What is constipation? How can we identify it in children? What are the causes and concerns? Discover the answers to these pressing questions and more in our detailed article.

Understanding Childhood Constipation

Constipation is a common challenge faced by children, where they struggle to pass stool regularly or experience discomfort during bowel movements. This condition can manifest in various ways, such as decreased frequency of bowel movements, hard and dry stools, difficulty in passing stool, and even unexpected leakage or soiling of the underwear.

Identifying the Signs of Constipation

Parents and caregivers should be aware of the telltale signs of constipation in children. These may include:

• Decreased frequency of bowel movements, sometimes skipping days between pooping
• Hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass
• Straining or pain during bowel movements
• Abdominal bloating, cramping, or discomfort
• Small, liquid stools or smears of stool in the child’s underwear (a condition called “encopresis”)

Uncovering the Causes of Constipation

In many cases, the exact reason for a child’s constipation may not be readily apparent. This is often referred to as “functional constipation.” However, there are several factors that can contribute to this issue, including:

1. Dietary factors: Consuming too many foods high in fat and low in fiber, such as “fast foods” and “junk foods,” as well as insufficient water intake.
2. Lack of physical activity: Children who spend excessive time watching TV or playing video games may not be getting enough exercise, which can affect their bowel function.
3. Behavioral factors: Some children may resist potty training or feel uncomfortable using public or school bathrooms, leading them to hold back the urge to have a bowel movement.

Potential Concerns and Complications

While constipation can be a source of discomfort for children, it can also lead to more serious complications if left untreated. These concerns include:

• Anal fissures: Hard stools can cause small tears in the anus, leading to pain and bleeding.
• Hemorrhoids: Straining during bowel movements can cause swollen and inflamed blood vessels around the anus, causing burning pain and bleeding.
• Fecal impaction: When a child holds in their stool, it can build up in the rectum, becoming larger and harder to pass. This can lead to “encopresis,” where liquid stool leaks around the impaction and causes involuntary soiling.

Diagnosing and Evaluating Constipation

During a medical evaluation, a healthcare provider will gather information about your child’s medical history and conduct a physical examination. They may ask questions such as:

• When did your child have their first bowel movement as a newborn?
• How often does your child have bowel movements?
• Does your child complain of pain during bowel movements?
• Have you been actively trying to toilet train your child lately?
• What is your child’s typical diet, and do they drink enough water?
• Has your child experienced any increased stress or life changes recently?
• Does your child soil their underwear, and if so, how often?

Depending on the findings, the healthcare provider may recommend additional tests, such as an abdominal X-ray, contrast enema, anorectal manometry, or a rectal biopsy, to help identify the underlying cause of the constipation.

Developing a Tailored Treatment Plan

The treatment plan for a child’s constipation will be based on a variety of factors, including the identified cause, dietary needs, the child’s age and overall health, the duration of the constipation, and the child’s ability to tolerate medications, tests, or therapies. The healthcare team will work closely with the family to determine the most appropriate course of action and monitor the child’s progress over time.

The Outlook for Children with Constipation

The outlook for children with constipation can vary depending on the underlying cause and the effectiveness of the chosen treatment plan. With proper diagnosis, a tailored approach, and consistent management, many children with constipation can experience significant improvement and a resolution of their symptoms. However, in some cases, chronic or recurrent constipation may require ongoing care and monitoring.

Constipation | Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Constipation is a common problem for children. Children who are constipated will often hold in their poop and try not to go to the bathroom. Children will tighten their bottoms, cry, scream, hide in corners, cross their legs, shake, get red in the face or dance around to try to hold in their poop. Parents / family / caregivers think children are trying to pass poop when actually children are trying to hold in the poop.

