Mayo Clinic Q and A: Dealing with chronic constipation

• By

  Liza Torborg

  August 2, 2019

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is it safe to take a stool softener daily to prevent constipation? What are the side effects of doing so long-term?

ANSWER: There currently isn’t any research that has examined the specific long-term side effects of taking a stool softener every day. While the risks associated with taking this kind of over-the-counter medication daily are not likely to be significant, it would be a good idea to talk with your health care provider about your symptoms. Although uncommon, an underlying health condition could be part of the problem.

Constipation typically is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements a week or other symptoms (e.g., hard stools, excessive straining, or a sense of incomplete evacuation after defecation). Chronic constipation refers to these symptoms when they last for several weeks or longer.

Constipation is a common problem,
and there are many types of laxatives available to help treat it. Stool
softeners, also called emollients, work by drawing fluids into stools, which is
supposed to make them softer. This may make it easier to have a bowel movement
without straining.

Over-the-counter stool softeners are
effective for some people. However, in controlled clinical trials, there is no
evidence that they improve symptoms. While they only are intended for
short-term relief of constipation, using a daily stool softener long-term
probably is not harmful. But there are other ways to help relieve constipation
that often are successful.

Your diet often is one of the main
drivers behind constipation. For many people, dietary changes can be an
effective way to relieve constipation. One example is adding fiber to your diet,
which may increase the weight of your stool and speed its passage through your
intestines. Good sources of fiber include fresh fruits and green, leafy vegetables,
as well as whole-grain breads and cereals. That said, do not add a significant
amount of fiber to your diet quickly. A sudden increase in the amount of fiber
you eat can cause bloating and gas, so start slowly.

When constipation is a problem,
limit foods that can make it worse. In particular, try to avoid foods such as pastries, puddings, sugar, candy, cake and
cheese.

Fluid intake can have an effect on
your bowel function, too. A good goal is to drink 8 ounces of fluid six to
eight times a day. Water is the best choice, but other liquids also can help
you get the fluid you need each day.

A lack of physical activity may contribute
to constipation. If you do not exercise regularly, consider adding some type of
physical activity to your daily routine. This can help relieve constipation.

Depending on your medical history and your symptoms, your health care provider may want to evaluate you for an underlying medical condition that could lead to chronic constipation. For example, a blockage in the colon or rectum or impaired relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles may result in constipation. Nerve and muscle problems can affect the muscles in the colon and rectum, making it difficult for stool to move through the intestines. Conditions such as diabetes and thyroid disorders may change the balance of hormones in your body, and that can result in chronic constipation as well.

If you do not have a medical issue causing constipation, discuss with your health care provider the best way to manage your condition. Depending on your individual circumstances, a daily stool softener or another simple laxative may be an appropriate remedy. Changing your diet and making other lifestyle changes also are likely to have a positive effect. — Dr. Adil E. Bharucha, Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

****************************

Related Articles

• Mayo Clinic discovery is first step toward new bacteria-based constipation treatment published 6/13/18
• Mayo Clinic Q and A: What’s the best way to boost your fiber intake? published 5/15/18
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Constipation concerns and women published 5/16/17
• Women’s Wellness: Why can’t I poop? published 2/8/17

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Colace Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

Uses

This medication is used to treat occasional constipation. Some medications and conditions can make constipation more likely. Stool softeners such as docusate are often the first method used for preventing and treating this type of constipation. Docusate is often used when straining to have a bowel movement should be avoided (such as after a heart attack or surgery).Docusate is a stool softener. It works by increasing the amount of water the stool absorbs in the gut, making the stool softer and easier to pass. Relief is usually seen in 1 to 3 days with this medication. Check the ingredients on the label even if you have used the product before. The manufacturer may have changed the ingredients. Also, products with similar names may contain different ingredients meant for different purposes. Taking the wrong product could harm you.

How to use Colace

If you are taking the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read and follow all directions on the product package before taking this medication. If you have any questions, consult your pharmacist. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, take it as directed.

Take this medication by mouth, usually at bedtime with a full glass (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) of water or juice, or as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition, age, and response to treatment.

If you are using the liquid form of this medication, measure the dose carefully using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. If you are using the drops, measure the medication with the dropper provided, or use a dose-measuring spoon or device to make sure you have the correct dose. Mix the syrup, liquid or drops in 4 to 8 ounces of fruit juice, milk or infant formula to prevent throat irritation and mask a bitter taste.

Use this medication only when needed. Do not use this product for more than 1 week unless directed by your doctor.

Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often or for longer than directed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase.

If your condition lasts or gets worse, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, get medical help right away.

