Constipation
Please excuse me for my topic today. But this is important too. Did you ever experience being constipated? I guess everybody does.
We can consider being constipated if our usual pattern changes and have irregular, unusual dry, or hard bowel movements.
Most people do have about one formed of stool a day. Some have as much as three times a day and others have as few as three bowel movements a week.
Generally speaking, the more frequent the bowel movements is the softer and looser the stools.
There is no normal pattern for bowel movements. The other definition of constipation is the need to strain your stool and the reduction of an ongoing number of your bowel movements.
Our elimination pattern also depends on our diet. How much liquid we consume each day, and the level of our metabolism.
It also depends on the medications that you are taking. The habit eliminations that you formed earlier in your life. And when you had underlying medical problems or not.
Emergency during Constipation:
-Constipation can be considered an emergency when there is a sudden cessation of a bowel movement that continues in a week or two without obvious explanation.
-When there is an abdominal pain accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
-A feeling of fullness soon after eating may be due to intestinal obstruction.
These are real emergencies. You should seek help from your physician immediately.
Factors That Can cause Risk for Constipation:
Lack of Exercise
Regular exercise can prevent constipation because it will help increase the contraction of the intestine.
However, older people are lack exercise so this is the time for them to appreciate the importance of keeping your body fit. Even just a simple walking can do and help in loosening your bowel movements.
Depression
Can be a serious problem resulting in constipation.
When the person is depressed, they may ignore the urge to empty the bowels.
They will lose their appetite and decreased the intake of foods and water and this will result in constipation and suffer from constipation until you will not depress anymore.
So as much as possible, just be happy and keep yourself busy preventing from being depressed.
Medication
Some people who are taking more medicines for medications suffered from constipation.
Some medicines can cause you to be constipated.
Among them are:
Calcium supplements
Diuretics
Antidepressants
*It reduces the contractility of the muscle in the bowel wall.
Iron supplements
*they make the stool black and hard.
Chemotherapy medicines
*It contains aluminum.
Anti-inflammatory medicines
Antihypertensive medications
*If your bowel changes after taking medications especially those mentioned above, consult your doctor.
Diabetes
It affects the two major areas of the body such as the nerves and the blood vessel.
If the blood sugar levels are poorly controlled it may cause vascular consequences.
It will harden the arteries and complicate the involvement of nerve called " autonomic dysfunction."
Resulting in a sluggish bowel and constipation.
Hypothyroidism
The thyroid glands control metabolism and if you have Hypothyroidism it can cause slowing down of all the functions of our body resulting in constipation.
Stroke and other neurological abnormalities
It can cause either constipation and incontinence.
Older people who are paralyzed don't move around very much.
They become sedentary and bowels are less likely to move normally.
*Stool softeners are given to patients who are confined to bed rest for whatever reasons.
Laxative abused
People who are only dependent on laxatives tend to develop a bowel movement that only functions when pushed to do so.
The need for that simulation increased as well as their constipation resulting in abusing laxatives.
*Some constipation can be caused by a tumor of the bowel leading to mechanical obstruction of justice.
*Not every Tumor is malignant there are benign polyps. When large enough to will cause obstruction.
How to prevent Constipation?
Heed nature's call.
Drink a lot of water at least eight glasses a day.
Increase fiber intake.
Exercise regularly.
Be happy don't be depressed.
Let us always remember that constipation, is not a disease but a result of how we handle our lifestyle. What foods we eat either healthy or not. How much fluid we intake every day to keep our body healthy and replenish.
We should not always depend on using laxatives but instead, eat foods that are rich in fiber. We should need to have self-discipline to prevent from being constipated and motivate ourselves to eat healthily and exercise regularly.
leejhen❤
Just awesome idea