When your child is having trouble with constipation, he / she may have:

• A decrease in how often he / she poops, may skip days between pooping
• Hard, dry poop
• Trouble pushing poop out of his / her rectum
• Pain with pooping
• Abdominal bloating, cramping or pain
• Small liquid stools or smears of stool in his / her underwear

Causes of Constipation

Most times, there are no exact reasons why children have trouble with constipation. Your child’s healthcare team might call this “functional constipation.” Some things that might add to your child’s trouble with constipation are:

Diet: Some children eat too many foods that are high in fat and low in fiber (“fast foods” “junk foods” and colas). Also, some children do not drink enough water.

Lack of exercise: Exercise helps move food through the intestines. Children who watch too much TV or play too many video games may not be getting enough exercise.

“Busy” children: Some children are too busy playing and forget to go to the bathroom. They ignore their bodies’ signals that it is time to go sit and poop.

Behaviors: Sometimes children may feel too much pressure to potty train and will resist potty training. Also, children might hold back the urge to poop because they refuse to use public or even school bathrooms.

Reasons Constipation is a Concern

While it is hard to see your child in pain from constipation, there are other concerns if your child has trouble with constipation for a long time. These concerns include:

• Hard stools and passing large poops can cause a tear in the anus. This tear is called a fissure. Fissures can bleed and be painful.
• Straining to poop can cause blood vessels (hemorrhoids) inside the child’s anus to become swollen or inflamed and can cause burning pain and bleeding.
• When a child holds in his / her poop, over time the poop builds up inside the rectum. This causes the poop to become larger and harder to pass. This can also stretch out the rectum. Runny poop can leak out around this build up of hard, large poop and cause the child to soil his / her underwear. This soiling is called “encopresis” (in-co-pre-sis). Children may not feel this leakage of poop and are often not able to even smell that they have soiled in their underwear. Children may try to hide their underwear when this happens.

How to know it’s Constipation

During an office visit, a doctor (or Advanced Practice Nurse) will ask you questions about your child’s medical history and complete an exam. The provider might ask questions like:

• How old was the child when they had their first poop as a newborn baby?
• How often does your child poop?
• Does your child complain of pain with pooping?
• Have you been trying to toilet train your child lately?
• What is your child’s diet like?
• Has your child had any increased stress lately?
• Does your child soil their pants? If so, how often?

Your child may need to have a rectal exam. The doctor or nurse can help explain this special exam to your child before the exam is done.

Sometimes, your child may need special tests to help find a cause for the constipation. These tests might include:

Abdominal X-ray: This is a special X-ray picture to evaluate the amount of stool in the large intestine.

Contrast enema: This is a test which uses X-rays and a special kind of enema solution to take pictures of the colon or large bowel, which is the lower part of the intestines. The test shows the doctor if there is anything wrong inside the colon and how well it is working.

Anorectal manometry: This is a test that measures the strength of the muscles in the anus, nerve reflexes, the sense that the rectum is opening and coordination of muscle when pooping.

Rectal biopsy: A tissue sample is taken from the lining of the rectum to look at under a microscope for any problems.

Treatment for Constipation

Your healthcare team will talk with you about your child’s specific care plan to treat constipation. This care plan is based on:

• Cause of the constipation, if one is found
• Dietary needs
• Your child’s age, overall health and any special care needs
• How long your child has had trouble with constipation
• Your child’s ability to tolerate medications, tests or therapies
• How long the treatment might take
• Your feedback on what works best for your child

The outlook for treating children with constipation will depend on if there is type of complex problem causing the constipation. Children with diseases of the intestine may have long-term issue with constipation. Up to 90 percent of children will have no long-term or recurring problems.

Last Updated 02/2021

Another natural remedy for constipation?

It may seem like a basic question, but what is constipation? The term can describe many types of problems with moving your bowels. Constipation can mean stools that are hard and pellet-like or of reduced volume. It can also describe excessive straining, not having a daily bowel movement, or feeling like you cannot get all the stool out. All of these are descriptions of constipation, yet the symptoms are different.

What is chronic constipation?

Constipation becomes chronic when it lasts for weeks to months. The different symptoms of constipation may mean different issues, and thus require different treatments, so you should be clear when describing your unique issues to your doctor.

