Published on Dec 07, 2022 and last reviewed on Jun 08, 2023 - 4 min read
Abstract
Constipation is a condition with fewer than three bowel movements in a week. The article explains the symptoms, causes, and treatment of constipation.
Introduction
Constipation is when a person has less than three bowel movements in a week with hard, dry, and lumpy stools. The person faces difficulties in passing the stool and feels that not all the stool has passed. However, constipation is not a disease; it is a normal disorder that can be an underlying symptom in some other diseases. The duration of constipation may vary from one person to another depending on the process of digestion, food intake, or the causing disease behind it. It is a common condition that can affect any age group or population.
Constipation can have more than one cause at a time.
The causes of constipation include:
Delayed movement of stool through the colon due to slow peristalsis. This can be due to any muscle which delays the muscle movements of the gastrointestinal tract.
Consumption of antacids which contain calcium and aluminum.
Anticholinergics which are used to treat the conditions of muscle spasms in the intestine, or antispasmodic drugs, may cause constipation.
Medications used to treat Parkinson's disease can also cause constipation. Parkinson's is a condition in which movement is altered due to the inability of nerve cells in the brain to produce a chemical called dopamine.
Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from entering the heart's blood vessels and muscle cells, thus relaxing the blood vessels.
Iron supplements in cases of vitamin or iron deficiency can also cause constipation.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a group of symptoms that occur in the abdomen, including constipation and abdominal pain.
Pelvic floor disorders are conditions in which the pelvic muscles or connective tissues get weak or injured, leading to delayed stool movement in the colon, thus causing constipation.
Some antidepressants used to treat anxiety and depression can also cause constipation.
The Mild Symptoms of Constipation Include:
Lesser than three bowel movements in a week.
Difficulty in passing out stools, which can be painful in some cases.
Hard, lumpy, and dry stools with a strong foul smell.
An unsatisfactory feeling of stool not passed completely from the rectum.
Sometimes bleeding from the anal lining due to very hard and dry stool.
Some of the Severe Symptoms of Constipation Are:
Bleeding from the rectum frequently during bowel movements.
Constant and prolonged pain in the abdomen.
Fever and pain in the back side of the abdomen.
Sudden weight loss and loss of appetite.
Medical and Family History: The history of any surgery in the gastrointestinal tract or anemia can be significant in diagnosing constipation. The periods of bowel movement and the details about the color and texture of stool are important to understand the cause of constipation.
Physical Examination: It involves palpation of the abdomen to check for any tenderness or swelling, listening to the sounds of the abdomen with the help of a stethoscope, and checking for chances of dehydration. It also includes a rectal examination to check for the presence of any infection or bleeding.
Blood Tests: Blood tests are suggested to investigate anemia, celiac disease, or conditions like hypothyroidism.
Stool Tests: Stool tests help to find traces of blood or other infectious microorganisms which can cause constipation.
Urine Tests: Urine tests to evaluate diseases such as diabetes.
Endoscopy: The doctor performs an endoscopy to look for any problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
Colonoscopy: A tube with a camera is inserted in the colon to look for any deformities in the large intestine.
Imaging Tests: Imaging tests include magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and lower gastrointestinal series.
The treatment for constipation includes the following factors:
Physical activities and exercises are also necessary for a good and regular bowel movement.
The doctor may advise having a specific bowel movement time that should be followed every day. In some cases, a bowel movement every day after breakfast can be tried as the food intake stimulates the colon to pass feces to the rectum.
Prevent the consumption of some medicines or healthcare supplements that can cause constipation.
The doctor can also advise using laxatives in cases of severe constipation, but always for a short duration, as it can lead to diarrhea.
Several stimulants or stool softeners can be advised to cure constipation.
The doctor may advise medicines such as Lubiprostone which helps to increase fluid in the body, makes the stool softer and reduces abdominal pain. Biofeedback therapy can be recommended by healthcare professionals to change musculature movements in cases of constipation due to weak muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.
Surgery is advised in cases of rectal prolapse where there can be a blockage in the path of stool.
Conclusion:
Constipation is a common phenomenon that affects almost every human being sometimes in life. However, if the situation persists for a long duration, it can cause severe issues and infection. So the treatment of constipation is important. The symptoms of constipation include hard, dry stools with difficulty in bowel movements.
Constipation is characterized by the painful and delayed movement of stools from the digestive tract. A constipated person experiences the following:
- Pain or straining on bowel movements.
- Lumpy or hard stools.
- Blockage in the rectum.
- The person feels that he cannot completely pass stools through the rectum.
Constipation is a medical terminology for painful or difficult bowel movements. The two types of constipation are described below:
- Primary Constipation - It implies that constipation is the major problem and is not the symptom of underlying medical diseases. The other types of primary constipation include the following
- Outlet constipation.
- Slow transit constipation.
- Normal transit constipation.
- Secondary Constipation - It occurs due to underlying medical conditions.
Constipation is not a medical emergency or a life-threatening condition. However, the patient might need to visit the emergency room if he did not have bowel movements for prolonged periods. In addition, the condition can turn serious if constipation symptoms are accompanied by bloating or severe abdominal pain.
Stimulant laxatives have proven effective in providing fast relief against constipation. Bisacodyl is one of the most commonly used stimulant laxatives that elevates the fluid and salt levels in the intestines. As a result, bowel movements occur within 15 to 60 minutes.
People with constipation rarely experience any complications in the long run. However, if left untreated for prolonged periods, constipation symptoms can worsen, resulting in piles or hemorrhoids, blockage of the rectum due to the presence of hard stools, and bowel incontinence or leakage of watery stools.
A person need not be worried about the occasional episodes of constipation. However, the patient must consult the doctor under the following circumstances:
- Presence of blood in stools.
- Abdominal pain, vomiting, or nausea.
- Family history or colorectal cancer.
- The person has been constipated for more than three weeks.
Several food items can worsen or ease the symptoms of constipation. Hence, a constipated person must avoid the following foods:
- Unripe bananas.
- Caffeine.
- Chewing gums.
- Processed grains.
- Alcohol.
- Gluten-containing foods.
- Dairy products.
- Red meat.
- Fried or fast foods.
- Eggs.
A constipated patient must rest a firm pillow between the knees and the other pillow to support the spine. People who sleep on their left side get relieved of constipation symptoms easily. This is because gravity allows the passage of waste from the ascending to the transverse colon and finally to the descending colon. Finally, one has easy bowel movements in the morning.
Constipation can make a person sick if left unattended for a long. It results in the buildup of stools in the intestine and food in the stomach. As a result, the equilibrium of gut bacteria gets disturbed, resulting in nausea, vomiting, bloating, or abdominal pain.
Drinking plenty of water or staying hydrated is one of the best measures to get rid of constipation. Warm water provides an additional benefit because it helps in the breakdown of food, stimulates bowel movements, and reduces the risk of pain and straining during bowel movements.
The most significant fact to be noted is that bed rest does not cure constipation. Rather it increases the risk of constipation because people who stay in bed for long have reduced bowel movements. Immobility or bed rest reduces colon contractions resulting in delayed bowel movements.
Last reviewed at:
08 Jun 2023 - 4 min read
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