Like its polar opposite, diarrhea, constipation can be a very uncomfortable condition to have and one that is not exactly something you can confide easily to somebody else. After all, the fact that you’re having problems excreting your waste or how hard and big your fecal matter was this morning isn’t exactly the best topic for conversation, isn’t it? Just the same, constipation, like diarrhea, is something that you should take care of as soon as possible, if only for the fact that its presence can affect your lifestyle.

Constipation is a digestive system condition in which a person has difficulty excreting his or her fecal matter because it has become hard and dry. Bowel movements also tend to become infrequent. Sometimes, constipation becomes so severe that it not only prevents the passage of stools, but it blocks gas as well. In this case, constipation is termed as obstipation.

While constipation affects every person regardless of age or sex, it has been observed that it affects the children and elderly more and women more than men. Among the elderly, constipation is more common because bowel muscles tend to diminish with age. Elderly people tend to take more medications as well, which may cause constipation side effects.

There are many causes of constipation, among them improper chewing of food and dehydration causing the hardening of feces, conditions in the digestive tract causing a diminishing or absence of the peristaltic action, or just plain inadequate toilet function and facilities. The good news is that constipation isn’t immediately indicative of a serious underlying condition or disease, unless it persists unnaturally even after treatment.

There are several things you can do to get rid of constipation:

Get plenty of fluids every day. Water helps in the balance of electrolytes and hydration in your body. The digestive system, in particular, depends on how much water and fluids are in your body to properly function. Your colon also regulates the amount of water or fluid present in your stool so it can easily move through your large intestine. If your body does not have enough water or fluid, your stool will be too dry, inducing constipation. The recommended intake of water is eight glasses a day, which should be sufficient enough to keep your digestive system moving properly.

Fluids also provide the mucus that is necessary to keep things moistened and lubricated for more efficient fecal movement in the colon. What exactly is the mucus’ role? Mucus protects and lubricates the colon linings. Without the lubrication provided by the mucus, the colon’s nerve endings are exposed. When waste passes through the colon, it will scrape these nerve endings and cause damage. The damage caused by the nerve endings interferes with the communication between the colon and the brain. The result is a slowing down of muscular activity in the colon which leads to, you guessed it, constipation.

Furthermore, mucus encourages the growth of healthy bacteria in the colon that keep it clean, help to break waste down further and help transform soluble fiber into fatty acids that lubricate the colon.

Page 1 of 2 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 | Next