Treating Constipation

Remedy your constipation

By Jarrett Kruse

Persistent constipation can be treated by eating a fiber rich and healthy diet and supplementing it with natural medication. While there are many harmful bacterias that cause all sort of damages to our system, there are a few useful bacteria’s that can help to heal your digestive system. Acidophilius probiotics can help protect your body against parasites and produce a number of chemicals that help digestion. There are both simple and serious reasons for constipation. A stressful situation may often lead to a temporary constipated condition; however a serious disorder such as colon disease, colon cancer or irritable bowel syndrome may be behind the problem.

Prevention of constipation will depend on the risk of becoming constipated. For example, a patient who has abdominal cancer, diabetes and is taking regular pain medication is at an extremely high risk of constipation. That’s because abdominal tumors can compress or obstruct the bowel, diabetes damages sensory fibers and slows intestinal movement, and opioids further slow stomach motility. Prevention focuses on adequate fluid intake, a proper diet, and exercise which promotes active bowels.

When prevention is not enough and a patient becomes constipated, it is important to start a new treatment quickly. Laxatives are usually used in treating constipation and are classified by their actions. Some of these constipation remedies include:

  • Bulk Laxatives: Bulk laxatives provide bulk to the intestines to increase amount of stool, stimulating the bowels to move.
  • Lubricant Laxatives: Lubricant laxatives soften the stool and lubricate the stool’s surface, making it easier to pass.
  • Surfactant/Detergent Laxatives: These laxatives, also commonly called stool softeners, reduce surface tension, thereby increasing absorption of water and fats into dry stools.
  • Suppositories and Enemas: Some laxatives are available in a suppository form, meaning they are inserted directly inside the rectum. Suppositories are usually quick and effective.

Constipation is a distressing symptom that dramatically impacts quality of life. It’s important to keep your health care provider informed about your or your patient’s bowel movements and alert them to any changes in patterns of bowel movements. If you have been having painful and strained bowel movements for three months or more, then you are constipated.