Persistent constipation: causes, treatment

A fairly large number of people suffer from stool disorder, but they are embarrassed to consult a doctor with this delicate problem. If a visit to him is postponed and no measures are taken, then the situation only worsens, the pathology becomes chronic. Constant constipation requires the intervention of a gastroenterologist to find out the cause of such a deviation and prescribe appropriate therapy.

Let's figure out what causes constipation, how to recognize an impending problem and deal with it.

How does pathology develop?

If in the body all processes are carried out normally, then there is a natural process of spontaneous urge to empty the intestines. The multiplicity in this case is determined by the individual needs of the body, and a person does not experience discomfort and anxiety.

If the consistency of the stool and the interval between bowel movements change, then we can say that this is already a deviation from the norm. Permanent constipation begins with the appearance of irritable bowel syndrome. In a person, loose stools alternately alternate with its dehydrated form. Then, stagnant phenomena begin to develop, in which feces lose fluid and are compressed, which makes it difficult for them to exit through the anus.

Constant bloating and constipation for adults is not so rare - almost a fifth of the world's population lives already with a chronic form of pathology. The problem can affect absolutely any age group and people of any gender.

We can say that almost everyone knows what constipation is. If this condition rarely occurs, then you should not worry, but constant constipation requires medical advice.

Symptoms of constipation

This pathology is acute and chronic, but it is not difficult to recognize the symptoms of each form. Permanent constipation in an adult has the following manifestations:

• Missing chair for several days.
• There is heaviness in the iliac region.
• Pain appears in the abdomen.
• During bowel movements, the intestines are not completely empty .
• There are sleep disturbances.
• Sweating increases.
• There is pain in the navel.

• There is pain in the lumbar region.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Burping.
• Increased drowsiness.
• Feces are very hard.
• Bloating is observed.

If at least some of the listed symptoms are observed, then this is an occasion to visit a gastroenterologist who will tell you how to get rid of constant constipation. Only following all the recommendations will help to cope with the problem.

Symptoms of constipation in a child

Constant constipation in a child can also be, but when making a diagnosis, it is necessary to take into account that the frequency of stool changes with age, for example, if a nursing baby empties the intestines several times a day, then two or three years old - once or twice.

Constipation in children is characterized by general and local symptoms. Local ones include:

• An increase in the period between bowel movements.
• The kid complains of abdominal pain, bloating is observed.
• There is no chair.
• During emptying, pain occurs.
• Fecal dense.
• There may be an admixture of blood.
• Heaviness in the intestines.
• Infants have colic.

If the child has constant constipation, then the general signs join the local signs:

• Weakness.
• The child gets tired quickly.
• Nausea and vomiting (possible).
• Appetite is reduced or lost.
• Irritability.
• Headache.
• A blood test shows anemia.
• The skin becomes pale.

If a child becomes chronic, then this is fraught with the development of complications. The intestinal microflora is disturbed, colitis develops, and constant attempts while visiting the toilet can result in prolapse of the rectum.

Causes of Constant Constipation

All the causes of the described disease can be divided into two groups:

• non-pathological;
• pathological.

Non-pathological include changes in the body that occur naturally. Such permanent constipation in an adult has, as a rule, the following:

• Disruption of the hormonal background, which affects the digestive tract. For example, during puberty, many adolescents encounter such a problem or women during bearing a baby.
• Errors in nutrition, the quality of products, their poor variety on the table and low saturation with nutrients - all this can cause constipation.
• Violations of sleep and wakefulness.
• Frequent stresses.
• Psychological problems. For example, when a person restrains the urge to defecate at work or in an educational institution because of disgust or awkwardness, a plug of solid feces appears, which is the reason for the development of constipation.
• A sedentary lifestyle disrupts the gastrointestinal tract.

Usually, several non-pathological causes are immediately provocateurs of the development of persistent constipation. But pathological ones can also be noted - these are diseases, disorders in the digestive system or other organs. For instance:

• the presence of chronic cholecystitis or pancreatitis is fraught with the development of persistent constipation;
• problems in the endocrine system.

Quite often, older people suffer from constipation due to their age and due to the presence of many chronic pathologies.

Risk factors for developing chronic constipation

The mechanism of congestion in the intestine is characterized by the following conditions:

1. Diffusion of the liquid part through the walls of the intestine, which leads to the hardening of feces.
2. Decreased contractility of the intestinal wall.
3. The development of a tumor in the intestinal lumen.

