How long can a person safely go without a bowel movement. What are the potential health risks of prolonged constipation. When should you be concerned about not pooping regularly. What are effective ways to promote bowel regularity and prevent constipation.

Understanding Normal Bowel Movement Frequency

Maintaining a healthy digestive system involves regular bowel movements to eliminate waste and toxins from the body. However, what constitutes “regular” can vary significantly from person to person. Let’s explore what’s considered normal and when to be concerned about irregularity.

What’s the typical frequency for bowel movements? For most individuals, having a bowel movement anywhere from three times a day to once every other day is considered normal. Many people develop a consistent pattern, often experiencing the urge to defecate at approximately the same time each day.

When does infrequent pooping become a medical concern? Doctors typically define constipation as having bowel movements two or fewer times per week. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s crucial to address the issue promptly to prevent stool from accumulating in your intestinal system, which can lead to increased difficulty in passing stools and potential discomfort.

The Dangers of Prolonged Constipation

While there isn’t a universally defined timeframe for how long a person can go without a bowel movement before it becomes dangerous, prolonged constipation can lead to serious health complications. Understanding these risks is crucial for recognizing when to seek medical attention.

Potential Complications of Extended Constipation

• Fecal impaction: This occurs when hardened stool becomes lodged in the intestines, making it extremely difficult to pass without medical intervention.
• Bowel perforation: Excessive stool buildup can put pressure on the intestinal walls, potentially leading to tears or perforations. This is a serious condition that can result in stool leaking into the abdominal cavity, causing severe infections.
• Increased cardiovascular risks: Research suggests that chronic constipation may be associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, possibly due to increased stress and inflammation in the body.

How does prolonged constipation affect overall health? Beyond the immediate digestive discomfort, not pooping regularly can impact various bodily systems. The accumulation of waste in the intestines can lead to bloating, nausea, and even vomiting in severe cases. Additionally, the body’s ability to absorb nutrients may be compromised, potentially affecting overall nutrition and well-being.

Recognizing Warning Signs: When to Seek Medical Help

While occasional constipation is common, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Being aware of these warning signs can help prevent more serious complications from developing.

Red Flags for Constipation-Related Concerns

1. Severe abdominal pain or cramping
2. Inability to pass gas
3. Vomiting, especially if it contains stool-like material
4. Noticeable abdominal swelling or bloating
5. Unexplained weight loss
6. Blood in the stool

How long should you wait before consulting a doctor about constipation? If you haven’t had a bowel movement in a week or more, despite maintaining your usual diet and lifestyle, it’s advisable to seek medical advice. This is particularly important if you’re experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms.

Factors Contributing to Constipation

Understanding the various factors that can lead to constipation is crucial for both prevention and treatment. While some causes are lifestyle-related and can be easily addressed, others may require medical intervention.

Common Causes of Constipation

• Dietary factors: Low fiber intake, inadequate hydration, and excessive consumption of processed foods
• Lack of physical activity: Sedentary lifestyle can slow down intestinal motility
• Medications: Certain drugs, including opioids and some antidepressants, can cause constipation as a side effect
• Stress: High levels of stress can impact digestive function and bowel regularity
• Age-related changes: As people age, intestinal movement tends to slow down, potentially leading to more frequent constipation
• Medical conditions: Conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, and neurological disorders can affect bowel function

How does diet impact bowel regularity? A diet low in fiber and high in processed foods can significantly slow down digestion and lead to constipation. Conversely, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains promotes regular bowel movements by adding bulk to the stool and stimulating intestinal movement.

Effective Strategies for Promoting Bowel Regularity

Maintaining regular bowel movements is essential for overall health and well-being. Fortunately, there are numerous strategies you can employ to promote digestive regularity and prevent constipation.

Lifestyle Modifications for Better Bowel Health

1. Increase fiber intake: Aim for 25-30 grams of fiber daily from sources like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
2. Stay hydrated: Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day to keep stools soft and easy to pass.
3. Exercise regularly: Engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes most days of the week to stimulate intestinal movement.
4. Establish a routine: Try to have bowel movements at the same time each day to train your body.
5. Don’t ignore the urge: Respond promptly when you feel the need to have a bowel movement.
6. Manage stress: Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation or yoga to promote overall digestive health.

