The most effective 10 home remedies for the treatment of chronic constipation
Chronic constipation is one of the most common digestive disorders. Learn about its causes and the most effective 10 home remedies!
What is constipation?
The
definition of constipation is the inability to defecate 3 times a week or
severe straining, exerting great effort during defecation, and feeling that the
bowel content has not been completely emptied in more than 25% of the time.
Learn about the normal bowel motion:
The rate of
excretion should not be less than 3 times a week.
Learn about the causes of chronic constipation.
There are
two main types of constipation
Functional constipation:
It is what
causes chronic constipation, where the patient complains of constipation for
many years, and the reason for this is:
Either
because of the slow motility of the colon, which leads to the stay of stool in
the colon for a long time, which results in the absorption of water from the
stool, and thus the stool is hard and difficult to pass.
The other
reason is the presence of a defect in the process of defecation itself, whether
it is due to a defect in the pelvic floor muscles, which do not push the stool
out, or the anal valve does not relax during defecation to allow the passage of
stool.
Some
patients may suffer from the presence of both causes together, meaning there is
a slow motility of the colon with a defect in the defecation process.
Causes of functional constipation:
Diet:
Lack of
fiber intake such as fruits and vegetables and not drinking a lot of water may
lead to constipation
Lack of
movement and sports:
Laziness,
lack of movement and regular exercise may lead to constipation
Ignore the
call of nature:
Meaning that a person ignores the feeling of defecation, whether because of his preoccupation, laziness, or the lack of a suitable place to relieve himself, and repeating this may lead to constipation.
Take some
medicines:
Some
medicines may cause constipation, for example:
Antidepressants
and sedatives
Some blood
pressure medications
Iron-containing
food supplements
Antacids
containing calcium and aluminum
Cough
medicines containing codeine
Excessive
use of some laxatives leads to weakness in the muscles of the colon
Some
diseases may cause constipation:
Diabetes:
Especially
in the case of blood sugar control because of non-compliance with treatment and
continuous medical follow-up.
Hypothyroidism:
Where
thyroid hormone deficiency leads to constipation.
Irritable
Bowel Syndrome:
Constipation
may also be part of irritable bowel syndrome.
Also read:
Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and its treatment
Excess
calcium or hypokalemia may also cause constipation.
Organic constipation:
It is what
causes recent constipation, meaning the patient complains of constipation for
only several months, and the reason for this is the presence of a blockage in
the colon, such as the presence of a colon cancer or narrowing of the colon, as
is the case in Crohn’s disease.
Causes of constipation in women:
Women are
more likely to suffer from constipation than men because of the aforementioned
reasons, in addition to the fact that women are more likely to suffer from
nervous tension compared to men, in addition to the effect of hormones on them,
which makes them more susceptible to constipation, especially during pregnancy,
where the pregnancy hormone causes slow in the motility of the colon and
frequent childbirth causes weakness In the pelvic floor muscles, which leads to
difficulty in the process of defecation.
Learn about the symptoms of chronic constipation.
Constipation
is a symptom, but it may be accompanied by other symptoms such as:
bloating and
gas
Pain in the
lower abdomen
Not feeling
completely emptying the contents of the abdomen
Anorexia
When does constipation become dangerous?
If any of
the following symptoms are present, urgent medical advice is required:
1- The
emergence of constipation at the age of fifty
2- Recent
constipation (from several months)
3- The
presence of blood in the stool
4- Weight
loss for no apparent reason
5- The
occurrence of severe pain in the anal area
Chronic Constipation Disadvantages:
Anal fissure
or anal hemorrhoids
The
occurrence of colonic pockets
The
obstruction of the opening of these pockets may lead to inflammation and the
occurrence of an abscess around the colon, which causes severe pain and a high
temperature.
Rectal
prolapse, where part of the rectum protrudes outside the anus
Intestinal
obstruction due to the accumulation of hard stools, which may require surgical
intervention
umbilical
hernia
Varicocele
in men
Learn about diagnosis of constipation:
It is
necessary to try to find a reason for constipation by asking the patient about
his eating habits, the medications he takes, and the accompanying diseases, if
any, such as diabetes and hypothyroidism, and the extent of his commitment to
their treatment and his commitment to follow-up, and the patient must be asked
about the danger signs.
Lab tests:
Such as
blood picture, sedimentation rate, parathyroid hormone, cumulative sugar,
potassium and calcium levels in the blood.
Colonoscopy:
It is very
important, especially if the patient has signs of danger indicating the
possibility of colon cancer, as the endoscopy enables us to examine the entire
colon and take the necessary samples from the tumor for analysis.
CT scan or barium x-ray:
It may be an
alternative if it is not possible to perform a colonoscopy.
Colon motility tests:
Such as anal
manometry and magnetic resonance of the pelvic floor muscles during defecation
to determine how well the pelvic floor muscles are.
These tests
are not done in all cases, only in cases of chronic intractable constipation
that does not respond to treatment.
Understand how to treat chronic constipation.
Nutritional advice:
As for food
and drink, you should drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to avoid
constipation
Also eat
some soft foods such as whole grain bread and oats, especially when eating it
with milk
As well as
some fruits such as pears and apples if we eat them with the peel, berries,
oranges, tangerines, and watermelon, which contain many fibers that help in the
process of excretion.
Make a
fixed time for the need:
And it's
always better after breakfast
Playing
sports:
We must exercise and move constantly half an hour brisk walking five times a week helps move the whole digestive system and reduces the incidence of constipation.
Treatment of
diseases affecting the digestive system:
Any chronic
diseases we suffer from that may affect the digestive system and cause
constipation, the most famous of which are diabetes and hypothyroidism, must be
treated.
Use of some
nutritional supplements:
To stimulate
the digestive process such as beneficial bacteria (probiotics).
Laxatives:
The use of
laxatives may be useful in treating many cases, but this must be done under
medical supervision, because the excessive use of some laxatives may lead to an
increase in constipation.
Biofeedback treatment for constipation
This
treatment is useful in cases of intractable constipation due to weak pelvic
floor muscles. This type of treatment helps to rehabilitate the pelvic muscles.
Surgery:
It is
used in certain cases, for example:
- Intestinal obstruction due to hard stools
- Cases of rectal prolapse outside the anus
- Treatment of hemorrhoids and anal fissure
- Resection of part of the colon may benefit some cases of chronic constipation
10 Effective Home Remedies for Constipation
chamomile
anise
oats
plum
fennel
dates
Sesame oil
Castor oil
Indian
installment
chia seeds
Prevention of constipation:
Make sure to
eat plenty of fiber and fluids
Make sure to
exercise
Do not delay
defecation
Stay away
from anxiety and stress
Do not
overuse laxatives
Avoid
medications that cause constipation as part of their side effects
Treating
chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypothyroidism
Conclusion:
Constipation
is a problem that worries many people. It is necessary to determine the type of
constipation, is it functional or organic, and the cause of constipation and
treatment must be sought to solve the problem from its roots and not be
satisfied with using only laxatives.