What are the causes of constipation. How long can constipation last. When should you see a doctor for constipation.

Constipation Symptoms

Constipation is a common condition where bowel movements become infrequent and difficult. Some of the key symptoms of constipation include:

• Few bowel movements (less than 3 times per week)
• Trouble having a bowel movement (straining to go)
• Hard or small stools
• A feeling that everything didn’t come out
• Belly bloating
• Needing help to empty your bowels, such as pressing on your belly or using a finger to remove stool

Constipation Causes

There are several potential causes of constipation, including:

• Changes to your diet or physical activity levels
• Not getting enough water or fiber in your diet
• Eating a lot of dairy products
• Being inactive or sedentary
• Resisting the urge to have a bowel movement
• Stress
• Overuse of laxatives
• Certain medications (e.g. strong pain drugs, antidepressants, iron pills)
• Antacid medicines containing calcium or aluminum
• Eating disorders
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pregnancy
• Problems with the nerves and muscles in the digestive system
• Colon cancer
• Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Excess calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia)

Constipation Remedies

There are several steps you can take to help relieve constipation:

• Drink 2-4 extra glasses of water per day, unless your doctor tells you to limit fluids for another reason
• Try warm liquids, especially in the morning
• Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet
• Eat prunes and bran cereal
• Exercise regularly, as physical activity can stimulate the muscles in your intestines
• Don’t ignore the urge to have a bowel movement
• Try an over-the-counter laxative, but ask your doctor or pharmacist which type might work best for you

How Long Does Constipation Last?

Constipation is usually not a serious condition, but it can be very uncomfortable. The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from person to person, with some people having them 3 times a day and others a few times per week. However, going longer than 3 days without a bowel movement is generally too long, as the stool will become harder and more difficult to pass.

When Should I Call My Doctor?

If constipation lasts for 3 weeks or more, it’s a good idea to see your doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions. You should also make an appointment if you:

• Have never been constipated before
• Have stomach pain
• Notice blood in your stools
• Are losing weight without trying

Don’t let constipation go unchecked for too long, as it can lead to complications like hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse. Call your doctor right away if you have sudden constipation with belly pain or cramping and you can’t pass stool or gas at all.

Additional Tests for Constipation

If lifestyle changes don’t relieve your constipation, your doctor may recommend some tests to determine the underlying cause, such as:

• Blood tests to check hormone levels
• Tests to check the muscles in your anus
• Tests to see how waste moves through and out of your colon
• Colonoscopy to look for blockages in your colon

These tests can help your doctor identify any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to your constipation, allowing for more targeted treatment.

Fiber for Digestive Health

Fiber is an important nutrient for maintaining good digestive health and can be an effective way to help relieve constipation. There are two main types of fiber:

• Soluble fiber (which dissolves in water)
• Insoluble fiber (which does not dissolve)

Studies have shown that a high intake of total fiber, from both food sources and supplements, can lower the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Insoluble fiber in particular can help treat constipation and diverticular disease, and may also benefit those with certain types of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Experts generally recommend getting 25-30 grams of fiber per day from a combination of food and supplements. Good sources of fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts and seeds.

What to Do for Severe Constipation

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Constipation Symptoms
• Constipation Causes
• Constipation Remedies
• How Long Does Constipation Last?
• When Should I Call My Doctor?

Being constipated means your bowel movements are tough or happen less often than normal. Almost everyone goes through it at some point.

Although it’s not usually serious, you’ll feel much better when your body is back on track.

The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from person to person. Some people have them three times a day. Others have them just a few times a week.

Going longer than 3 or more days without one, though, is usually too long. After 3 days, your stool gets harder and more difficult to pass.

You may have:

• Few bowel movements
• Trouble having a bowel movement (straining to go)
• Hard or small stools
• A feeling that everything didn’t come out
• Belly bloating

You also may feel like you need help to empty your bowels, such as pressing on your belly or using a finger to remove stool from your bottom.

Some causes of constipation include:

• Changes to what you eat or your activities
• Not enough water or fiber in your diet
• Eating a lot of dairy products
• Not being active
• Resisting the urge to poop
• Stress
• Overuse of laxatives
• Some medications (especially strong pain drugs such as narcotics, antidepressants, and iron pills)
• Antacid medicines that have calcium or aluminum
• Eating disorders
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pregnancy
• Problems with the nerves and muscles in your digestive system
• Colon cancer
• Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis
• An underactive thyroid (called hypothyroidism)
• Excess calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia) due to overactive parathyroid glands, medications, cancer (lung, breast, multiple myeloma), or other causes

Take these steps:

• Drink two to four extra glasses of water a day, unless your doctor told you to limit fluids for another reason.
• Try warm liquids, especially in the morning.
• Add fruits and vegetables to your diet.
• Eat prunes and bran cereal.
• Exercise most days of the week. When you move your body, the muscles in your intestines are more active, too.
• Don’t ignore the urge to poop.