How can dietary changes improve constipation? Incorporating more fiber-rich foods into your diet can significantly improve bowel regularity. Fiber adds bulk to the stool, making it easier to pass through the intestines. Additionally, staying well-hydrated helps keep stools soft and prevents them from becoming hard and difficult to pass.

Natural Remedies and Over-the-Counter Solutions

While lifestyle changes are often the first line of defense against constipation, sometimes additional help is needed. There are various natural remedies and over-the-counter products that can provide relief from occasional constipation.

Effective Home Remedies for Constipation Relief

• Prune juice: Rich in sorbitol, a natural laxative that can help soften stools
• Warm liquids: Drinking warm water or herbal tea in the morning can stimulate bowel movements
• Psyllium husk: A natural fiber supplement that can add bulk to stools and promote regularity
• Magnesium citrate: A mineral supplement that can help draw water into the intestines, softening stools
• Abdominal massage: Gently massaging the abdomen in a clockwise direction can help stimulate bowel movements

What over-the-counter options are available for constipation relief? For occasional constipation, various OTC products can provide relief. These include:

• Osmotic laxatives: Draw water into the colon to soften stools and increase bowel movements
• Stimulant laxatives: Trigger contractions in the intestines to move stool along
• Stool softeners: Help moisten the stool by drawing water from the intestines
• Fiber supplements: Add bulk to the stool to promote regular bowel movements

It’s important to use these products as directed and not rely on them for long-term use without consulting a healthcare provider.

When to Consider Medical Intervention for Chronic Constipation

While occasional constipation can often be managed with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter remedies, chronic constipation may require medical intervention. Understanding when to seek professional help is crucial for maintaining digestive health and preventing complications.

Signs That Indicate a Need for Medical Evaluation

1. Persistent constipation lasting several weeks despite lifestyle changes
2. Severe abdominal pain or cramping
3. Unexplained weight loss
4. Blood in the stool
5. Alternating constipation and diarrhea
6. Constipation accompanied by fever or vomiting

How do doctors diagnose and treat chronic constipation? When you consult a healthcare provider for chronic constipation, they may:

• Conduct a thorough medical history and physical examination
• Order blood tests to check for underlying conditions like hypothyroidism
• Recommend imaging studies such as X-rays or colonoscopy to evaluate the colon
• Prescribe medications to address specific causes of constipation
• Suggest pelvic floor therapy or biofeedback for issues related to muscle coordination

Treatment plans are typically tailored to the individual’s specific situation and may involve a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and in some cases, more advanced interventions.

The Importance of Bowel Health in Overall Well-being

Maintaining regular bowel movements is not just about comfort; it plays a crucial role in overall health and well-being. A healthy digestive system contributes to various aspects of physical and mental health, underscoring the importance of addressing constipation and other bowel irregularities promptly.

How Bowel Health Impacts Overall Wellness

• Nutrient absorption: Regular bowel movements ensure efficient absorption of nutrients from food
• Toxin elimination: The colon plays a vital role in removing waste and toxins from the body
• Gut microbiome balance: Regular bowel movements help maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria
• Mood and mental health: There’s a strong connection between gut health and mental well-being
• Immune function: A significant portion of the immune system is located in the gut

Why is it important to maintain bowel regularity throughout life? Consistent bowel habits contribute to overall digestive health, which in turn affects numerous bodily functions. As we age, maintaining bowel regularity becomes increasingly important, as the risk of constipation and related complications tends to increase. By prioritizing bowel health through diet, lifestyle choices, and prompt attention to irregularities, individuals can support their overall health and quality of life.

In conclusion, while the occasional bout of constipation is common and often easily resolved, prolonged issues with bowel movements should not be ignored. By understanding what’s normal for your body, recognizing warning signs, and implementing strategies to promote regularity, you can maintain optimal digestive health. Remember, if concerns persist or you experience severe symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek medical advice. Your bowel health is an integral part of your overall well-being, deserving attention and care throughout your life.

How Long Can You Go Without Pooping? When to Worry

There’s no exact amount of time you can safely go without pooping. Consider any other symptoms you’re experiencing, as well, to help you know when to call your doctor.

How often should a person poop?

Having a healthy digestive tract means pooping regularly to eliminate wastes and toxins from the body. Although every person poops on a different schedule, not pooping at all is a concern.

Keep reading to learn about the time frame and symptoms to be concerned about, as well as some tips for maintaining bowel regularity.

A “normal” pooping frequency is anywhere from three times a day to every other day. Most people notice a pattern in their bowel habits. People tend to poop at about the same time each day.

