Constipation is a common ailment and one of the most frustrating. Our modern lifestyle is at fault. The other major causes include eating fast foods that are low in fiber, drinking too little water. Getting too less exercise and failing to respond right away to the urge to move the bowels is another issue. Emotional problems and some drugs also play a role in causing constipation. Some people who are constipated find it painful to have a bowel movement and often experience straining, bloating, and the sensation of a full bowel.
Some people think they are constipated if they do not have a bowel movement every day. However, normal stool elimination may be three times a day or three times a week, depending on the person. Most constipation is temporary and not serious. Understanding its causes, prevention, and treatment will help most people find relief.
Symptoms of constipation:
Major Symptoms of constipation includes:
- Dry over firm stools that are hard and painful to pass.
- Feeling of fullness after having a bowel movement or of not being able to finish it.
- No bowel movement after3 days for adults or 4 days fro children.
- Swelling, bloating or pain in the abdomen.
- Nausea, loss of appetite.
- Feeling of sluggishness, lack of concentration.
- Headache.
Prevention of constipation, fast relief for constipation
Below is some of the ways which could give fast relief for constipation:
- Exercise, a brisk 30 minute walk everyday will help regulate your bowel movements.
- Drink plenty of water- at least 8 glasses of water everyday.
- Get lots of fiber by eating at least 5 servings a day of fresh fruits vegetables and other sources like beans, nuts, bran and other whole grain cereals, dry fruits like raisins and prunes.
- Do not ignore the urge to defecate Try acupuncture: place your fingertips below the navel and gently press in about an inch. Hold for 3 minutes while taking deep slow breaths.
- Eliminate sugar and white flour from your diet .
Home remedies for constipation, what helps constipation?
Listed below are some of the primary home remedies for constipation that helps in most cases:
- Constipation vitamin c: Vitamin c alone might not help in giving relief from constipation. Take Vitamin C with Chitosan which is a form of dietary fiber. Chitosan makes the stool smooth by binding fats with foods we take. Vitamin C in the other hand works for activating chitosan in the stomach.
- Beaware of laxatives: Don't use over the counter laxatives unless your doctor suggests them.
- Mineral water: Don't take mineral water as a laxative unless advised by a doctor.
- Prunes: Try strained or whole prunes.
- No Enema: Don't use an enema unless your doctor advices to.
- Lemon and Water Juice for constipation: One of the most popular folk remedy is to mix the juice of a whole lemon into a glass of warm water and drink it in the morning.
- Apple cider vinegar and Honey: Try a glass of water with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey mixed in it.
- Do bananas cause constipation?: Yes and No. If you have a "heat" type of constipation then banana is going to help and in case of "cold" constipation it is going to worsen the situation. Bananas are high in fiber and can help restore normal bowel function in most cases.
- Honey: Honey has mild laxative properties; take one teaspoon three times a day.
When to call a doctor?
- Constipation and Fever: If you have fever and lower abdominal pain, and the stools you do have are thin.
- Constipation and Blood in stool: If your stools are bloody.
- Constipation due to prescription drugs: If you get constipated after taking a new prescription drug or food supplements.
- Constipation due to age: If you are an elderly or disabled person and have not had a bowel movement for a week or more.
- Constipation and weight loss: If you are loosing weight.
- If exercise and eating more fiber hasn't helped after 2 weeks.