The cause of the failure of the digestive tract, which leads to the appearance of constipation, may be the following conditions:

• Non-compliance with the water regime, consumption of a small amount of liquid.
• Frequent dieting on low fiber diets.
• Muscle weakness.
• Spontaneous containment of the urge to defecate.
• Prolonged use of laxatives and their subsequent cancellation leads to the fact that constipation is constantly tormented.
• Constipation can also be a side effect of chemotherapy or taking certain medications.

Long stagnation in the intestine leads to disruption of the whole body, so you should not disregard problems with stool.

Cause of constipation in children

The normal growth and development of a child primarily depends on proper and balanced nutrition. Therefore, very often changes in nutrition, a change in diet, for example in infants, the introduction of complementary foods, can cause constipation. Functional disorders of the stool are often provoked:

• the predominance of fatty and protein foods in the diet;
• violation of the intestinal microflora;
• lack of enzymes that affect the digestion of food;
• food allergies;
• drinking a small amount of liquid.

Constant constipation in children can be the result of certain diseases:

• rickets;
• myasthenia gravis;
• gastritis;
• gastrointestinal ulcer;
• duodenitis;
• tumor processes in the intestine;
• polyps;
• helminthiasis.

Low physical activity of the child reduces the motility of his intestines, which leads to the development of constipation. Parents should also understand that he can develop constipation on psychological grounds, for example, during excommunication or potty training.

The effects of prolonged constipation

If constant constipation torments, what to do? This is a reasonable question, because a prolonged violation of normal bowel movement is fraught with the development of serious complications:

• Hemorrhoids develop and anal fissures appear.
• The sphincter muscles weaken, which leads to fecal incontinence.
• Constant attempts to use the toilet can lead to prolapse of the rectum.
• Irritation of the rectum by food waste leads to the development of neoplasms that can develop into cancerous ones.
• A long delay in stool leads to intoxication of the body.

A long delay in the stool is an unpleasant phenomenon, but if there is already constant constipation in an adult, only a doctor can recommend what to do to permanently get rid of the problem.

Treatment of constipation

A gastroenterologist is involved in the treatment of constipation, who prescribes treatment only after finding out the cause and making an accurate diagnosis. Taking into account the reasons, complex treatment is prescribed, which necessarily includes compliance with nutritional recommendations.

Among the areas of therapy are the following:

1. Drug treatment.
2. Physiotherapy.
3. The use of folk remedies.
4. A specific diet.

In order to cleanse the intestines from the accumulated feces as soon as possible, the doctor prescribes laxatives to the patient, among which the following have been shown to be most effective:

• "Purax", which in its composition contains plant components, and therefore gently cleanses the intestines.
• Adulax. It includes glycerin, which softens the stool.
• Alax. Created from alkaloids of herbs and helps to quickly release the intestines.
• Fiberlex. It is made on the basis of plant materials.
• Guttalax. Refers to synthetic drugs, which also effectively cleanses the intestines.
  

After the intestines are freed from the contents, care must be taken to restore its microflora. Under the influence of toxic substances that have been in the intestines for a long time, the mucous wall loses its elasticity, and motor function is disrupted, which must be restored. The specialist in this case prescribes the following drugs:

• The drug "Bifido-Lacto Form", which contains live bacteria, and therefore is able to significantly improve the condition of the mucous membrane in a short time.
• "Rotabiotic", not only restores microflora, but also increases the protective properties of the shell.
• "Mukofalk", created on a plant basis and is one of the best for the restoration of diseased intestines. It has a slight laxative effect, but improves peristalsis and has a positive effect on the intestinal microflora.

We use folk remedies to combat constipation

How to treat persistent constipation with drugs, we have examined. Medicines help to quickly deal with constipation, and folk do it softer and gradually. Among the popular and effective recipes are the following:

1. The use of dried fruits. To do this, in the evening, pour boiling water in an amount of 150 ml of raisins, dried apricots, prunes and figs. In the morning, drain the water and chop dried fruits, add hay grass (a teaspoon) and 150 g of honey. Mix well and keep in the refrigerator. Take a teaspoon at night.
2. With chronic constipation, buckthorn helps well. You need 2 tablespoons of dried fruit pour 0.5 liters of water, bring to a boil and cook for 30 minutes over low heat. Insist for several hours, and then take at night, 100 ml or twice a day, 70 ml before meals.
3. The treatment of persistent constipation with castor oil is known to many. Take the drug before bedtime, 2-3 teaspoons.
   
