A Silent Killer Affecting Our Bodies - Constipation

Health Tip - Constipation

                                                        

Constipation means hard stools, difficulty passing stools (straining), or a sense of incomplete emptying after a bowel movement.

                                                 

Medically Constipation is defined as fewer than three bowel movements per week.

Severe Constipation is defined as less than one bowel movement per week.

Your bowel movement generally decreases with age, 95% of adults have bowel movements between 3-21 times per week.

Constipation can be caused by the slow passage of digesting food through any part of the intestine.

Causes of Constipation:

• Poor digestion
• Medications (pain medications codeine/Tylenol #3, oxycodone/Percocet, and hydromorphone/Dilaudid):
• Antidepressants
• Anticonvulsants
• Iron suppliments
• Calcium channel blocking drugs
• Aluminum-containing antacids
• Poor bowel habits
• Lack of exercise
• Stress
• Low fiber diets
• Abuse/overuse of laxatives
• Hormonal disorders (too little)
• Magnesium deficiency
• Diseases of other parts of the body (colon)
• Central nervous system disease
• Underactive thyroid
• Pelvic floor dysfunction

Two disorders limited to the colon that cause constipation are colonic inertia and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Signs that you are Constipated:

• Straining at least 25% of the time
• Releasing lumpy or hard stools
• Sensation of feces still inside of you (incomplete evacuation) after a bowel movement
• Sensation of a blockage or obstruction during a bowel movement
• Needing assistance from laxatives, enemas or other measures
• Fewer than three bowel movements a week
• Hard stools unless you use laxatives

If you answer yes to at least two of the above symptoms you are Constipated.

Diagnosing Constipation:

• Medical history
• Physical examination
• Blood tests
• Abdominal X-ray
• Barium enema
• Colonic transit (marker) studies
• Defecography
• Ano-rectal motility studies
• Magnetic resonance imaging defecography
• Colonic motility studies

Treatments for Constipation: 

• Dietary fiber (bulk-forming laxatives)
• Increase fruits and vegetables
• Increase fiber - Most common sources are:
• Fruits and vegetables
• Wheat or oat bran
• Psyllium seed
• Synthetic methyl cellulose
• Polycarbophil
• Lubricant laxatives
• Emollient laxatives (stool softeners)
• Hyperosmolar laxatives
• Saline laxatives
• Stimulant laxatives
• Tegaserod (Zelnorm)
• Lubiprostone (Amitiza)
• Enemas
• Suppositories
• Combination products ( senna and psyllium)
• Exercise
• Surgery

 A lesser know source is malt which helps soften stool versus increasing fiber in the body.

Do not become dependent on laxatives or other sources to help you release bowels from your body. Laxatives do force bowel movements but it will make your colon sluggish and lazy and can cause dependency.

    Versus       


A quick fix is to eat your calories not drink your calories.
YOU! have to eat to ensure that every organ in your body is functioning well to ensure bowel release.

Never! never suppress urges to Go (defecate) to the bathroom.



Clean the area (toilet) and Go!
The bathroom is a place to release toxins from your body.
 It is not to be a smell good place.

Remember!

Become your own Health Advocate pay attention to your body today.

                    

Go back and check out our Health Tip  on Hemorrhoids April 11-15, 2011

Information is Power!

For more information go to www.WebMD.com, www.Ask.com, www.medicinenet.com, www.constipation.emedtv.com

Live well

Doc V