Doctors define constipation as pooping two or fewer times per week. If you experience constipation, you should treat it promptly. Otherwise, stool can back up in the intestinal system, making it harder to poop and causing you to feel sick.

There isn’t a defined amount of time — such as one week or one month — that a person could technically go without pooping. This is because everyone is different; people have different diets, different states of gastrointestinal health, and a host of different lifestyle factors that contribute to their regularity. However, if you haven’t pooped at all in a week and you’re eating as you normally would, you may need to start thinking about why you haven’t pooped.

Sometimes a bowel or intestinal obstruction isn’t allowing stool to pass. This requires medical attention before it becomes a medical emergency. Also, some people withhold stool or physically refuse to poop due to anxiety over using the restroom.

One extreme example is that of a young woman from the United Kingdom who passed away after eight weeks of not going to the restroom, according to The Independent. The stool caused her intestines to enlarge so significantly that they pressed on her organs and led to a heart attack.

Instead of focusing on a specific amount of days that you haven’t pooped, it’s important to consider the symptoms that come along with not pooping for an extended amount of time. These include:

• bloating
• feeling as if you should poop, but cannot
• nausea
• not passing any gas
• stomach pains
• vomiting up stool

If you haven’t pooped in several days and have these symptoms, seek medical treatment.

Researchers have discovered that not pooping affects not only the digestive system, but also the body as a whole. Some of the complications associated with going too long without pooping include:

• Fecal impaction. A fecal impaction is a hard piece or pieces of stool that make the stool extremely difficult to pass. You may have to seek medical attention for the stool to be removed.
• Bowel perforation. If excess stool backs up in the intestines, it could put too much pressure on the intestines. This can cause the intestines to perforate or tear. The stool can spill into the abdominal cavity and cause severe and often life-threatening symptoms because stool is acidic and contains bacteria.
• Increased risks for cardiovascular events. Chronic constipation is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack. Doctors think that chronic constipation increases stress and inflammation in the body that affects the heart. However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t mean all people with constipation problems are going to have heart problems, just that the risk could be greater.

If you haven’t pooped in a week or more, it’s important to seek medical attention to avoid severe complications.

Things that contribute to constipation can include stress, diet, and lack of physical activity. A person may also find they don’t poop as often as they age because their intestines tend to move more slowly. There are many treatments available to help relieve constipation and promote regular bowel movements. These include:

• Drinking at least eight glass of water a day. Waste in the intestines absorbs water, helping to stimulate the bowels to move.
• Exercising. Exercise can act as an outside massage to the bowels by promoting movement. The exercise doesn’t have to be high-impact to be effective. Even going on regular walks can help, especially after eating.
• Cutting back on dairy products. Dairy products can have a constipating effect on the body. Limiting one’s intake to one to two servings per day can help.
• Increasing fiber intake. Dietary fiber helps to add bulk to the stool. This promotes intestinal movement (known as peristalsis). Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are all usually excellent sources of dietary fiber.
• Avoiding foods known to worsen constipation. These include high-fat or low-fiber foods, such as chips, fast foods, meat, and highly processed foods like hot dogs.

In addition to making lifestyle changes, you may wish to temporarily take stool softeners, such as docusate sodium (Colace). This can make stool easier to pass.

Doctors can prescribe other treatments as well. An example is the medication linaclotide (Linzess), which can help speed up the intestines so a person has more bowel movements.

Pooping is a natural function of the body. However, it’s connected to many aspects of your lifestyle, including stress and dietary and exercise habits. While there isn’t an exact amount of time that you can safely go without pooping, you should generally seek medical attention after about a week of not going to the bathroom or sooner if you have symptoms.

Is It Harmful to Strain While Pooping? Complications, and How to Avoid

Some health conditions like constipation may cause you to strain to pass a bowel movement. Diet and lifestyle changes, including drinking more water and eating fiber-rich foods, may help.

We’ve all been there before. You’re sitting on the toilet and you find yourself straining to poop. If this happens occasionally, it’s not usually something to be concerned about.

But if straining while pooping is a regular occurrence, you may want to come up with a new game plan. Hard, difficult to pass bowel movements that require physical exertion and straining can lead to health complications.

In this article, we’ll take a look at potential health complications caused by straining to poop, tips for pooping without straining, and when to call a doctor.