4. Sesame oil also helps eliminate constipation. To do this, you need to take it in a teaspoon 3 times a day half an hour before meals and do not drink it with water.
5. Carrot seeds will help to get rid of constipation, if they are consumed 1 g three times a day, one hour before a meal.
6. Kefir, if diluted with 10 ml of vegetable oil, will also help get rid of constipation. It is better to use small sips before bedtime.
7. Pickled cabbage brine helps get rid of stagnation in the intestines. It is necessary to take it 100 ml in a warm form before meals.

Change your diet

It is impossible to get rid of chronic constipation if you do not revise your menu. Many do not understand why constant constipation torments them, and the answer often lies in malnutrition. Here are some guidelines to help get rid of the problem and fix stool:

1. It is better to eat more often, but in small portions.
2. About 2 liters of pure water should be drunk per day. Moreover, tea and other liquids are not considered to be in this volume.
3. Do not eat before bedtime, the last meal is around 19 hours.
4. Exclude baked goods, lemonade and other carbonated drinks, legumes, sweets, margarine, mayonnaise from the diet.
5. We will have to significantly reduce, and it is better to exclude fatty foods, spicy and salty.
6. Add fiber-rich foods to the diet: bran, whole grain bread, cereals, plant seedlings, fresh fruits and vegetables.
7. Nuts and seeds are also rich in fiber, but also useful substances.
8. Include fermented milk products in the diet, it is advisable to drink at least half a liter per day. At night, take a glass of kefir.
9. For breakfast, cook cereals in the water or granola.
10. Add natural vegetable oil to salads from fresh vegetables: sesame, pumpkin, and linseed.
11. Instead of the usual sweets, honey is much more beneficial.

Even just by reviewing the diet, it is already possible to significantly establish a chair and prevent constipation in the future.

Prevention of constipation

If constant constipation occurs, what to do is sorted out, but the question arises, is it possible to prevent this condition? Of course, if you only follow some rules:

1. After waking up in the morning, drink one liter of warm water. This should be done on an empty stomach, that is, before breakfast. If pure water just doesn't fit, then you can add lemon juice or a little honey. Of course, it is difficult to immediately drink a liter of water, you need to accustom yourself to this gradually, starting in the morning with a glass, gradually increasing its amount.
2. Some chew licorice roots instead of water in the morning and evening, although this does not replace the lack of fluid in the body.
3. To prevent the development of constipation, you can drink a glass of milk with 3 teaspoons of plantain seeds before bedtime. By the way, the seeds of this plant can be used in the form of mashed potatoes, which is prepared as follows: place the seeds in a glass and pour water, drain the liquid in the morning, and use the teaspoon 4 times a day.
4. During pregnancy, expectant mothers often suffer from constipation; you can help in this situation by using orange juice with the addition of olive oil.
5. Babies who are breastfed may suffer from constipation if mom does not follow the nutritional recommendations. By adding grapes to your diet, you can prevent this from happening. If it is problematic to buy fresh grapes, then raisins soaked in water can be used for this.

Prevention will help prevent the development of persistent constipation.

How to make a chair regular?

Making your intestines work like clockwork is simple enough, you just need to adhere to a few recommendations:

1. Bowel movement should take place in a place convenient for a person to feel relaxed.
2. It is better to visit the toilet 20 minutes after breakfast, because the smell and appearance of food stimulate the digestive system.
3. Before a meal, drink a glass of warm water.
4. Breakfast, lunch and dinner should be held in a relaxed atmosphere, without too much haste, chew thoroughly.
5. Do not neglect a good rest.
6. A toilet should not be hasty, it takes time to empty the intestines and not to accumulate feces.
7. As soon as there is a urge to go to the toilet, you must immediately go, otherwise all the water is absorbed back into the intestines, which makes the stool dense.
8. If at least a little time is devoted to physical activity, then constipation will not bother you.

Constipation is, of course, unpleasant, but you can and should fight it. Do not rush to resort to medications. Often after a long intake, the intestines become lethargic and lazy, which only exacerbates the problem. It is better to reconsider your lifestyle, diet, move more actively, and all processes in the body normalize.