You can try taking a laxative, too. There are several types of laxatives, and you can buy many of them over the counter. Each of them works in a different way to ease constipation. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which kind might work for you and how long you should take it.

When constipation lingers for 3 weeks or more, get a checkup just to make sure a medical condition isn’t causing the problem. Also see your doctor if:

• You’ve never been constipated before now.
• You have stomach pain.
• You notice blood in your stools.
• You’re losing weight without trying.

Don’t let constipation go unchecked for too long. When untreated, constipation can lead to unpleasant complications such as hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse, a condition in which part of the intestine pushes out through the anus from too much straining.

Call your doctor right away if you have sudden constipation with belly pain or cramping and you aren’t able to poop or pass gas at all.

Also, make the call if:

• Constipation is a new problem for you and lifestyle changes haven’t helped.
• You have blood in your stool.
• You’re losing weight even though you’re not trying to.
• You have severe pain with bowel movements.
• Your constipation has lasted more than 2 weeks.
• The size, shape, and consistency of your stool has changed dramatically.

Your doctor may recommend some tests to find the cause of your constipation:

• Blood tests to check on hormone levels
• Tests that check the muscles in your anus
• Tests that show how waste moves through and out of your colon
• Colonoscopy to look for blockages in your colon

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Fiber for Heart, Cholesterol, and Digestive Health

Written by R. Morgan Griffin

• Why do people take fiber?
• How much fiber should you take?
• Can you get fiber naturally from foods?
• What are the risks of taking fiber?

Fiber is the general name for certain carbohydrates — usually parts of vegetables, plants, and grains — that the body can’t fully digest. While fiber isn’t broken down and absorbed like nutrients, it still plays a key role in good health.

There are two main types of fiber. They are soluble fiber (which dissolves in water) and insoluble fiber (which does not). Combined, they’re called total fiber.

A number of studies have found that a high intake of total fiber, from foods and supplements, lowers the risk of heart disease. High-fiber diets have also been associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stools. It helps treat constipation and diverticular disease and may benefit people with some types of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Recent research has shown that increased fiber is also linked to increased survival in people with colon cancer.

Soluble fiber seems to lower cholesterol levels. It binds with cholesterol in the intestines and prevents it from being absorbed. Soluble fiber may also be useful in treating diabetes and insulin resistance (prediabetes). It can slow the absorption of carbohydrates, helping to improve blood sugar levels.

Since fiber is filling and has very few calories, high-fiber foods may also help with weight loss.

Fiber that comes from whole foods is called dietary fiber. Fiber that’s sold in supplements, or added to fortified foods, is called functional fiber. The Institute of Medicine has set an adequate intake (AI) for total fiber, which includes all sources. Getting this amount of fiber should be enough to stay healthy. Doctors may recommend higher doses of fiber.

Even in high amounts, fiber appears to be safe. Experts have not discovered an amount of fiber that’s harmful.

Most people in the U.S. take in much less fiber than they should. The best way to get it is from food, like a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Some good sources of soluble fiber include:

• Oatmeal and oat bran
• Apples, citrus fruits, and strawberries
• Beans, peas, and lentils
• Barley
• Rice bran

And some sources of insoluble fiber are:

• Cereal brans
• Whole grains, like barley
• Whole-wheat breads, wheat cereals, and wheat bran
• Vegetables like carrots, cabbage, beets, and cauliflower

Some foods, like nuts, contain both soluble and insoluble fiber.

• Side effects. Fiber does not have serious side effects. At high levels, it can cause bloating, cramping, gas, and perhaps worsening constipation. Drinking more water — 2 liters a day — may help.
• Interactions. If you take any regular medications, talk to a doctor before you start using a fiber supplement. It may block the absorption of some drugs.
• Risks. Rarely, fiber supplements have caused intestinal blockages. If you have any chronic disease, talk to a doctor before you start using a fiber supplement. The sugar and salt in some supplements, particularly powders, might be risky for people with diabetes or high blood pressure. People with diabetes may want to choose a sugar-free powder or another form of fiber. Blond psyllium is the most common type of fiber supplement on the market.

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Intestinal constipation: causes, treatment, diet

Every person faced the problem of constipation at least once in his life. If difficulties with bowel movements are observed regularly, then the pathology has acquired a chronic form. In chronic constipation, bowel movements occur less than 3 times a week. At the same time, the chair itself is rare and hard. A constipated person spends more time on the toilet than usual. In the process of defecation, the straining time increases.

Causes of constipation

Intestinal constipation can occur for various reasons.

The first cluster of causes is associated with congenital or acquired pathologies of the large intestine:

• anal fissures
• polyps
• internal and external hemorrhoids
• tumors
• megarectum
• megadolichosigma
• atresia

The second type of causes of constipation include concomitant diseases of the digestive, endocrine and genitourinary systems.

There are also a number of causes of unknown origin, due to which the motility of the rectum and colon is impaired.

Functional constipation can be caused by malnutrition. Eating low in dietary fiber, as well as taking certain medications (diuretics, antidepressants, iron supplements, antacids, anticholinergics) interfere with bowel movements.