Consistently straining when pooping can cause a number of health complications, including:

• Hemorrhoids. These swollen veins in your lower rectum and anus can cause pain, burning, and itching. To relieve the discomfort of hemorrhoids, try soaking in a warm bath for 10 minutes a day. You can also try over-the-counter (OTC) hemorrhoid cream to ease burning and itching.
• Anal fissures. A tear in the lining of your anus may cause pain and bleeding during and after bowel movements. Anal fissures aren’t typically a serious condition and in most cases will heal on their own in 4 to 6 weeks. Topical pain relievers and stool softeners can help promote healing and reduce discomfort.
• Hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia is when the upper part of your stomach pushes through the opening in your diaphragm. Most cases of hiatal hernias don’t require treatment, but large hernias can trap stomach acid and even food in the upper part of your stomach, delaying proper digestion and increasing the risk of acid reflux.
• Rectal prolapse. When a small amount of intestinal lining pushes out from your anal opening, this is called a rectal prolapse. They can range from mild to severe, and all require medical treatment. Call a doctor if you feel or see a reddish bulge extending out of your anus.

Addressing these health complications and their symptoms is just one part of the puzzle. You also want to get at the heart of the issue: what’s causing the need to strain.

If you need to strain when pooping, consider talking with your doctor to find out why. Typical reasons include:

• Hard stool. Hard bowel movements can happen to everyone from time to time. If your poop is consistently hard and difficult to pass, you may not be getting enough fluids or fiber in your diet. Certain medications, like iron supplements or narcotics, can also cause hard stool.
• Constipation. if you poop less than three times a week or have difficulty pooping for several weeks, you’re probably constipated. Constipation is one of the most common digestive problems in the United States, according to a 2013 research review.

Other causes could include:

Certain conditions and diseases can make it difficult to poop by upsetting the balance of hormones that help balance the fluids in your body. These conditions include:

• hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid gland)
• hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• diabetes
• pregnancy

A healthy digestive tract (intestines, rectum, and anus) is critical to avoiding straining when you poop. To keep your digestive tract healthy, you should try to:

• drink enough fluids
• eat a nutritious diet
• exercise regularly
• practice techniques for pooping easily

Get enough fluids

Females should consume about 11 1/2 cups of fluid per day, while males should consume about 15 1/2 cups. Fluid comes from:

• water
• other beverages
• food (represents about 20 percent of total fluid intake)

If you’re not monitoring your fluid intake, it’s probably adequate if:

• your urine is very pale yellow or colorless
• you rarely feel thirsty

Harvard Medical School recommends that people drink 4 to 6 cups of water gradually throughout the day

Eat a nutritious diet

For easy bowel movements:

1. Eat foods that are high in fiber (e. g., whole grains, fruits, beans, vegetables, nuts) can add bulk to your poop while keeping it soft and easy to pass.
2. Limit foods with low amounts of fiber (dairy, meat, processed snack foods).

Exercise regularly

Exercising regularly can help treat and prevent constipation and improve your mental health. Try exercising for 30 minutes a day, at least five times a week. Great options, include:

• walking through your neighborhood
• hiking at a nearby park
• biking
• swimming

Practice techniques for pooping easily

The first step is to relax. When you feel the urge to poop, head to the bathroom as soon as you can. Then sit and relax on the toilet. Avoid immediately trying to push the poop out. Give your body about 5 minutes to get things going. Having reading material nearby is one way to avoid impatience and the urge to strain.

Try this poop position

According to the Western Australia Department of Health, sitting on the toilet properly is an important way to avoid straining when you poop. Some tips to try, include:

• lifting your heels or use a step stool or a “squatty potty” to keep your knees higher than your hips
• keeping your legs apart
• leaning forward with your back straight
• resting your forearms on your knees

Once properly positioned, try:

• pushing your stomach muscles forward, repeat with each urge to poop
• not to hold your breath, breathe out from your mouth

Was this helpful?

If you consistently find yourself straining to poop or haven’t had a bowel movement for a few days, make an appointment with a doctor. Be sure to note other symptoms to discuss with your doctor, such as:

• blood in your stool
• hard or lumpy poop
• feeling as though you are unable to completely empty the poop from your rectum
• bloating
• abdominal discomfort
• anal discomfort

Also be prepared to provide information about your diet and exercise routine with your doctor.