Side Effects

Stomach pain, diarrhea, or cramping may occur. Irritated throat (with liquid or syrup forms) may also occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: rectal bleeding.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking docusate, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication: severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, sudden change in bowel habits over the previous 2 weeks.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using this medication.

It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.

A product that may interact with this drug is: mineral oil.

Does Colace interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Do not share this medication with others.

Keep all medical and lab appointments.

To prevent constipation, eat dietary fiber, drink enough water, and exercise. Use this medication for temporary relief of constipation only. To prevent becoming dependent on laxatives, do not take this medication for a long period of time.

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Use your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Images

Colace 100 mg capsule

Color: red,whiteShape: ovalImprint: RPC 053

This medicine is a red white, oval, capsule imprinted with “RPC 053”.

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Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.

What will happen to the body if you drink a glass of vodka every day. Doctor – about what will happen to your body after alcohol – October 22, 2022

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A glass of vodka – how is it in Russian. ..

Photo: Evgenia Abzhueva / City portals

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Who among us in chilly weather or in a difficult situation was not advised to drink a glass of vodka: they say, you will warm up immediately, let go a little. Yes, and under the appetite during a magnificent lunch or dinner. Remember how beautifully all this is presented in Bulgakov’s Heart of a Dog:

– Dr. Bormental, I beg you, leave the caviar alone! And if you want to listen to good advice, pour not English, but ordinary Russian vodka.

For many, it is quite like a guide to action: if a professor of medicine does not deny himself the pleasure, why mere mortals abstain. Moreover, Preobrazhensky says that vodka must certainly be only 40 degrees and not lower.

In fact, it is unlikely that doctors will advise you to roll the treasured hundred grams every day during lunch to satisfy your appetite, not to mention more substantial doses.

“Doctor Peter” asked the vascular surgeon Alexei Svetlikov about this.

Aleksey Svetlikov — Chief Vascular Surgeon of the FGBU SZONKTs im. L.G. Sokolov FMBA of Russia.

“If alcohol enters the body every day, it can harm the bacteria in the stomach that are responsible for normal digestion,” explains vascular surgeon Alexei Svetlikov. – Having a high acidity index, alcoholic beverages can damage the walls of the stomach and intestines.

Many people think that a small amount of vodka is good for you. It is even believed that a glass or a glass of vodka improves appetite and normalizes sleep, the doctor says.

“But in fact, all alcoholic drinks have a detrimental effect on health, no matter how much they are consumed,” the doctor warns. — Alcohol affects almost all organs at once. The liver, stomach, heart and brain are especially affected.

— Of course, vodka has benefits, but only when it is used for other purposes, explains Alexey Svetlikov. – So, this drink is considered an excellent external antibacterial and antifungal agent, which can treat wounds and insect bites. Wipe furniture and things with vodka to get rid of bacteria and odors. You can add a small amount of vodka to dishes, for example, in the ear. But this is more for taste, and not for good. In all other cases, vodka is very detrimental to health.

– It is worth remembering that women are allowed to consume no more than 30 grams of spirits per day, and men – no more than 50. That is, drunk 100 grams already exceed the allowed limit. With the daily use of vodka, the mental state of a person is disturbed, as there is a detrimental effect on the nervous system. There are malfunctions in the vestibular apparatus, serious memory problems begin.

• Pancreatitis;
• cancer;
• alcoholic hepatitis;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• hypertension;
• ischemic heart disease;
• atherosclerosis and others.

Even 100 grams of alcohol is enough to increase blood pressure for several days at once, and significantly change the work of the cardiovascular system.

— I advise everyone to watch the film “One more time” — it shows the fate of people who drink alcohol every day, especially in large quantities, very concretely, — sums up the doctor Alexei Svetlikov.

Previously, “Dr. Peter” told what kind of alcohol raises cholesterol the most.

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Log in 0 It would be more correct to call herbal teas not teas, but herbal drinks, because they contain or there is no tea leaf at all, or there is very little of it.

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Meadowsweet.

Lungwort.

St. John’s wort.

Cuff.

Rosehip flowers.

Serpenthead.

Raspberry leaves.

Lemongrass.

‹

›

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What do centenarians drink?

More than once I had to drink a delicious drink from a mixture of thyme, lime blossom and lungwort with Ivan Manokhin, a long-liver of the village of Yasnaya Polyana. He was 103 years old! Yes, and the eminent owner of the Yasnaya Polyana estate, Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, until a very old age, preferred a drink from chicory roots grown and crushed with his own hands.

In mountainous Dagestan, I once met elderly bearded aksakal shepherds (the eldest was 105!), who used fresh rosehip roots as tea brewing. I remember a dark pink, rich color and an unusual aroma, much more pleasant than the one that the fruits give. No less original tea from heather, prepared according to an old recipe, was once given to me by the foresters of the Bryansk region.

