What is constipation?
How to get rid of constipation: Constipation means difficulty for a person to empty his/her large bowel or passage of hard stool or it is very difficult to pass stool properly.
It is a lifestyle disease and with the help of some home remedies with lifestyle changes, you can get rid of constipation.
There are many reasons behind it like the passage of stool very slowly in the intestine and because of slow movement more water is absorbed by the large intestine and the stool becomes harder.
Sometimes the reason behind constipation is very serious like intestinal obstruction at that time the patient needed urgent medical attention.
Most of the time the main cause of constipation is a lack of fiber and water in the diet.
Main Symptoms (how to get rid of constipation)
- Passage of hard, dry or lumpy stool
- Straining while passing stool
- Passing of less amount of stool than usual
- Pain while passing stool
- Difficult to pass stool
Some other symptoms…
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Cramping feeling in the abdomen
- Bloating
- Flatulence
- Pain abdomen
- Abdominal discomfort
Complications of constipation
Most of the time constipation is not a serious medical condition but sometimes due to constipation a lot of other serious complications occur in the body like…
- Anal fissure, a condition in which there is a small tear in the anal region
- Bleeding from the rectum due to straining
- Piles or haemorrhoids due to swollen inflamed blood vessels because of constipation
- Blockage in the rectum due to stagnation and collection of dry stool that leads to mechanical obstruction
Despite these complications, there are some others like anxiety, stress, depression that affect the quality of life and need urgent medical attention.
“constipation treatment” keep reading…
Causes of constipation
Lack of dietary fiber…
Dietary fiber along with hydration is very necessary to regulate bowel movements and people who consume a good amount of dietary fiber experience fewer chances of constipation.
Some food sources like fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, chickpeas, lentils and other legumes contain a good amount of dietary fibre.
Some foods like eggs, meat cheese and highly processed foods like white bread, fast foods, and chips contain very less amount of fiber which aggravates the problem of constipation.
Lack of physical activity…
Lack of physical activity also leads to constipation. A study conducted in 2013 supports this fact.
It is found that the people who spend many weeks or days sitting in a chair or in a bed may have experienced a higher risk of constipation than those people who do more physical activity every day.
Some medications…
There are many medicines that aggravate the problem of constipation like…
- Tricyclic antidepressants- Imipramine, Amitriptyline
- Opioid pain relievers- Codeine, Oxycodone, Hydromorphone
- Anticonvulsants like- Carbamazepine, Phenytoin
- Aluminium-containing antacids- Amphojel, Basaljel
- Calcium containing antacids- Tums
- Calcium channel blockers- Diltiazem, Nifedipine
Some diuretics- Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazides
Ageing…
Chances of the problem of constipation increase while ageing.
The proper cause is still unknown but it is thought that while ageing the movements of the intestine become slower and other medical conditions with a lack of dietary fiber aggravate this problem.
“constipation treatment” keep reading…
IBS-
Irritable bowel syndrome, a functional psychogenic intestinal difficulty also aggravates the problem of constipation.
People who are suffering from IBS may experience symptoms like…
- Distension of abdomen
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Change in the consistency of stool
- Change in the frequency of passing stool
In this problem(IBS), there is a fluctuation in the problem of constipation.
Sometimes diarrhoea or loose stools may happen.
Laxatives overuse…
The overuse of laxatives for a long time to cure constipation is habit-forming.
In such conditions, it is very difficult to pass stool without laxatives because anybody depends on the laxatives physically as well as mentally.
Some people use laxatives with mild constipation problems that are not the right ways.
Laxative overuse can also lead to an electrolyte imbalance, internal organ damage or dehydration in the body.
So it is very necessary to consult with a physician before taking laxatives.
Drinking less water…
It is very necessary to drink enough water or other fluids like fruit juices, vegetable soups and clear soups to get rid of the problem of constipation.
Some liquids like caffeinated soda, coffee and alcohol aggravate the problem of constipation so avoid their use.
Medical intestinal problems…
Some health issues that affect the intestine also lead to difficulty passing stool causing the problem of constipation like…
- Diverticulitis
- Hernia
- Scar tissue
- Cancerous tumours
- Stricture in the colon
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Some other medical conditions…
These include…
- Neurological issues like spinal cord injuries, Multiple sclerosis, Stroke, Parkinson’s disease etc.
- Digestive issues like Celiac disease, chronic inflammation in the colon, IBD etc.
- Cancer treatments like chemotherapy
- Other metabolic conditions like diabetes, hypercalcemia, hypothyroidism and uremia etc.
Sometimes the problem of constipation occurs in newborn babies, young infants and also in pregnancy.
“constipation treatment” keep reading…
Treatment (how to get rid of constipation)
With the help of lifestyle changes the problem of mild to moderate constipation usually resolve itself like-
- Drinking plenty of water
- Eating more and more fiber
- Doing more physical activity daily etc.
- Without any stress or interruption, everybody should take enough time to pass the stool
- Don’t ignore the urgency of passing stool
- Use mild home remedies to get rid of constipation
Despite these efforts, if the problem of constipation persists then you should consult with your doctor for stronger medication.
Your doctor will do a proper physical examination as well as other investigations to rule out the exact cause of constipation and after diagnosing treat it appropriately.
Other measures…
Use of mild laxatives…
The person with constipation can use mild laxatives and stool softeners which are available over the counter to get rid of constipation. Examples are…
- Stimulants- which trigger intestinal muscle contraction rhythmically. One example is Senekot.
- Stool softeners- which moisten the stool like Surfak and Colaca.
- Lubricating agents- for smooth movement of stool in the intestine like Fleet, a mineral oil.