To clear up one common misconception among those used to having a clockwork bowel movement daily: it is entirely normal not to have a bowel movement every day. While having too few bowel movements (generally accepted as two or fewer per week) can be a cause of discomfort, there is no physical need to move your bowels daily.

There are two major types of constipation. The first is a sluggish movement of contents throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The second form of constipation happens closer to the exit, with difficulty getting bowel contents out due to problems with pelvic muscles. For the first form of constipation, treatment can include the addition of fiber via supplements or by increasing your fruit and vegetable consumption. The second form may need further evaluation, with imaging tests or procedures.

I’m definitely constipated! Why is it happening?

There are many reasons you can be constipated, and first it is important to understand why. There are some reversible causes of constipation that may improve bowel movements. If constipation is a new complaint, prior to adding fiber to your diet you should review the symptoms with your primary care doctor to make sure you don’t need diagnostic testing like abdominal x-rays or laboratory testing. Check in with your doctor if you are taking any new medications, or if you have rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, weight loss, or nausea and vomiting, as any of these symptoms may mean you need to be evaluated for other, more serious medical conditions.

What I can I do besides taking medications to treat my constipation?

This is one of the most common questions I get from patients, and it makes studies of adding fiber to the diet with fruits and vegetables so appealing. What makes it hard to recommend specific treatment plans is that there is not much good data to help doctors suggest a particular plant or fiber regimen, like we would recommend standardized doses of medications.

An intriguing new study entitled “Exploratory comparative effectiveness trial of green kiwifruit, psyllium, or prunes in US patients with chronic constipation” in the American Journal of Gastroenterology seeks to directly compare different, entirely natural ways to treat chronic constipation. Prunes (as a form of plant-based dietary fiber) and psyllium are well-regarded ways to treat chronic constipation. Not surprisingly, all participants were able to achieve the primary goal of increased bowel movements. It seems that kiwifruit achieved this benefit with fewer side effects.

There are some important limitations to this research. The vast majority of patients were women and the average age was 43, which is typical of patients with chronic constipation. Patients were aware of what intervention (kiwi, prunes, or psyllium) they were receiving. The study was relatively small, with only about 80 patients. And it remains to be seen if relief from constipation with kiwifruit continues after four weeks (which was the length of the study). It does, though, offer another potential addition to the diet for individuals seeking natural remedies to address a chronic complaint. The new research is good enough that I’d be confident to recommend kiwifruit to my patients who are looking to relieve constipation.

Let’s say the natural approach does not work: Then what?

As with anything you try on your own, if you have constipation that is new and not responding to things you are trying at home, consult your doctor and see if you need an evaluation for what might be causing your issues. There is no shame in admitting that it is hard at times to get enough fiber (aim for 5 grams per meal) with the modern Western diet. There are good reasons besides constipation (such as for colon health and healthy gut bacteria) to try to eat as much fiber as possible. If you are not able to consume enough fiber (or enough kiwis!) to improve your constipation, there are lots of over-the-counter and prescription-strength laxatives that do an excellent job of treating the condition. When in doubt, reach out! There is no need to suffer when other safe and effective treatments are available.

causes, symptoms, signs, what is dangerous, treatment, prevention

Contents of the article:

• Pathogenesis
• Classification
• Clinical picture
• Complications
• Diagnostics
• Methods of treatment
  • Diet and lifestyle
  • Conservative therapy
  • Surgical treatment
• Prognosis and prevention

Constipation – a condition in which there is no bowel movement within 48 hours, or leads to incomplete emptying of the bowels. Accompanied by pain in the abdomen, intoxication, deterioration in the quality of life Source:
Constipation in adults. Lazebnik L.B., Turkina S.V., Golovanova E.V., Ardatskaya M.D., Ostroumova O.D., Komissarenko I.A., etc. EiCG. 2020. №3. pp.10-33. Constipation leads to serious complications – intestinal obstruction, perforation of the intestine with the development of fecal peritonitis. Common in the general population, more common in young children and the elderly. Treatment is carried out by a therapist, a gastroenterologist, conservative and surgical methods are used.