However, even in Ancient Rus’, drinks from herbs and roots were consumed long before the advent of overseas tea (it was brought to us less than 300 years ago). And right up to the beginning of the last century, “explosions” from blackcurrant and raspberry shoots, and also Ivan-tea (fireweed) were drunk when they wanted to avoid a cold and restore strength after hard work. And, as follows from the biographies of those years, herbal preparations were used not as an “ambulance”, but constantly, day after day, which was already a habit. And only with the introduction to imported long leaf tea, many recipes and the herbal preparations themselves were gradually forgotten.

According to the recipes of ancestors

Interest in the search and collection of fragrant herbs originated in me in my early childhood. I remember for the rest of my life how with grandfather Ivan, a native of the Tula hinterland, we spent hours wandering through the tall forbs in search of perfumed “miracle herbs”, inexpressibly rejoicing at every find that replenished our bouquets. Then grandfather lovingly laid out everything he got on special shelves and dried it for a long time. And it filled the house with an incomparable aroma, when all the surrounding air became flower-spicy for a long time.

Since then, the aroma of healing herbs has been associated with the half-forgotten world of childhood and family roots. I returned to them only many years later, when I began to collect bit by bit valuable information about useful stems and roots in reference books and authoritative scientific books.

Here is a list of the most popular medicinal plants for the most common ailments.

Strengthen the cardiovascular system: hawthorn (along with fruits – flowers and leaves), St. John’s wort, nettle, lovage, coltsfoot (flowers and leaves), calendula, buckwheat (flowering stems), lemon balm, borage, motherwort, meadowsweet , yarrow, chicory (roots and stems).

Reduce pressure: barberry, initial letter, strawberries (flowers and leaves), sweet clover, chokeberry (fruits and leaves), knotweed, succession.

Increase pressure: lemongrass, golden root, rosemary.

Normalize the function of the gastrointestinal tract: anise (seeds and leaves), bergenia, young birch, currant, apple tree leaves, as well as hyssop, fireweed, chamomile, gout, lingonberry (leaves), oregano, blackberry (leaves), cuff, mint , knotweed, thyme, cumin (seeds and leaves), yarrow, chaga, nettle (deaf nettle).

They have a high-vitamin, general strengthening effect: young leaves of birch, maple, sea buckthorn, black currant, raspberry, lingonberry, blackberry, as well as nettle, sour, primrose, gout, sea buckthorn berries, viburnum, red mountain ash, actinidia, rose hips and leaves.

Noticeably tone up: eleutherococcus, aralia, leuzea, lemongrass.

They soothe and eliminate insomnia: valerian roots, cyanosis, heather, oregano, St. John’s wort, catnip, lemon balm, eryngium, hops, Baikal skullcap.

Eliminate headache: fireweed, clover, primrose, lavender, verbena.

Increase immunity, resistance to disease: ginseng, aralia, eleutherococcus, leuzea, chicory, wild rose, viburnum, hazel, sea buckthorn, dandelion, strawberries.

On the eve of the season

It is important not to miss the moment of the richest accumulation of nutrients in plants. So, in currant, hawthorn, birch, it occurs only during the blooming of leaves (in late April – early May), and, for example, in sea buckthorn – in August. Moreover, freshly picked leaves and flowers are usually richer than dried ones, especially those that have been stored for a long time.

I usually brew the first vitamin teas that increase the overall tone on April 13-15 from the flowers of the coltsfoot golden in the sun, although they are with obvious bitterness. The second collection – April 23-25 ​​- from a blooming lungwort, the third – from catkins dusting with yellow pollen willow bredina, and the fifth – from a mixture of young, just blossoming leaves of currant, birch, maple, nettle.

The main collections of herbs fall at the beginning of summer, when they bloom, or rather, begin to bloom. In the forbs thickening before our eyes – in the forest, in the meadow and in the gardens – you can collect tea leaves for every taste.

In June, the leaves and flowers of wild strawberries, fireweed, raspberries, hawthorn, blackberries, blueberries, lingonberries are harvested, and in July – blooming shoots of thyme, oregano, mint, cuff, catnip.

“Tea brew” grows not only in the field, but also in the garden, on trees and shrubs. Gather and taste the leaves and flowers of cherry, apple, pear, and rose hips. By the way, at rose hips they are no less tasty than fruits, only with a peculiar astringency.

Favorite brew

Over the years, I have tried at least 100 different herbs, leaves and flowers as tea leaves. Both individually and in mixtures in various combinations. Most of all, I am not indifferent to meadowsweet meadowsweet (another name is meadowsweet, although people often call it honey cake – for its honey aroma). In France, the meadowsweet is considered the queen of the meadows and is brewed in the treatment of almost all diseases.