- Fiber containing supplements- also called bulk-forming laxatives like FiberCon.
This is the safest option. You can buy it online.
- Osmotic agents- which hydrate the stool in the intestine and ease its movement.
If the problem of constipation is not cured by all these measures then your doctor may need to remove the impacted stool manually or surgically.
Your doctor may need to do a further investigation like a CT scan, MRI scan or X-ray to rule out the exact cause of constipation like any obstruction in the gut.
Natural constipation relieving remedies…
Fiber Intake must be increased…
You should eat 25 to 30 grams of fiber daily in the form of vegetables, fresh fruits and fortified cereals.
This is the best way to get rid of constipation and can help to make the stool soften and make them easier to pass.
A tablespoon of wheat Bran can be sprinkled onto breakfast cereals or you can add it to yoghurt or smoothie.
- Following good toilet habits daily
- Drink enough warm water every day in the early morning
- Doing regular physical activity every day
- Avoid holding and responding properly to the urgency of passing stool
When you need doctor consultation…
If these symptoms develop along with constipation then you must consult with your doctor like…
- Constipation starts suddenly without any clear reason
- Anal bleeding
- Stool mix with blood
- Severe pain in the abdomen
- Very difficult to pass gas
- Weight Loss unexpectedly
- Vomiting
- Constipation did not respond to any medicine or home remedies
“constipation treatment” keep reading…
Ayurvedic laxatives to cure constipation…
Ayurved is an ancient medical and holistic approach to wellness and health that makes a balance between spirit, mind and body.
Around 2,40,000 persons are using Ayurvedic medicine in the United States estimated by the National Centre for complementary and integrative health.
According to Ayurveda, the main cause of constipation is Vata dosha imbalance that causes stool to become hard and dry.
So for the cure of constipation Vata dosha pacifying foods, herbal supplements along with a healthy lifestyle are recommended in Ayurveda.
1. Triphala use…
It is the best medicine in Ayurveda to cure constipation as well as other digestive issues made up of three fruits named…
- Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
- Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica)
- Amalaki ( Emblica Officinalis)
79 % of the people improved their constipation symptoms with the use of Triphala within a period of two weeks found in a study conducted in 2011 without any unpleasant side effects.
Triphala can be used in powder form or in capsule form.
Triphala powder in a dose of 3 to 5 grams should be taken with lukewarm water at night to get rid of chronic constipation.
2 capsules of Triphala should be taken with lukewarm water 2 times a day after half an hour before or after meals to get relief from chronic constipation.
Triphala powder, tablets and capsules are widely available online as well as over the counter.
Along with constipation it also lowers blood pressure and helps to lose weight.
“constipation treatment” keep reading…
2. Senna…
A wonderful herb that acts as a laxative has been used for many years in Ayurveda to cure problems like constipation and other digestive disorders.
The food and drug administration also approved this herb as a laxative and its over the counter uses.
This herb contains a compound named Sennosides that stimulates the lining of the intestine and gives relief from constipation in just 6 to 12 hours.
Some people feel stomach pain and cramps while taking this herb.
To avoid unpleasant and unwanted adverse effects this herb should be used in the proper dose and for a short period of time after consultation with an Ayurvedic expert.
The herb senna is not recommended in certain health conditions like…
- Dehydration
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Heart diseases
- Inflammation in the stomach
- Haemorrhoids
- Appendicitis
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Anal prolapse
- Intestinal blockage
Children under the age of 2 years etc.
3. Himalaya herbolax…
This is another remedy for constipation containing Haritaki and another herb named Trivruth(operculina turpethum/ Ipomoea turpethum) that has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial as well as laxative properties.
Still, there is not enough study on the effectiveness of this medicine but it is confirmed that Haritaki and trivruth have good laxative effects.
This herbal supplement is not recommended for paediatric use.
Ayurvedic Basti (a type of enema)…
Panchakarma is a very famous health protocol in Ayurveda to clean the human body that eliminates toxins from the body.
Panchkarma means five ways to clean the body in which there is a Basti Karma also called Ayurvedic enema in which a special type of herbal blend that contains ghee and oils is inserted into the rectum through a special enema device and cleans the rectum properly.
After holding this herbal blend in the rectum you release this mixture in the toilet.
This way the problem of constipation can be treated effectively.
Overuse of Ayurvedic enema can cause anorectal injuries and should be conducted under the supervision of an ayurvedic health expert.
Ayurvedic massage therapy…
Some special herbal medicated oils are used in Ayurveda to massage the whole body for many years to cure a lot of health issues.
Deep Colon and abdominal massage therapy can help in relieving constipation are proved by a research study conducted in 2016.
Abdominal massage has been used to relieve constipation in patients suffering from medical conditions like…
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease and the people taking opioid medications.
Despite these measures, some Ayurvedic experts recommend some special yoga techniques to get rid of constipation. Some examples are as follows…
- Dhanurasana
- Vajrasana
- Sarvangasana
- Matsya-indrasan
- Trikonasana
- Bhujangasana
- Shalabhasana
- Halasana
- Mayurasana
- Mandukasana etc.
Still, there is not enough study to understand how yoga affects the digestive system but in clinical trials, it is found that it may help to get rid of constipation.
Home remedies to cure constipation…
Disclaimer (how to get rid of constipation)
The content of this article is not intended as an alternative to professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek medical advice for any questions regarding the medical condition.
Do not attempt to treat yourself, your child, or anyone else without proper medical supervision.
Image credit: Thank you to www.pixabay.com
Writer of “how to get rid of constipation”… Dr V.K. Goyal BAMS MD (AM)
[email protected]
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