Causes

Causes of constipation are divided into physiological and pathological. Physiological reasons include:

• stress;
• malnutrition;
• change of climate and environment;
• long flight;
• taking certain medications;
• prolonged immobility;
• violation of the daily biorhythm of life.

In women, constipation is caused by compression of the intestines by the growing uterus during pregnancy. Short-term violation of bowel movements is a manifestation of premenstrual syndrome. The cause of constipation in elderly men is a reflex contraction of the rectum against the background of prostatitis, or compression of the intestine by a tumor of the prostate gland.

Pathological causes of constipation in adults:

• irritable bowel syndrome;
• tumors, intestinal polyps;
• diverticular disease;
• parasitic infestation;
• volvulus;
• postoperative, post-traumatic scars on the intestinal wall;
• extensive hemorrhoids;
• paraproctitis;
• Hirschsprung’s disease;
• multiple sclerosis;
• injuries, tumors of the spinal cord.

Causes of problems with defecation in children:

• anomalies in the development of the intestine;
• food allergy;
• violation of the regimen of the introduction of complementary foods;
• early potty training;
• unfavorable psychological situation in the family, kindergarten, school;
• frequent moving, change of children’s groups;
• quarrels with friends;
• anxiety about studying.

Most childhood constipation is psychogenic.

A high likelihood of constipation in old age is associated with a weakening of intestinal motility, poor nutrition, and weakness of the pelvic floor muscles. In older people, the composition of the intestinal microflora changes, the number of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria decreases, which also contributes to constipation.

Pathogenesis

The concept of “constipation” combines the signs of impaired defecation with a delay in the release of feces, a change in its nature. Main criteria for constipation:

• no bowel movements for two or more days;
• defecation accompanied by a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowels;
• feces become dry and hard.

Primary constipation develops with congenital or acquired disorders of the structure and function of the intestine, changes in its shape and length. Fecal masses move slowly through such a intestine, which leads to their compaction and accumulation. Secondary constipation occurs against the background of diseases that affect intestinal motility – endocrine, neurological, toxic. An idiopathic form is also distinguished, the cause of which cannot be established.

Classification

Classification of constipation due to occurrence:

• alimentary – low fiber content in the diet, insufficient water intake, dry eating;
• proctogenic – associated with diseases of the colon, weakness of the muscles of the pelvic floor;
• anorectal – occurs due to the patient’s fear of emptying the intestines with hemorrhoids, paraproctitis;
• mechanical – when the intestinal lumen is blocked by tumors, adhesions, helminths;
• toxic – in case of poisoning with drugs, salts of heavy metals;
• psychogenic – against the background of acute psychosis, stress, depression, mental illness;
• neurogenic – in violation of the innervation of the intestine;
• iatrogenic – against the background of medication, medical manipulations.

According to the nature of the course, constipation can be acute or chronic. Acute constipation is called situational, it occurs in people prone to its appearance, when:

• pregnancy;
• being in a public place;
• change of scenery;
• consumption of certain foods;
• stress.

Situational constipation disappears on its own after the influence of the provoking factor ceases, most often does not require medication.

Chronic constipation is typical for patients with diseases of the digestive system, endocrine pathologies. It lasts for a long time, the feces are dry and hard. Chronic constipation leads to a significant decrease in the quality of life Source:
Chronic constipation. Ismailov I.Ya., Skvortsov V.V., Fedotova I.V., Kalinchenko E.E. Nurse. 2016. №6. pp.16-19. A person cannot get rid of the problem on his own, he needs medical help.