The favorite habitats of meadowsweet are water meadows, damp sunny and sometimes shaded copses, clearings, banks of rivers and streams. From mid-June until almost the end of summer, tall meadowsweet bushes bloom wildly, releasing large creamy-white panicles from small five-petalled flowers that exude an incomparable fragrance. It is better to collect its incompletely blossomed inflorescences in early July. And immediately after collection, lay out in a thin layer in the shade, in a well-ventilated place, on a sheet of cardboard or plywood. It is best to store the herb in tightly closed jars.

Tea from a mixture of equal parts of meadowsweet and ordinary black tea is good to drink all year round – this, as a rule, allows you not to catch a cold and normalizes blood pressure.

Often I also drink other flower-herbal teas, which consist of leaves of apple mint, barberry, lemongrass, sage, rose hips, linden, as well as rose hips and red ash. And at the end of June, during the flowering of mock orange (we usually call it jasmine), I do not miss the chance to make an extremely fragrant tea with a delicate unusual taste from its fresh flowers.

It is clear that most plants are not a fast-acting pill, but rather a delayed, cumulative prophylactic.

Especially about the taste of healing teas. Most often they are “herbal” and, frankly, not very tasty. However, there is always the opportunity to improve them by adding to any collection a herb with a pleasant aroma, such as peppermint or apple mint, lemon balm, catnip, linden flowers, mock orange, as well as hyssop, snakehead, oregano, lemongrass, fruits, rosehip flowers and root, cherry leaves . You can add to herbal tea and a little freshly brewed long leaf tea, a slice of lemon or a spoonful of honey.

Healthy herb patch

Many of the plants that are needed for tea often grow in the nearest meadow or right outside the garden fence. Just usually in different places. In order not to waste time and effort searching for them, it makes sense to allocate a separate bed in the garden for planting. For example, St. John’s wort, wild strawberries, oregano, apple mint and meadowsweet grow in my garden.

I allocated a separate place for valuable perennials from the Far East and North America, which you will not find in Russia either in the forest or in the field: Manchurian aralia, eleutherococcus, lemongrass, actinidia and beautifully blooming echinacea.

Planting material for most plants is now quite realistic to purchase: it is often sold in stores and garden centers that sell seeds and seedlings.

When choosing a place for planting useful herbs, proceed from the fact that their rapid growth with regular “cutting” is possible on medium-fertile soil, but with constant replenishment of nutrients through regular top dressing. However, “those from the wild” always prefer organic fertilizers. In the bed between the rows in spring and autumn, it is advisable to add compost or well-rotted manure, and in their absence, ready-made organic granules. Weak aqueous solutions of organics are also useful. And of course, from time to time, plants require weeding, and in case of drought – abundant watering. However, all the worries about healthy herbs will be more than compensated by a noticeable improvement in your health!

***

Delicious teas

Herbal tea recipes offered by pharmacist Natalya Zamyatina

● Badan leaf – 3 parts, raspberry leaves, black currant and oregano grass – 1 part each. Fortifying tea.

● Melissa or catnip, St. John’s wort, hawthorn flowers or fruits, linden flowers, mint leaves – in equal parts. The tea has a mild sedative effect.

● Leaves of lemon balm or catnip, chamomile flowers, yarrow grass, thyme grass – in equal parts. Fortifying tea.

● Black elderberry fruits – 2 parts, linden flowers and thyme grass – 1 part each. Tea is not only tasty, but also helps with back pain and neuralgia.

● Chamomile, thyme grass, peppermint leaf – in equal parts. Fragrant tea that improves digestion, relieves bloating, soothes.

● Blackberry leaves, raspberries, nettles, strawberries and apple peel – in equal parts. Vitamin tea that improves digestion.

● St. John’s wort, mint leaf, sage leaf – 2 parts each, chamomile, bergenia leaf, thyme grass – 1 part each. Tea reduces the acidity of gastric juice. Recommended for gastritis with high acidity and stomach ulcers (2-3 cups a day).

● Rose hips, black currant, mountain ash and nettle leaf – in equal parts. Vitamin tea is also used for gout, rheumatism and arthritis.

● Leaves of raspberries, blackberries, black currants, white acacia flowers – in equal parts. Tea is not only tasty, but also regulates metabolism, “purifies the blood.”

● Nettle, rose hips and black currant, dried carrot root – in equal amounts. Tea has a vitamin effect.

Collect “tea” herbs on a sunny day after the dew dries. Herbs with strong stems are tied into loose bundles and hung to dry in a ventilated dark place. In tender plants, the leaves are torn off the stems and scattered on a frame covered with gauze, or a sheet of cardboard.