Constipation Explained
Just about everyone has trouble going to the bathroom at some point. Here is a list of typical constipation causes: inactivity, use of drugs, stress and anxiety, hypothyroidism, liver weakness, excessive use of laxatives, excessive use of enemas, a diet of processed foods, poor fiber intake, excessive bad bacteria in the colon, and colitis.
The frequency or time between bowel movements ranges widely from person to person. It may also be more difficult to pass stools and you Can you prevent constipation? may feel unable to empty your bowel completely. Colonic inertia: Your colon is not able to move stool efficiently to your bowels.
Because treatment with laxatives is unsatisfactory, it is important to assess anorectal functions in patients with refractory constipation Biofeedback therapy can improve coordination between abdominal contraction and pelvic floor relaxation during defecation, thereby alleviating symptoms.
A case series study (Meyer et al 1994) found that 39% of pregnant women reported symptoms of constipation at 14 weeks, 30% at 28 weeks and 20% at 36 weeks; this study may have resulted in overestimates, as routine iron supplementation was recommended for all pregnant women in the United Kingdom at the time the study was conducted.
Constipation is estimated to affect up to 28% of the population of the United States, most commonly older adults, women, and children, and results in more than $6.9 billion in medical costs.1 Constipation is usually intermittent and self-limiting, although some patients require intervention to achieve resolution.
Enterokinetic: Prucalopride succinate (ResotranŽ) works by targeting the serotonin (5-HT4) receptors in the digestive tract to stimulate motility (muscle movement) and has Health Canada approval for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation in women for whom laxative treatment has failed to provide relief.
Constipation is among the most common gastrointestinal problems in the United States, chronically affecting an estimated 16 out of 100 adults, with older people disproportionately affected, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Disease Diseases No matter what your age, though, you might find yourself constipated, says Ashley Houghteling , a nurse practitioner at Henry Ford Health System.
It should be noted that although that this is a long list of possibly worrisome causes of constipation, most chronic constipation is simply from inadequate intake of dietary fiber and water, and can be managed by substantially increasing the intake of both.
During the exam, the patient lies on his or her side, and the doctor inserts the tube through the anus and rectum into the colon. Bowel movements become less frequent. There is a close relationship between the muscles and nerves that control bladder functions and those that control bowel movements.
While treatment can help the child solve the problem, it is a chronic condition that has taken time to develop and will take time to correct. You may need to take an oral (by mouth) stool softener to make bowel movements easier. Constipation means that a person has three or fewer bowel movements in a week.