Clinical picture

The main symptom of constipation is the absence of bowel movements or a change in the nature of the stool. Defecation is accompanied by severe straining, soreness. The feces at the exit take the form of a ball, bean, tape – the first and second types according to the Bristol feces scale. Sometimes, after prolonged constipation, the patient empties the intestines with liquid feces with a lot of mucus. This is the so-called constipation diarrhea, which occurs due to prolonged irritation of the intestinal wall with feces.

Other manifestations depend on the underlying disease, the duration of constipation:

• loss of appetite;
• persistent abdominal discomfort;
• belching;
• bad breath;
• nausea, vomiting;
• pruritus;
• flatulence;
• deterioration in mood;
• reduced performance;
• insomnia.

Complications

Numerous complications develop against the background of long-term, chronic constipation. They are divided into two groups – local and general. Local complications include:

• inflammation of the intestinal wall – colitis, proctosigmoiditis;
• anal fissure;
• bleeding from damaged intestinal mucosa;
• hemorrhoids;
• paraproctitis with fistula formation;
• colon cancer;
• diverticula;
• megacolon;
• intestinal obstruction;
• Fecal peritonitis.

General complications:

• fecal intoxication of the body;
• mental disorders;
• performance degradation.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis to identify the cause of constipation is carried out by a therapist, gastroenterologist, proctologist. When taking an anamnesis, the doctor pays attention to the following factors:

• the nature of nutrition;
• nature of work, lifestyle;
• level of physical activity;
• episodes of constipation in the past;
• the presence of chronic bowel disease.

There are no specific signs of constipation on examination. The doctor pays attention to bloating and soreness of the abdomen, probes the intestines filled with feces.

Imaging methods are of primary importance in diagnostics:

• X-ray of the intestine provides information on peristalsis, intestinal filling with feces, the condition of the intestinal lumen;
• barium enema reveals intestinal obstruction;
• colonoscopy – examination of the intestine from the inside with the help of endoscopic equipment;
• biopsy of the intestinal wall followed by histology;
• sphincterometry to determine the muscle tone of the anal sphincter.

Laboratory examination:

• coprogram;
• stool culture;
• test for helminth eggs, protozoa;
• general clinical blood tests.

For the diagnosis of functional constipation, there are Rome criteria:

• less than three bowel movements per week;
• loose stools possible only after a laxative;
• the need for straining in a quarter of all bowel movements;
• hard, dry, ball-like stools in a quarter of all bowel movements;
• sensation of incomplete bowel movement in a quarter of all bowel movements;
• the need to remove feces by hand in a quarter of all bowel movements.

The basis for the diagnosis of functional constipation is at least two criteria that have been observed in the patient for three consecutive months in the last six months.

After excluding organic causes of the pathology, attention should be paid to the possibility of a psychogenic origin of constipation. Consultation of a psychologist or psychiatrist is indicated for adults and children.

Methods of treatment

Constipation should be treated according to the cause of its occurrence, the duration of the disease, the individual characteristics of the patient. Treatment is a rather difficult task, and does not consist only in the use of laxatives. It is necessary to influence the diet, lifestyle, intestinal condition. Source:
Constipation must be treated. Plotnikova E.Yu., Krasnov K.A. MS. 2018. No. 14. pp.61-66.

Diet and lifestyle

Normal intestinal motility is provided by vegetable fiber, which a person receives from food. Basic principles of nutrition for constipation:

• fractional food intake – 5-6 times a day in small portions;
• daily consumption of fresh, thermally unprocessed vegetables and fruits;
• regular consumption of fermented milk products;
• drinking at least 2 liters of water per day;
• cooking by boiling, stewing, roasting;
• restriction of foods that can cause constipation – rice, pastries, dry meat, canned food.

Lifestyle normalization includes the following activities:

• giving up alcohol, nicotine;
• regular physical activity;
• exclusion of stressful situations;
• normalization of the psycho-emotional situation in the family and in the work team;
• self-regulation of the natural rhythm of defecation.