Straining to poop can often be relieved by lifestyle changes such as:

• getting enough fluids
• eating a nutritious, high fiber diet
• exercising regularly

If these changes do not yield the results you want, make an appointment to discuss your situation with a doctor. They may have additional suggestions or recommend tests to determine if there’s an underlying condition causing your need to strain when you poop.

I haven’t had a stool for two days. It is very dangerous? – Your doctor

People often come to our clinic with this question. But we have an answer for you that will help you save time and money: most likely, there is no danger to health. Details are in the article.

In fact, the need to visit the toilet is different for everyone. Most people use the toilet 0-4 times a week, but the frequency can vary from three times a day to three times a week.

As a rule, two days of stool retention is a variant of the norm. The biggest threat to your health in this situation is the feeling of mild discomfort. Most likely, in the near future you will be able to visit the toilet without additional treatment.

However, if you are used to going to the toilet at least three times a day, you should listen to your feelings – you may be constipated.

Most doctors consider constipation a situation in which:

• people defecated less than three times a week

• dry and solid faeces

• bowel movements are painful or require effort

• after going to the toilet, there was a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestines.

There can be many reasons for constipation – from lifestyle and dietary habits to medication and hormonal changes in the body. For example, pregnant women often suffer from constipation – hormones that relax the intestinal muscles are to blame, and the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the intestines also contributes to constipation.

However, for most people, the causes of constipation are much more banal:

• lack of fiber in food – this is typical for people who eat few vegetables and fruits

• consumption of dairy products – milk and cheese in large quantities can lead to constipation.

• dehydration – this happens if a person has lost the habit of paying attention to thirst and does not drink enough water, so that the feces are too hard.

• sedentary lifestyle – people who work in the office spend most of the day at the computer. But our body is not very adapted to this: in the movement of food through the intestines (doctors call it “peristalsis”), the abdominal muscles also take part. People who move frequently and a lot are less likely to suffer from constipation than sedentary ones.

• lifestyle changes, such as travel, unfamiliar food, or other short-term stress.

• regular abstinence – if you often have to “endure” before going to the toilet, the urge becomes weaker, and the likelihood of constipation increases.

Sometimes constipation is associated with drugs. These range from relatively harmless antihistamines and over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen to “serious” drugs like strong painkillers and antidepressants. If, after the start of treatment, “pill” constipation began to occur regularly, tell your doctor about it so that he can adjust the dosage or replace the drug.

If the stool lasts only two days, the problem can usually be solved without the help of a doctor. This is usually enough:

Listen to yourself. It is important to understand in time that you want to drink or go to the toilet. To do this, sometimes it is useful to be distracted from work. During the break, you can drink tea or coffee – these drinks also improve bowel movements.

Increase the amount of fiber in your diet. The recommended amount of dietary fiber is 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day. For most people, a couple of apples, a serving of vegetables, and a bowl of whole grain pasta will suffice. For constipation, citrus fruits and prunes, wheat bran, cereals from oats or flax are especially useful.

It is better to increase the fiber content gradually – if you overeat vegetables and fruits, your stomach may ache out of habit.

Move on. Enough warm-ups and a daily hour-long walk.

But laxatives should not be taken on their own – even if they are sold without a prescription. There are as many as 4 types of laxatives, they are designed to solve various problems, so choosing the right drug is difficult. In addition, drugs have contraindications, and there is a chance not to guess with the dosage, provoking another problem – diarrhea.

If you have never had problems with stool before, you should consult your doctor before buying a laxative. The doctor will explain which medicine to choose, in what dosage and for how long it should be taken.

Schedule a visit with your doctor if lifestyle changes don’t help and constipation lasts longer than three weeks.

There are situations when you cannot wait three weeks. Make an appointment or call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms in addition to constipation:

How many days constipation can last and what to do

How many days of stool retention in adults can be considered constipation?

How many days of stool retention in adults can be considered constipation?

Constipation is a violation of the function of bowel movement, in which the intervals between acts of defecation increase to 3 days or more, and there is also significant physical discomfort in the process of bowel movement ^{1, 3} .

There is no unequivocal answer to the question of how many days of stool retention in an adult can be considered constipation, and cannot be. The normal rhythm of bowel movements for a person can be determined by the nature of nutrition and other individual characteristics. Eating a large amount of food containing coarse vegetable fiber, while limiting protein foods, may be accompanied by two to three bowel movements per day ⁵ .