A few more causes of chronic constipation:

• wrong way of life
• “knocked down” day and night mode
• lack of physical activity
• low fluid intake (body dehydration)
• “inert” colon syndrome (slow movement of feces)

Special mention should be made of constipation during pregnancy – due to the internal pressure of the fetus, there may be a delay in bowel movements.

Treatment of constipation

People who have problems with bowel movements often ask themselves the question: what to do with constipation? The treatment of constipation, including chronic constipation, is aimed at eliminating the primary pathology that resulted in the problem, as well as changing lifestyle, diet, working conditions, etc.

For the treatment of constipation, a proctologist or gastroenterologist should be consulted. Frequent constipation can be a sign of serious diseases of the stomach and intestines, so we do not recommend self-medication: it would be wiser to make an appointment with a trusted specialist.

Qualified doctors of the Naedine Clinic will conduct a complete examination of the gastrointestinal tract, establish the root cause of the problem and choose the appropriate method of treatment.

Medications are widely used in the treatment of constipation. The type of medication, dose and duration of administration are calculated individually for each patient.

Diet for constipation

Doctor prescribes a special diet for constipation . It is necessary to eat foods rich in fiber daily, for example:

• wheat, oatmeal, pearl barley, buckwheat cereals
• vegetables (carrots, beets, marrows)
• wholemeal bread
• bran
• fruits and berries, including dried fruits (figs, prunes, dates, dried apricots, bananas, non-sour apples)
• vegetable and fruit juices
• fermented milk products (kefir, curdled milk, acidophilus)
• olive, sunflower, linseed, corn oil

Food should be taken 4 times a day. The amount of fluid consumed for constipation should be at least 1.5 liters per day.

The patient must “learn” to go to the toilet to empty his bowels in the morning. With the right treatment regimen, the patient will be able to walk “in a big way” every 1-2 days.

Sign up for a consultation with a proctologist at the Naedine Clinic by phone (8332) 32-7777 or through the online appointment form on our website!

Difficult defecation syndrome – Tartu Ülikooli Kliinikum

Difficult defecation syndrome

You suffer from constipation. Liberation
bowel does not occur regularly. Constipation is a common problem
which is more common in older women. Constipation has several different forms.
One of these forms is the syndrome of difficult defecation. Often constipation
is one of the symptoms of weakness of the pelvic muscles.

What are the symptoms of obstructed bowel syndrome?

Most common problems:

• laxatives or klistir.
• Patients should help themselves with bowel movements
  fingers.
• It takes a long time to empty the bowels
  strain in the toilet.
• Feeling incomplete when leaving the toilet
  intestines.
• The patient must visit the toilet several times to
  empty the bowels completely.
• During or after exertion, there is often pain and discomfort in the pelvic area.
• Sometimes the bowels can empty spontaneously.

Does dietary modification help?

Patients with constipation can often
help themselves if they increase the amount of fiber in their diet, they will drink
Enough fluids and start exercising. Usually,
it brings positive results. If the measures taken do not help,
then the cause of constipation may be obstructed defecation syndrome. The essence of the problem
a specialized doctor will explain to you after a thorough examination
patient and special studies.

What is obstructed defecation syndrome?

Obstructed defecation syndrome
may be due to various changes in the anatomy of the rectum, which in
in turn, they contribute to the fact that feces are heated in the rectum. Data
changes are more common in women who have given birth. Sometimes similar problems can
be in both men and nulliparous women.

Often causes of the syndrome
difficult defecation are:

• Protrusion of the wall of the rectum into the lumen of the rectum,
  which leads to the formation of a blockage in the path of feces (internal prolapse)
• Local expansion that occurs when stretched
  anterior wall of the rectum where feces accumulate (rectocele)

Surgical treatment

Patients with the syndrome
difficult bowel movements may require surgery. One of the possible
surgical methods is the operation of transanal resection of the rectum
stapler (STARR). During the STARR operation, a special stapler is used, which is inserted through
anus into the rectum and through which it is circularly removed
segment of the lower part of the rectum with simultaneous application of a restorative
rectum suture. This restores the normal structure of the rectum
and both rectocele and internal prolapse are eliminated.

Postoperative period

The STARR operation is performed under general anesthesia, and after the operation the patient
stays in the hospital for 1-3 days. Postoperative pain is usually mild
strong and stopped by light painkillers. Physical activity allowed
10 days after the operation. In 20-30% of patients in the postoperative period
there may be a need to go to the toilet often and “quickly”, they may also
problems with holding gas. Based on experience, it can be said that
these problems are resolved in 1-6 months.

Risks associated with surgery STARR

Like all surgical procedures, STARR surgery comes with some risks. Most of this risk is associated with bleeding and infection in the early postoperative period. In patients who had symptoms of incontinence prior to surgery, there is a possibility that the incontinence will worsen.

What are the results of the STARR operation?

The first results of the STARR operation are very promising.