subject: Essential And Helpful Facts About Constipation [print this page] The Latin word for constipation is constipare which means to press and crowd together and this was derived from another Latin word Constipationem. This is an irregularity in the bowel movement that makes it hard for the person to expel the hard feces. Too much absorption of water in the colon slows down the processing of the food in the digestive tract thus making the feces firm and arid. The serious condition of this is called obstipation.
The common cause of constipation is lack of liquid intake and deficient nutrients that must be included in healthy diet like fiber rich one. More consumption of foods that are rich in fiber is one way on how to prevent the abnormality in the functioning of the digestive organ. You have to minimize eating foods that can constipate you just like the meats=, cheese, eggs, and other foods that are rich in fats. Include in your healthy diet more fresh fruits and whole grains as well as vegetables which will help you how to prevent bowel movement irregularities and properly regulate the food in your digestive system. Fiber has two types namely the soluble which can be easily dissolved in water and the insoluble cannot be dissolved in liquid and this is its form still remains even when this is already expelled in the form of feces. The soluble fiber is transformed, absorbed, and fermented in the digestive tract. This prevents you from experiencing the irregularity in bowel movement.
Another cause of constipation is the physical inactivity. According to reliable studies people who are performing fewer activities are the ones who are usually experiencing this painful discharging of the stool. That is why the elderly ones are more at risk of being constipated compared to younger people who tend to do more activities. If the metabolism in the body is high there is less risk for you to be constipated and that is why you should prevent from experiencing it and a good way to do that is to perform workouts regularly. Drugs can also cause irregularity in expelling stool just like the pain reliever drugs and antidepressants. Other causes of these digestive disorders are awry eating habits, improper diet, unhealthy surroundings, lack of important nutrients such as magnesium, over consumption of dairy products, pregnancy, too much intake of laxatives, improper toilet habits, lack of water consumption, other problems in the colon, disorder in the nervous system, diseases like cancer, and aging.
Constipation can be treated with home remedies and pharmaceutical drugs. However if the symptoms persist you have to ask the assistance of a doctor that will help you determine the real condition of your digestive system.
Furthermore the health specialist will be able to advise and provide you the right prescription in treating the irregularity in your bowel movement. There is also a need for you to change your eating as well as other health lifestyle and ensure that you will always eat healthy diet every day. Another way on how to prevent constipation is by giving enough time in discharging the stool because stressful defecation will only cause you disorders in releasing it. There are stimulants which you can effectively use in softening the stool and allowing it to go out of the anal opening without feeling pain. Another one is the lubricant that helps in letting out the hard feces smoothly from the rectum, stool softeners such as Colace, fiber supplements, osmotics, and saline laxatives, channel activator such as Choride, 5-HT-4 agonists, and Relistor.