On a mixed diet, daily stools in the morning are normal. In those whose diet is dominated by refined foods, the frequency of bowel movements (up to 3 per week) and the volume of feces are simultaneously reduced. Stool frequency is not a cause for concern as long as bowel movements are not accompanied by discomfort ⁵ .

On a mixed diet, daily stools in the morning are normal. In those whose diet is dominated by refined foods, the frequency of bowel movements (up to 3 per week) and the volume of feces are simultaneously reduced. Stool frequency is not a cause for concern as long as bowel movements are not accompanied by discomfort ⁵ .

Main causes and symptoms
Main causes and symptoms

In healthy adults, ^{1, 5} can provoke stool retention:

psychogenic
causes – anxiety and depression

medication

physical inactivity

9000 2

reduction in the proportion of foods containing coarse vegetable fiber in the diet

The main symptom of constipation is the absence of voluntary defecation
for several days. Also, constipation is considered to be the need to push with the urge to defecate with soft feces, the appearance of hard fragmented stools, a significant increase in the diameter and density of the fecal cylinder, which, when separated, injures the mucous membrane of the rectum and anus, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestine ⁵ . It is not uncommon for a person to have to help himself manually by pressing his hand
on the area of ​​the pelvic floor, removing stool with a finger ⁴ .

No matter how long constipation lasts in an adult, the absence of stool and discomfort during bowel movements may not be considered by the patient as a sufficient reason
for a visit to a doctor, although in fact this is not the case ^{1, 3} . It is often not customary to talk about the problem of constipation in general, and it happens that the Internet becomes the only “consultant” for the patient.

No matter how long constipation lasts in an adult, the absence of stool and discomfort during bowel movements may not be considered by the patient as a sufficient reason
for a visit to a doctor, although in fact this is not the case ^{1, 3} . It is often not customary to talk about the problem of constipation in general, and it happens that the Internet becomes the only “consultant” for the patient.

What to do with stool retention?
What to do with stool retention?

Consider the algorithm of actions in cases where constipation lasts for several days in a healthy adult.

The first and most important thing to do is to remember how often a bowel movement is normal and how much your own feelings have changed when trying to go to the toilet. It is worth talking about constipation
in cases where the deviation from the individual norm is
48 hours or more, and there are also characteristic symptoms (hard stools, pain during bowel movements, the need to push, etc.) ^{1, 4, 5} .

If problems with a chair have arisen for the first time, it is necessary, if possible, to determine the cause of the delay in the chair. If there have already been difficulties with defecation, it is better to contact a specialized gastroenterologist and undergo the necessary examination. Treatment of constipation should be comprehensive. In addition to taking laxatives, it includes advice on lifestyle and dietary changes ^{1, 3-5} .

Danger of stool retention
Danger of stool retention

Stretching of the smooth muscle fibers of the intestinal wall by accumulating fecal masses, including suppression of the urge to defecate, can contribute to constipation ⁸ .

Constipation is not just stool retention
Constipation is not just stool retention

Constipation has a significant negative impact on the patient’s quality of life ^{1, 3} .

Constipation leads to unpleasant symptoms not directly related to the act of defecation, such as lethargy, feeling of heaviness and fullness in the abdomen, decreased mood ⁶ .

Constipation fixes patients’ attention on bowel function: they begin to pay too much attention to the quantity and quality of stools ⁶ .

Long term constipation management

Recurring bowel problems are cause for concern and action. To do this, first of all, you need to contact a doctor who will determine the cause of constipation and give the necessary recommendations, including on lifestyle modification and nutrition correction ^{1, 4, 5} :

In addition to lifestyle recommendations, your doctor may also prescribe laxatives ^{1, 4, 5} .

increase the amount of foods containing coarse vegetable fiber in the diet: vegetables, fruits, bran;

drink at least 2 liters of fluid per day;

increase physical activity.

One of the laxatives is Guttalax®

⁹ .

Its active substance, sodium picosulfate, has a dual mechanism of action: it not only promotes colon peristalsis, but also helps soften stools ⁹ . In addition, Guttalax® is available in drops, which allows you to individually select the appropriate dose of laxative ⁹ . It is also worth noting that Guttalax® is not only not addictive when taken in recommended doses, but also does not require a course of administration – it can be used once as needed, exactly when there is such a need ⁹ . With prolonged constipation, it is imperative to consult a doctor who will determine the cause of constipation and give recommendations, and not resort to self-medication.