What is Constipation?
Having fewer than three bowel movements a week is, technically, the definition of constipation. However, how often you “go” varies widely from person to person. Some people have bowel movements several times a day while others have them only one to two times a week. Whatever your bowel movement pattern is, it’s unique and normal for you – as long as you don’t stray too far from your pattern.
Regardless of your bowel pattern, one fact is certain: the longer you go before you “go,” the more difficult it becomes for stool/poop to pass. Other key features that usually define constipation include:
• Your stools are dry and hard.
• Your bowel movement is painful and stools are difficult to pass.
• You have a feeling that you have not fully emptied your bowels.
Regardless of your bowel pattern, one fact is certain: the longer you go before you “go,” the more difficult it becomes for stool/poop to pass. Other key features that usually define constipation include:
1. Your stools are dry and hard.
2. Your bowel movement is painful and stools are difficult to pass.
3. You have a feeling that you have not fully emptied your bowels.
People of all ages can have an occasional bout of constipation. There are also certain people and situations that are more likely to lead to becoming more consistently constipated (“chronic constipation”). These include:
1. Older age. Older people tend to be less active, have a slower metabolism, and have less muscle contraction strength along their digestive tract than when they were younger.
2. Being a woman, especially while you are pregnant and after childbirth. Changes in a woman’s hormones make them more prone to constipation. The baby inside the uterus squishes the intestines, slowing down the passage of stool.
3. Not eating enough high-fiber foods. High-fiber foods keep food moving through the digestive system.
4. Taking certain medications (see causes).
5. Having certain neurological (diseases of the brain and spinal cord) and digestive disorders (see causes).
What does Constipation Happen?
Constipation happens because your colon absorbs too much water from waste (stool/poop), which dries out the stool making it hard in consistency and difficult to push out of the body.
To back up a bit, as food normally moves through the digestive tract, nutrients are absorbed. The partially digested food (waste) that remains moves from the small intestine to the large intestine, also called the colon. The colon absorbs water from this waste, which creates a solid matter called stool. If you have constipation, food may move too slowly through the digestive tract. This gives the colon more time – too much time – to absorb water from the waste. The stool becomes dry, hard, and difficult to push out.
It’s often difficult to identify the exact cause of constipation. However, there are a number of things that contribute to the condition, including:
1. Not eating enough fiber, such as fruit, vegetables, and cereals
2. A change in your routine or lifestyle, such as a change in your eating habits
3. Ignoring the urge to pass stools
4. Side effects of certain medications
5. Not drinking enough fluids
In children, poor diet, fear about using the toilet, and problems toilet training can all lead to constipation.
Causes of Constipation:
There are many causes of constipation – lifestyle choices, medications, medical conditions, and pregnancy.
Common lifestyle causes of constipation include:
• Eating foods low in fiber.
• Not drinking enough water (dehydration).
• Not getting enough exercise.
• Changes in your regular routine, such as traveling or eating or going to bed at different times.
• Eating large amounts of milk or cheese.
• Stress.
• Resisting the urge to have a bowel movement.
Medications that can cause constipation include:
• Strong pain medicines, like narcotics containing codeine, oxycodone
• Antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
• Antacids containing calcium or aluminum, such as Tums®.
• Iron pills.
• Allergy medications, such as antihistamines
• Certain blood pressure medicines, including calcium channel blockers.
• Psychiatric medications, like clozapine
• Anticonvulsant/seizure medications, such as phenytoin and gabapentin.
• Antinausea medications, like ondansetron
Many drugs can cause constipation. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.
Medical and health conditions that can cause constipation include:
• Endocrine conditions, like underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), diabetes, uremia and hypercalcemia.
• Colorectal cancer.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Diverticular disease.
• Outlet dysfunction constipation. (A defect in the coordination of pelvic floor muscles. These muscles support the organs within the pelvis and lower abdomen. They are needed to help release stool.)
• Neurologic disorders, including spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.
• Lazy bowel syndrome. The colon contracts poorly and retains stool.
• Intestinal obstruction.
• Structural defects in the digestive tract (like fistula, colonic atresia, volvulus, intussusception, imperforate anus or malrotation.)
• Multiple organ diseases, such as amyloidosis, lupus and scleroderma.
• Pregnancy.
Your colon’s main job is to absorb water from residual food as it’s passing through your digestive system. It then creates stool (waste).
The colon’s muscles eventually propel the waste out through the rectum to be eliminated. If stool remains in the colon too long, it can become hard and difficult to pass.
