
Constipation
On a very fine morning, you wake up and start thinking on how you are going to set your meetings or set your schedule, and by the time you reach the washroom to clear your stomach you feel gut wrenching pain and the stool just denies to come out and your whole week gets ruined because you feel bloated, uncomfortable and lose your appetite. Yes, we all have been there and trust me, we know how much of a trouble it is. When a person has a problem in his bowel movement, or passes less than 3 bowel movements in a week, we call it "Constipation".
What causes Constipation?
- Not including enough fibre in diet (such as, fruits, vegetables, salads) is a known cause of constipation.
- Consuming less water is a major factor leading to constipation.
- Not using the washroom when necessary is really not okay! Suppressing the urge of passing stool might break your bowel movement and cause you constipation.
- Eating a lot of refined and processed food.
- Sometimes depression, stress, anxiety and bad mental health also cause change in bowel movement.
- Lying in bed, being inactive, sedentary lifestyle, spending day and night without activities also affect your gut.
- Passing days by eating less than the quantity needed.
- Some medications are also responsible for constipation such as Opioid pain relief drugs, Tricyclic antidepressants, Certain anticonvulsants, Calcium channel blockers, Antacids that contain aluminum, Antacids that contain calcium, Diuretics, Iron supplements.
- Hypothyroidism can cause constipation.
Most of the old people get diagnosed with Constipation because they tend to stay inactive more than usual and they slow their movements according to their comfort. Also, during pregnancy and after childbirth a woman's body goes through several hormonal changes which often leads to constipation.
Now that you know what causes Constipation, here are some symptoms that might help you.
Symptoms of constipation:
- Passing fewer than three stools in a week is the most common symptom.
- Hard Stool, Lumpy and dry stool
- Stomachache, lower abdominal pain while passing stool.
- Straining to pass hard stools.
- Bleeding while passing stools.
- Feeling like something is stuck inside the rectum or feeling a blockage that doesn't let your stool pass.
- Needing help to clear the rectum or inserting fingers to do so.
- Feeling bloated.
- Nausea.
Red Flags of Constipation which should alert you - Blood in stools, sudden onset severe constipation associated with vomiting, associated unintentional weight loss, severe abdominal pain.
Now, to help you save some time and keep you healthy and safe, here are some precautions you can follow –
Precautions to follow :-
- "Always stay hydrated." Drink at least 2.5 to 3 litres of water everyday. If you can't manage to drink much water at once, have fruit juice or different kinds of fluid as per your choice.
- If you haven't yet, "Include fibre in your meal!" Fibre carries a great responsibility of keeping your intestine healthy. Whole grain cereals, Apple, Pears, Dried plums or prunes, kiwi, citrus fruits, green veggies, chia seeds, flax seeds, peas, lentils, beans etc. are some of the components which are rich in fibre and easily available.
- "Exercise everyday!" Stay as much active as you can, it helps all your organs to stay active and healthy.
- Go to the washroom when you need to, do not ignore the urge of passing stool. It is unhygienic and risky.
- Schedule your bowel movements if possible; doing that, you can keep your stomach clear every day, it lessens the risk too.
- Stay as much stress-free as possible. Anxiety, stress triggers constipation and anti-anxiety medicines also cause hard stool sometimes. Take rest, get plenty of sleep.
- Age, the quantity of food and water, the quantity of fiber in your diet, physical activities, medications are the most common factors to cause constipation, so stay aware of these risk factors.
Now that you know how to prevent and how to take basic precautions at home, take good care of your intestine! But, there are some complicated matters which can only be solved by an expert physician. Like swollen veins in anus or Piles or hemorrhoids, Anal fissure, torn skin, irremovable stool in rectum etc. If you face any of these hardships contact Dr. Sachet Chandak.
Dr. Sachet Chandak (MBBS ; DNB in internal medicine and DNB in Gastroenterology, MRCP ESEGH [UK]). He has been a renowned Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist and Therapeutic Endoscopist in Ghatkopar and Chembur for 6 years now. Besides Gastrointestinal problems like acidity, digestion problems, heartburn, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, he's also an expert when it comes to constipation issues, gallbladder issues, gallbladder stone, diarrhea, food intolerance, intestinal bleeding, intestinal perforation. Currently attached with all major hospitals in Ghatkopar and Chembur.