Conservative therapy

In the absence of sufficient effect from the regulation of lifestyle and nutrition, the appointment of laxatives is indicated. Use herbal medicines and medicines. The following herbal remedies have a laxative effect:

• licorice root;
• buckthorn bark;
• senna grass;
• psyllium seeds;
• dried apricots, prunes.

Medications to relieve constipation:

• probiotics, prebiotics Source:
  Prevention and treatment of chronic constipation with complex prebiotic preparations. Butorova L.I. SPb. 2013. p.19;
• osmotic laxatives based on macrogol and magnesium sulfate – remove fluid into the intestinal lumen, dilute feces;
• laxatives with an irritating effect – stimulate the nerve endings of the intestinal mucosa, improve peristalsis and promote the promotion of feces;
• antispasmodics – indicated for the neurogenic nature of constipation, when the intestines are in a state of spasm;
• vaseline, linseed oil – envelop the feces, move them through the intestines by sliding.

The selection of drugs depends on the cause of constipation. The duration of the course of treatment is determined individually for each patient. Abuse of laxatives, it is impossible to take them uncontrollably. This can lead to the opposite effect – the intestines stop working without constant drug stimulation, constipation becomes chronic.

If constipation is caused by a massive infestation with helminths, a person is prescribed antiparasitic drugs. With constipation against the background of poisoning with heavy metal salts, detoxification therapy is indicated with drugs. Psychogenic constipation requires consultation with a psychiatrist, correction of the condition with psychotropic drugs.

When psychogenic constipation is confirmed in a child, a child psychologist works with him. The treatment of such a condition is lengthy and requires the involvement of parents, educators or teachers in the process. It is important to create a favorable psycho-emotional environment for the child at home and in the children’s team. The psychologist helps the child to set up the right attitude towards learning, interaction with peers.

Surgical treatment

Indicated for constipation resistant to conservative therapy. The following methods are used:

• removal of polyps, tumors;
• surgery to eliminate intussusception, intestinal obstruction;
• sphincterotomy;
• bowel resection.

Prognosis and prevention

The prognosis in most cases of constipation is favorable. Changes in lifestyle and nutrition, herbal medicine and adequate prescription of laxatives can normalize stools in most patients Source:
Regulation of a delicate problem in patients with diseases of the rectum. Skvortsov V.V., Eremenko A.A., Eremenko N.V. Stationary-replacing technologies: Ambulatory surgery. 2022. №1. pp.81-88. However, people who are prone to constipation are more likely to relapse immediately after drug treatment is stopped. Therefore, adherence to lifestyle recommendations should not only be for the duration of treatment, but also constantly in the future.

Prevention includes the following activities:

• healthy, balanced diet;
• regular exercise;
• giving up bad habits;
• developing the habit of daily defecation, creating comfortable conditions for this;
• limitation of stress factors.

Constipation significantly impairs the patient’s quality of life, leading to psychological discomfort. The problem has a high social significance, requires careful attention, full diagnostics and treatment.

Article sources:

1. Chronic constipation. Ismailov I.Ya., Skvortsov V.V., Fedotova I.V., Kalinchenko E.E. Nurse. 2016. №6. p.16-19
2. Prevention and treatment of chronic constipation with complex prebiotic preparations. Butorova L.I. SPb. 2013. p.19
3. Constipation in adults. Lazebnik L.B., Turkina S.V., Golovanova E.V., Ardatskaya M.D., Ostroumova O.D., Komissarenko I.A., etc. EiCG. 2020. №3. p.10-33
4. Constipation needs to be treated. Plotnikova E.Yu., Krasnov K.A. MS. 2018. No. 14. p.61-66
5. Regulation of a delicate problem in patients with diseases of the rectum. Skvortsov V.V., Eremenko A.A., Eremenko N.V. Stationary-replacing technologies: Ambulatory surgery. 2022. №1. p.81-88

Author of the article

Ekaterina Borisovna Vostrikova

Specialty: Gastroenterologist

Experience: 17 years

Chronic constipation.

Methods of treatment and prevention.

