subject: How to Prevent Constipation? [print this page] How to Prevent Constipation? How to Prevent Constipation?
Many people suffer from constipation regularly and most have it at some point of time in their life. Constipation can be prevented while adapting regular and suitable lifestyle, particularly diet.
Constipation is said to exist when the frequency of passing stool is less than three times per week. Constipation includes: 1) hard consistency of the stool; 2) difficulty inpassing the stool; 3) excessive straining while passing the stool; 4) heavy or full feeling in the lower abdomen; and 5) feeling of incomplete passing of the stool.
Stool is formed from the undigested food. After you swallow food, it passes through the food pipe, the stomach, and small intestine, in that order. The stomach acids mix with the food and result in a soft soup like consistency. Digestion of food takes place in the small intestine by chemical substances called enzymes. The muscles of the intestines contract and relax in rhythmic fashion resulting in a wave like movement called bowel movements, which pushes the food forward.
After the digested food is absorbed by blood in the small intestine, the undigested food (waste matter) and large quantities of water enter the large intestine. The large intestine, also known as colon, continues to push the waste matter forward. By the time the undigested food reaches the end of the large intestine, most of the water is absorbed and stool is formed. The last ten centimetres of the large intestine is a chamber called rectum. The rectum ends in an opening called anus. The anus is guarded by two bands of muscles which keep it in closed position. These bands are the inner and outer anal circular muscles, which bind the opening tightly and keep it closed or contracted.
