Constipation can be divided into three categories, by the time it takes to treat the problem. The short-term ones are caused by travel, diet, medication, surgery and other known causes. They mostly correct themselves. The medium-term ones are caused by low-fiber diet, low liquid consumption, lack of exercise, old age, pregnancy, abuse of laxatives and consumption of dehydrating things like caffeine and alcohol. These can be treated with changed in diet, life-style changes and laxatives.
The long-term Constipation, or Chronic Constipation, is caused by serious disorders of the GI tract or other chronic diseases. The GI tract problems include irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal obstruction, colonic inertia, anorectal dysfunction and structural problems like tumors, fissures, hemorrhoids, fistulae and other problems. To diagnose the above problems many tests are used, including barium x-rays, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, colorectal transit study, anorectal function test and defecography.
If no structural obstruction is found in the GI tract, the Chronic Constipation is treated like other less serious ones. Educating the patients about bowel movements, maintaining a high-fiber diet and a lot of liquid intake, avoiding dehydrating substances, exercising and bowel training are the starting treatments, along with bulk-forming laxatives like psyllium and methylcellulose. If the problem persists, more harsh laxatives, such as hyperosmatics or saline, can be tried. Stronger laxatives like anthraquinones, emollients or stimulants are tried next. Biofeedback is a good treatment if the Constipation is caused by outlet inertia.
Surgery should be considered a last resort if no improvements is seen in three to four months of treatment. Abdominal colectomy, ileorectomy and ileoanal pouch are the surgical procedures with a very good chance of relief. Other underlying causes are neurological disorders, metabolic and endocrine problems, diabetes, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, uremia, hypercalemia, amyloidosis and scleroderma.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Causes Of Constipation
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Most persons have suffered from Constipation at one time or other, due to change of diet, travel, surgery, medication, stress or many other simple causes. These are temporary bouts and correct themselves when properly settled in. Next in line is Constipation which is treatable with...
-
Constipation
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The general guidelines as to what is generally considered Constipation include bowel movement less than three times a week, hard and dry pellet-like stools, straining too much to pass stools, painful bowel movement, feeling of bloated stomach, uneasiness and sluggishness and a feeling of incomplete...
-
Constipation Remedy
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Constipation describes situations wherein patients have difficulty moving their bowels. From most of the persons complaining of Constipation, only a very few have any serious underlying disease that needs specialized tests and treatment by a gastroenterologist. Educating the patient about worrying too much about bowel...
-
Constipation Symptoms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Constipation is a subjective feeling of insufficient evacuation of the bowel, and dry or painful passing of stool. There is a popular misconception that it is a must to have at least one bowel movement every day. Medical facts do not support this view. There...
-
Dog Constipation
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
A dog should defecate at least once in two days, with soft feces. The dog suffers from Constipation if it does not do so. Mechanical obstructions such as tumors, strictures and foreign bodies are the most probable causes of initial Constipation. The ingestion of large...
-
Infant Constipation
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Concerning Infant Constipation, while all agree that hard, dry and painful stools are the symptoms of Constipation, the frequency of bowel movements is controversial amongst pediatricians. Normally a newborn infant does it quite frequently, eight to ten times a day for about four weeks until...
-
Cat Constipation
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Normally a cat has bowel movements once or twice a day. If the pet does not do it or strain to do it with hard feces, the cat is suffering from Constipation. It is a very common problem with cats and an occasional bout of...
-
Chronic Heartburn
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Heartburn is a burning pain starting behind the breastbone and radiating upwards. The hydrochloric acid from the stomach leaks into the esophagus and causes heartburn. Occasional heartburn due to rich food or other lifestyle causes is classified as mild or episodic. Heartburn occurring twice or...
-
Chronic Endometriosis
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Endometriosis is a disease affecting one out of seven women in the world that is characterized by foreign tissue similar to the uterus lining found elsewhere in the woman’s body. Bacterial invasion, such as the kind caused by pelvic inflammatory disorder, can lead to chronic...
-
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or the Chronic Fatigue Dysfunction Syndrome is characterized by some symptoms that are often confused to be because of high blood pressure or influenza. The person often feels fatigued for long periods of time, with muscle cramps, nausea and other symptoms that...