Constipation – a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, manifested in the form of difficult, slow or insufficient bowel movements.

This is a common condition in both children and adults. Constipation can occur as an independent disease, be a manifestation of other diseases, both the digestive system and a complex of other diseases.

If constipation is left untreated, it can become systemic, that is, become chronic.

Identify the main symptoms of chronic constipation:

• regular stool retention. Defecation does not occur 48-60 hours during the week;
• hard and dry stools;
• severe straining during defecation;
• sensation of incomplete emptying of the bowels at every fourth bowel movement;
• sensation of blockage during defecation or forced manipulation of the fingers near the anus to empty;
• small amounts of feces;
• flatulence, abdominal pain.

In case of chronic constipation, the general state of health may worsen in patients, fatigue, flabbiness of the skin appear, and efficiency decreases.

Causes of chronic constipation are divided into several groups:

1. Neurogenic or psychogenic – emotional stress, stress, depression or deliberate delay in using the toilet due to a busy day at work, lack of time;
2. Alimentary – malnutrition, lack of fluid;
3. Toxic – alcohol abuse, food poisoning;
4. Mechanical – polyps, intestinal tumors, scars, etc.;
5. Proctogenic – disruption of the muscles in the pelvic area, hemorrhoids.
6. Iatrogenic – hormonal disorders, taking various medications.

The treatment of chronic constipation must be taken very seriously. This disease does not proceed without a trace and can lead to irreversible consequences.

There are several treatments for chronic constipation:

• Changing diet.

People suffering from chronic constipation need to know which foods promote bowel movements and which, on the contrary, delay it. It is advisable to eat raw vegetables and fruits, cereals, drink more plain or mineral water.

The following food products are recommended: cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, greens; grapes, apples, plums, melon, apricots, pumpkin, dried fruits; black bread or wholemeal bread; buckwheat, oatmeal; pickled vegetables, pickles, kvass; sunflower, olive, corn oils.

It is not recommended to eat shabby food, strong black tea, semolina and rice porridge, red wines.

• Increase in physical activity.

It is recommended to spend more time in the open air, walk, play sports. It is especially useful to engage in swimming, yoga, therapeutic exercises.

• Taking laxatives.

Laxatives are effective in the initial stage of chronic constipation, then their efficiency decreases due to the body’s “addiction” to the components of the drug.

This means that they should be taken with extreme caution, since long-term use of these drugs may be accompanied by a complete absence of independent urge to defecate. Do not take laxatives without consulting your doctor. Such treatment can lead to diarrhea, inflammation of the intestines, disruption of the microflora, or dehydration.

It is very important to prevent the transition of a one-time disease into chronic constipation.

In order to prevent the occurrence of this disease, as well as its negative consequences, it is necessary to follow a few simple preventive measures.

Prevention of chronic constipation.

Promptly treat acute constipation that occurs with infectious diseases. It is necessary to follow a special diet, which includes vegetables, dairy products, fruits. The use of a large amount of liquid, including fruit juices and compotes, contributes to better digestion of foods.

It is recommended to reduce the period of bed rest for diseases of the cardiovascular system (in acceptable forms). This will significantly reduce the risk of chronic constipation.

Long breaks in eating, as well as suppression of the reflex to defecate, cause a disturbance in the regular rhythm of bowel movements. Reduce the interval between meals, enrich the diet with the necessary dietary fiber. Try to develop a bowel habit so that the body develops a reflex. Do not push hard and empty the bowels for more than 20 minutes.

One of the most effective ways to prevent chronic constipation is physical activity. It is very useful to develop the habit of doing morning exercises, light jogging, water procedures. This recommendation is especially useful for people who are engaged in mental work and spend all their working time in a sitting position.

Pay special attention to the treatment of other diseases. Diseases of the rectum (hemorrhoids, fissures, knots, etc.) will inevitably lead to chronic constipation.

Doctors recommend daily massages to improve the functioning of the digestive system.