Poor diet frequently causes constipation. Dietary fiber and adequate water intake are necessary to help keep stools soft.
Fiber-rich foods are usually plant-based. Fiber comes in soluble and insoluble forms. Soluble fiber can dissolve in water and creates a soft, gel-like material as it passes through the digestive system.
Insoluble fiber retains most of its structure as it goes through the digestive system. Both forms of fiber join with stool, increasing its weight and size while also softening it. This makes it easier to pass through the rectum.
Stress, changes in routine, and conditions that slow muscle contractions of the colon or delay your urge to go may also lead to constipation.
Common causes of constipation include:
- Low fiber diet, particularly diets high in meat, milk, or cheese
- Dehydration
- Low exercise levels
- Delaying the impulse to have a bowel movement
- Travel or other changes in routine
- Medications, including certain antacids, pain medications, diuretics, and some treatments for Parkinson’s disease
- Pregnancy
- Older age (constipation affects around one-third Trusted Source of people ages 60 and over)
Symptoms of Constipation:
Signs and symptoms of chronic constipation include:
• Passing fewer than three stools a week
• Having lumpy or hard stools
• Straining to have bowel movements
• Feeling as though there’s a blockage in your rectum that prevents bowel movements
• Feeling as though you can’t completely empty the stool from your rectum
• Needing help to empty your rectum, such as using your hands to press on your abdomen and using a finger to remove stool from your rectum
Constipation may be considered chronic if you’ve experienced two or more of these symptoms for the last three months.
1. You have fewer than three bowel movements a week.
2. Your stools are dry, hard, and/or lumpy.
3. Your stools are difficult or painful to pass.
4. You have a stomach ache or cramps.
5. You feel bloated and nauseous.
You feel that you haven’t completely emptied your bowels after a movement.
How is constipation treated?
Self-care
Most cases of mild to moderate constipation can be managed by you at home. Self-care starts by taking an inventory of what you eat and drink and then making changes.
Some recommendations to help relieve your constipation include:
- Drink two to four extra glasses of water a day. Avoid caffeine-containing drinks and alcohol, which can cause dehydration.
- Add fruits, vegetables whole grains, and other high-fiber foods to your diet. Eat fewer high-fat foods, like meat, eggs, and cheese.
- Eat prunes and/or bran cereal.
- Keep a food diary and single out foods that constipate you.
- Get moving, exercise.
- Check how you sit on the toilet. Raising your feet, leaning back or squatting may make having a bowel movement easier.
- Add an over-the-counter supplemental fiber to your diet
- If needed, take a very mild over-the-counter stool softener or laxative (such as docusate [Colace®] or Milk of Magnesia®). Mineral oil enemas, like Fleet®, and stimulant laxatives, like bisacodyl (Dulcolax®) or senna (Senokot®), are other options. There are many laxative choices. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for help in making a choice. Do not use laxatives for more than two weeks without calling your doctor. Overuse of laxatives can worsen your symptoms.
- Do not read, or use your phone or other devices while trying to move your bowels.
Herbal for Constipation
With the use of herbal medicine, a person can easily get rid of constipation. Take proper medications with lukewarm water and do it constantly on the daily basis. Having herbal medicines have no side effects.
Usage/Dosage:
Constipation Churana:- 5 to 10 gm at night before sleep. For good results take it for 6-12 months regularly.
Digestive Syrup:- 2.5 ml – 5.0 ml for children 5ml-10ml. For Adults: 2-3 times a day or as directed by your physician.
Anti Pollution Drops:- Take 10 drops in one glass of water twice a day on an empty stomach or an hour before morning & evening meal. Use daily for 3-6 months for better results.
Antaacid Syrup:- One tablespoon twice a day after a meal or as directed by your physician.
Product Description:
Constipation Churana:- Regularises Bowel Movements, Relieves Constipation, Natural Bowel Cleanser, Support Healthy digestion and Absorption
Digestive Syrup:- Improves endurance, Improves muscle weight. Improves health & stamina, gains body weight naturally, Regulates body metabolism and Contains pure herbal extract.
Anti Pollution Drops:- It is a natural approach to a unique pattern of symptoms i.e., headache, stomach problems, low energy, respiratory, cold, flu, allergies, etc, It is an anti-bacterial and anti-infective, It gives complete wisdom to body to move toward healing itself the help of natural sources.
Antaacid Syrup: To relieve symptoms of belching, bloating, discomfort in the stomach, Relief Acid in digestion, Relief of Heartburn, and Relief of Stomach upset.