What can be considered constipation and how often it occurs

Constipation - a slow, labored or systematic lack of bowel movements. Constipation can be a manifestation of a variety of diseases, a consequence of the impact of environmental factors, the result of malnutrition.

Stool frequency in humans varies widely and depends on the nature of food, lifestyle habits. In most cases (about 65%) of bowel movements (defecation) is carried out once a day, at least - two (23%) and three (6%) times. About 5% of people defecation is once in several days. For most people, chronic delay bowel movement for more than 48 hours, can be seen as constipation. Constipation occurs frequently, especially among women and the elderly.

Why can occur

Constipation can be caused by incorrect or insufficient nutrition, impaired motor (motor) bowel function in endocrine and neurological diseases, changing the shape, position and width of the lumen of the colon, with a sedentary lifestyle, and so on.

There are locks that have arisen independently (primary - often they are the result of suppressing defecation or disorders of the nervous system), and appeared in the background of a disease (secondary).

The most common of the time - nutritional, which depend on the amount and composition of food. The bulk of the toxins in food make foods rich in crude fiber, vegetable fiber, can stimulate the bowel. People have long eating easy to digest processed food, there may be persistent constipation. The food, consisting mainly of protein, mealy dishes, sweets are well digested by the digestive juices, a small amount of feces and quickly loses its irritant properties that can cause constipation. Very often the cause of constipation becomes a combination of the monotonous food with a sedentary lifestyle.

Neurogenic constipation are also common, they occur at constant stress, resulting in disturbed intestinal nervous regulation and there is a decrease or an increase in peristalsis (muscle movement) bowel.

Hypodynamic constipation occur in patients who are on long-term bed rest, as well as a sedentary lifestyle.

How does constipation

Constipation is manifested in different ways - depending on the reason they were called. In some cases, constipation - only complaint, others - constipation is accompanied by many additional discomfort.

Frequency of defecation may be from 2-3 times a day to once a week or less. Sometimes the chair can be every day, but with the difficult act of defecation and a minor amount of feces. Feces are usually dry, dense consistency as dry dark lumps or pellets ("sheep feces"). Sometimes there is a so-called stop-diarrhea Diarrhea (diarrhea) - a familiar nuisance When there is background constipation diarrhea with mucus.

People suffering from constipation, often complain of pain and bloating in the abdomen, sometimes - colicky pain. If pain occurs in the upper left abdomen, they are often accompanied by shortness of breath, palpitations and pain in the heart Pain in the heart - always consult a doctor . When the faeces are collected in the right half of the colon, you may experience pain that can be confused with symptoms of acute appendicitis Appendicitis - when we must act immediately .

Treatment of constipation

Before treat constipation, you need to know exactly what it is called, for it conducted a comprehensive examination (radiological and endoscopic - through a special probe with an optical device research).

When nutritional constipation good result is achieved through diet: food rich in fiber (vegetables, wholemeal bread, etc.) and plenty of fluids (1, 5-2 liters per day). It is recommended as products that promote bowel - sour milk, fruit juice, prunes, figs and so on.

When hypokinetic constipation recommend vegetable oils (e.g., olive oil), and ingestion in sufficient amounts.

In addition, great importance is the habit of the intestine to release in the same time of the day, it is especially important for constipation caused by the suppression of defecation. To restore this reflex is recommended in the morning on an empty stomach to drink a glass of fruit juice mud just water, which activates the intestinal peristalsis. Half an hour after meals a person should cause the defecation, using certain techniques (abdominal massage, rhythmic retraction anus, rectum administration glycerin suppositories and so on). Over time, the reflex is restored.

Drug therapy of constipation should be performed only by a physician and with extreme caution, as it is very difficult and strictly individual treatment.

  Galina Romanenko

Causes

Almost everyone sooner or later confronted with pains in the stomach. Sometimes he guesses about their origin, and sometimes not so begins the wrong treatment. Stomach pain - a symptom, which is necessary to pay attention, because a lot of reasons for it, and they all boil down to one thing - the body asks for help.

• Bad habits

Smoking, alcohol, coffee and carbonated drinks - all these bad habits, from which it is necessary to get rid of or reduce to a minimum. Some do not have this notion, but the simple daily habits often have a negative impact on the health of the gastrointestinal tract, occasionally giving itself felt soreness stomach.

Bubbles of carbon dioxide contained in carbonated beverages, irritate, just as caffeine. Negatively acting on it and acid dyes that are found in many beverages.

• Fatty foods, hearty meal

Food that is richly spiced sauces, seasonings, in addition to the stomach in large quantities, greatly complicates the process of digestion. After a meal, a feeling of heaviness, heartburn. Usually all this takes place during the holiday feasts, but many can be in everyday life so indulge yourself. Such experiments should be reduced to the stomach, and when they happen, it is necessary to take certain medications that promote better digestion.

• Stress, tension

Almost always the gastrointestinal tract responds to stressful situations inappropriate behavior. Doctors call it the second brain, which is closely linked with our emotions Emotions and culture: how to decipher the emotional code . Many students are experiencing stomach pains before examinations are not always aware that this is just a response to stress.

Of course, not so easy to completely eliminate stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis   from his life in order to avoid stomach problems. But once felt discomfort in this area against the background of nervous tension, we must try to calm down and for three to five minutes to breathe slowly and deeply.

Solving the problem and prevention

• Slow chewing

For an order to reduce the number of stomach ailments, be sure to chew food slowly, because in the mouth begins her cleavage. When food is ingested in large pieces, it is difficult digestion, stomach gets in the air, begin inconvenience. It is also important not to skip meals, because stomach acid will eat away at the mucous membrane, which is also a negative impact on health.

• Exclusion from the diet of some products

Citrus fruits contain enough acid that increases the level of the natural acidity of the stomach and often leads to burning sensation. Spices, spicy seasonings, onion, garlic Garlic health: almost a panacea , Fatty foods, chocolate provoke discomfort in the stomach, so do not abuse them. For some people at risk in this regard are milk and bread that cause fermentation.

These two recommendations are perhaps paramount, and observing them can significantly reduce stomach problems. But there are other tips that can help keeping your stomach feel better.

Among them:

• weight reduction, which, as a rule, is always associated with malnutrition;
• Sleep with your head elevated, which eliminates the risk of nocturnal disturbances in the form of heartburn;
• consumption of dairy products that promote good digestion;
• last meal two to three hours before bedtime Dreams: how to understand our dreams .

If these recommendations in a couple of weeks, do not give a noticeable improvement, seek medical advice. On a visit to a specialist is not necessary to pull as if the pain is sharp and too often, if spasms interfere in everyday life, because we can talk about acute gastritis or more serious illnesses. Pain in the stomach, which occur two or three times a week - the indications for immediate consultation.