subject: What To Do If You Are Suffering From Severe Constipation Problems [print this page] Patients wondering what to do if you are suffering from severe constipation are passing hard, dry stools, or having no more than three weekly bowel movements. However, patients have many available solutions for the condition, including adding fiber to their diets, getting additional exercise, increasing intake of fluids, and making use of OTC laxatives. If the disorder becomes severe, however, the situation should be discussed with a medical professional.
Being constipated produces an array of symptoms. In addition to dry, infrequent stools, patients may feel the sensation of a blockage in the rectum, or a sense of straining during bowel movements. Also, even when bowel movements are complete, patients may still feel as though stool is present in their colon. If the problem occurs simultaneously with pencil-like stool, rectal or abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or blood in the stool, the patients should visit a doctor quickly.
Constipation has multiple causes. Primarily, the condition results when the body does not move waste quickly through the colon. Reasons may include insufficient fluids, insufficient fiber, or lack of physical activity. Other constipation causes may include diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal obstruction, or diverticulosis.
Women have more occasions of constipation than men, and the problem affects more children than adults. Older adults who are sedentary, or confined to bed, may experience more instances of difficult bowel movements. Also, people who take certain types of medications, or who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment, may be more susceptible to the disorder.
Complications may be inevitable, if patients do not treat their symptoms. For instance, the sphincter muscles may become strained, resulting in anal fissures or hemorrhoids. Patients may also experience rectal prolapse, in which a small piece of the rectum, as well as a mucus secretion, is expelled from the anus. If patients abuse laxatives, the bowels may become inefficient, and the body may have difficulty absorbing vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients.
In serious cases, patients will have to undergo multiple tests. Doctors will start by ruling out serious disorders, including obstruction of the intestine, or narrowing of the colon. Some tests include swallowing barium, along with an x-ray, or undergoing colonoscopy. A defecography, during which patients are x-rayed while they defecate a pasty substance that has been inserted into the rectum, may also provide insight into bowel function.
Doctors often prescribe changes to lifestyle and diet. Doctors may also prescribe medications, like chloride channel activators, or laxatives. Doctors may have to manually break up impacted stool, and, in serious cases, may decide to surgically remove portions of the large intestine that are nonfunctional. Homeopathic remedies, massage, and acupuncture are alternative remedies that may bring relief.
Fiber supplements may be useful for patients who are wondering what to do if you are suffering from severe constipation. However, people will be far more comfortable if they take steps to prevent constipation in the first place. Eating a fiber-filled diet, taking in plenty of fluids, and exercising will prevent many bouts of the disorder. While the problem may seem embarrassing, patients who are experiencing severe symptoms should discuss them with a medical professional. Before trying any supplements or over-the-counter medications, patients should consult their doctors.
