vomiting, various rashes on the skin. It is worth to follow the instructions carefully and not abuse the means.

To facilitate the stool during pregnancy, women are prescribed glycerin suppositories. They are good irritating to the colon, gently acting on its receptors. A feature of such candles is that they do not affect the tone of the uterus, and do not harm pregnancy.

Treatment with folk remedies

In addition to medicines, traditional medicine helps with constipation. Her recipes are useful for both adults and children. Treatment at home with decoctions also helps relieve the symptoms of constipation in the elderly.

Asparagus broth

Dried fruits, oat flakes, chopped beets, taken in equal quantities( 100 g each), immerse in a pan and mix. Next, all you need to pour 2 liters of water, and boil for about 1 hour. A strained broth should be taken at night for one glass.

Infusion of Senna with prunes

100 g prunes and 2.5 tsp. Senna mix and pour boiling water( 3 items).After the broth is infused, it should be filtered, and take during the day for 4 tbsp.l.each hour.

Castor oil

A good laxative is castor oil. It is often used in the treatment of the elderly. This drug is sold in any pharmacy. It can be in liquid form and in capsules. It should be taken once a day for 15 g adults and 10 g, if constipation in children. It is important to remember that such a drug can not be taken for more than three days, since dehydration may occur. It is better to drink butter with tea, ginger or milk.

Please note! Castor oil is strictly prohibited for use by pregnant women, as it can stimulate the tone of the uterus, and lead to premature birth.

Vaseline oil with constipation

2 tbsp.l. Take oil 2 hours before meals or 2 hours after meals. Children over 3 years are recommended to use 2 tsp. Breastfeeding is enough to give 1/3 tsp, but beforehand consult a doctor.

Vaseline oil acts directly inside the intestine. It creates a sliding film between the feces and the mucous membrane. Oil softens the contents of the rectum, and helps to ease defecation.

It should be noted that vaseline oil has some contraindications: pregnancy period, intestinal obstruction, individual sensitivity to components, ulcerative processes in the stomach.

Prevention of

It should be remembered that the main causes of problems with stools are malnutrition and a passive lifestyle. Therefore, you need to monitor your diet, eat more fruits and vegetables. It is also recommended to exclude harmful products: smoked products, sweets, fatty, spicy and salty.

An important way to prevent constipation remains an active lifestyle( walking outdoors, warm-up, with sedentary work).It is necessary to observe a diet, and also in time to empty the intestines, not postponing for later.

It should be noted that it is impossible to ignore the symptoms of the disease. It is important to consult a doctor at the first appearance of unpleasant symptoms. When you confirm the diagnosis, you can treat at home, but do not abuse self-treatment without consulting a specialist.