Constipation is one of the problems that many people suffer from and it has become a serious problem for a group of people, so they have tried every way to get rid of it but still have not succeeded.
Arbitrary use of herbal and chemical laxatives is one of the most common tasks that these people use to relieve constipation, but they still do not work. Dr. Sidamir Mansour Rezadoust, a specialist in gastroenterology and a member of the Firoozgar Hospital’s Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, introduces you to this problem and how to solve it.
Count the symptoms!
Usually, a person has constipation if they defecate less than three times a week. In addition, constipation is associated with symptoms such as straining during defecation, feeling of incomplete defecation, hard stools (fragments), help with defecation, and a feeling of obstruction in the urethra. Of course, to say that a person has constipation, it is enough to have two of these symptoms, and only some people have all the symptoms at the same time. Symptoms must have occurred in the last three months.
What are the symptoms of constipation?
Constipation can occur for many reasons, the most important of which is the age of the person, many people suffer from constipation with age. There are other causes of constipation, some of which are primary and some of which are secondary. If constipation occurs due to functional problems in the intestine, it is called primary constipation. However, if the cause of constipation is a disease or problem in the body, it is called secondary constipation. Disorders of bowel movements, slow bowel movements, dysfunction of excretory muscles, and irritable bowel syndrome are some of the causes of primary constipation. Some diseases, such as bowel cancer, glandular disorders, especially hypothyroidism, intestinal stricture, uterine fibroids (due to pressure on the gastrointestinal tract), Parkinson’s, high blood calcium and kidney failure, and can cause constipation. In addition, people with fissures or hemorrhoids can develop constipation.
Treatment is not difficult
To treat constipation, the cause must first be diagnosed by a gastroenterologist, and treatment must be given according to the cause of the constipation. If the cause of constipation is not a specific disease or problem, it can be easily treated by changing lifestyle, diet and using laxatives under the supervision of a doctor. A high-fiber diet can help improve the patient’s condition. Many people with constipation usually also have bloating, so eating high-fiber foods should be small in size at first and increase over time. If the problem is not solved with the diet plan, help should be sought in other ways. One of these ways is to use laxatives that should be taken under the supervision of a specialist. Daily consumption of about 20 to 35 grams of fiber can be useful in preventing constipation. Everyone should drink enough water, especially those with constipation. Mobility and physical activity also play an important role in this issue. Consumption of plums, soaked figs, dates, bananas, peeled apples, grapefruit, oranges, peaches with peel, grapes, pineapple, pears, broccoli, lettuce, strawberries and مفید are useful in preventing and treating constipation.
Drug charge!
Sometimes other factors also play a role in constipation. for example; Taking certain medications can cause constipation, which is unavoidable because the person cannot stop taking the medication. Medications used to control blood pressure or nerves increase the risk of constipation. In addition, antiepileptic and anti-Parkinson’s drugs make people more prone to constipation.
The relationship between constipation and cancer
Some people think that long-term constipation is caused by cancer, while constipation alone is not a cause of cancer. Of course, all people with constipation should be examined by a gastroenterologist to determine the cause of constipation. If a person has other symptoms in addition to constipation, it should be taken seriously. Bleeding from the intestines and occult blood in the stool (detected by a blood test) are symptoms that should not be ignored. If there is an obstruction in the intestine, it can cause symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, vomiting, decreased stool diameter and weight loss along with constipation. These are warning signs, especially if the person is over 50 years old and has no previous history of constipation. Many people who have constipation for a long time think that they must have a colonoscopy, while a colonoscopy is not necessary for everyone. People who have warning signs or are over 50 years old should have a colonoscopy diagnosed by a gastroenterologist. Some people do not have a colonoscopy because of fear. Colonoscopy is an accurate and safe diagnostic procedure that is performed under anesthesia in most centers and the patient will not feel any pain, so it must be done at the discretion of the gastroenterologist.
