The intestine is an important organ through which disposal of food debris occurs. In a healthy person, this happens every day and several times. But sometimes failures occur, and intestinal activity begins to decrease, and constipation periodically occurs, which can become chronic. In medicine, there is even a special term - “lazy bowel syndrome”.
Such a pathological condition must be corrected, otherwise various complications can occur that can cause significant harm to the body. Therefore, we will try to understand the reasons why the intestines do not work. What to do in this case?
What is a lazy intestine?
This is a pathological condition characterized by a decrease in muscle tone of this organ. It is they who first promote the food lump, and then the feces from the duodenum to the rectum. A decrease in muscle tone leads to the fact that feces begin to be deposited in the intestine, turning into stones.
If they will not be excreted, then various diseases occur, and first of all, these are constipation. Subsequently, this can lead to intoxication of the body, because the absorption of the liquid continues to occur, only with it harmful chemical compounds begin to enter the bloodstream.
In addition, prolonged constipation contributes to the emergence of many diseases, such as hepatitis, hemorrhoids, colon cancer. Intestinal pathology can cause enteritis and secondary inflammation of the rectum.
Symptoms of pathology
You should be aware that normally the bowel movement occurs every day no more than three times. When changing the situation or in a stressful state, one day can be missed, but "for the most part" you must definitely go at least three times a week.
Symptoms of a "lazy" intestine are manifested as follows:
- constipation;
- heaviness in the stomach;
- decreased appetite;
- a feeling of bloating;
- bad breath;
- dry mouth.
The late signs of a "lazy" intestine are deterioration in the condition of hair, skin, and nails. Dryness, brittleness is noted.
Diagnostics
To determine the health of the intestine, various diagnostic methods are used. These include:
- general blood analysis;
- Ultrasound of the abdomen;
- sowing feces on the microflora;
- blood test for thyroid hormone;
- an enema with barium with x-ray examination;
- colonoscopy;
- blood test for calcium;
- defecographic research;
- irrigoscopy if necessary.
The causes of the pathological condition
Very unpleasant if the intestines do not work. What to do in this case? We will consider this issue later, and now we will move on to the reasons that contribute to the occurrence of a pathological condition of the intestine:
- sedentary lifestyle when there is stagnation of blood in the pelvic organs;
- the use of foods containing insufficient fiber;
- untimely bowel movement;
- mechanical obstacles that prevent fecal masses from moving normally: polyps, tumors, hemorrhoidal nodes;
- insufficient fluid intake, as a result of which vital products begin to thicken, it becomes difficult for them to advance;
- pregnancy, during which an enlarged uterus and the hormone progesterone relax the smooth muscles of the intestines;
- the use of products such as pastries, sausages, salted fish, white bread, polished rice, cheese, boiled milk, coffee and cocoa;
- taking medicines containing magnesium, iron, as well as painkillers and antidepressants;
- digestive tract inflammation;
- the use of products with GMOs and other unsafe compounds;
- circulatory disorders in the vessels that deliver blood to the intestines;
- endocrine system diseases;
- Parkinson's disease;
- drinking immediately after eating coffee or tea.
Methods of treating the "lazy" intestines
How to make the intestines work? After the cause of this pathological condition is clarified, appropriate treatment is prescribed. If the problem is poor bowel patency in some area, this "congestion" is eliminated. In this case, polyps, hemorrhoids, inversion of intestines and tumors are removed surgically.
If the disease did not arise for organic reasons or the pathology developed in the child, the condition is corrected only by conservative treatment. In this case, it is recommended to use not only medicines for the intestines, but also other methods that can be performed independently: massage, diet, gymnastics, lifestyle correction. Let's consider them in more detail.
Drug use
Medications for the intestines help him begin to work normally. The doctor usually prescribes laxatives based on medicinal plants - Senade, Senaleks, Herbion Laksana. The senna extract contained in these preparations greatly facilitates bowel movement.
Rectal peristalsis is enhanced with sodium picosulfate- based products . These are such drugs for the intestines as Slabikap, Guttalaks, Laksigal, Guttasil, Slabilen and many others. Thanks to their action, the intestinal muscles begin to contract, and there is also a decrease in fluid absorption from food waste.
These medications should not be taken for too long, because the intestines may have forgotten how to empty themselves.
Massage
If the intestines do not work, what should I do? Doctors recommend a healthy massage. To do this, it is necessary to lie on a hard surface with straightened legs and begin to massage the stomach with a warm first and then a cool hand, making movements clockwise. In this case, it is necessary to slightly press the right side from the pubis to the right hypochondrium, and the left - from the hypochondrium to the groin. In total, ten massage movements should be performed.
Diet
How to normalize the intestines? To do this, you must adhere to the following diet:
- thirty minutes before a meal, it is recommended to drink a glass of cold water;
- fiber or bran, which are produced in the form of bioactive additives, should be added to food;
- eat foods high in fiber: special bread, greens, carrots, cereals, cauliflower and seaweed, broccoli, corn;
- it is necessary to include raisins, dried fruits, prunes, figs, sprouted wheat, nuts, apples, oranges, honey, dairy products in the diet;
- you should drink two liters of fluid every day, no less;
- it is strictly forbidden to use jelly, sinewy meat, cocoa, enveloping cereals, mucous soups, flour dishes, chocolate, refined oil.
Gymnastics
How to make the intestines work? You can perform special gymnastics. To do this, lie on your back, bend your legs at the knees, and with your right hand you need to massage your stomach in circular movements clockwise.
Also, while lying down, take a deep breath. Holding your breath, you should retract the stomach for a few seconds, and then relax.
You can swing the press, breathe in your stomach and do five squats without taking your heels off the floor.
Lifestyle correction
In order for the intestines to normalize, you need to change your lifestyle. To do this, it is recommended to walk as much as possible, especially in the morning, to start practicing accessible sports (except checkers and chess). You should also chew food thoroughly and empty the intestines in a timely manner.
Enema
Chronic constipation is harmful to the human body, and the "lazy" intestines should normally work as quickly as possible. What does that require? Many begin to make an enema, but it should be remembered that it washes out all the beneficial intestinal microflora, further worsening its work. Therefore, if you still have to use it, you need to replenish the balance of beneficial microorganisms using special means. Which ones? Let's consider further.
Preparations for the restoration of microflora
If the balance of beneficial microorganisms is disturbed in the intestine as a result of the effects of medications, dysbiosis occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to restore microflora. For this, there are a large number of drugs that are divided into three groups:
- probiotics containing live cultures of microorganisms;
- prebiotics that enhance the growth and reproduction of beneficial bacteria;
- synbiotics that contain live bacteria.
Microflora recovery with these agents is quite effective, and they do not have any side effects. The most common of them are Linex, Hilak Forte, Bifidumbacterin.
Popular ways to deal with the "lazy" intestines
To make the intestines function normally, traditional medicine can be used. The following are the most popular methods.
It should be in the morning on an empty stomach to drink 1 tsp. vegetable oil, preferably olive. If this is not possible, you can replace it with cabbage brine.
Alternative bowel treatment includes the use of flax seeds, which act as a laxative. To make a decoction, 1 tbsp. l seeds are poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for five hours, and you need to drink the liquid immediately before bedtime. Seeds should be eaten. The result is not long in coming.
You can normalize the work of the intestines with the help of lettuce, "panicle". It includes the following ingredients: cabbage, carrots, beets, grated, and petiole celery. It should not be filled with oil, nor should it be salted. If a person has acidity reduced or zero, then sauerkraut is added to the salad. You can use it without restriction.
A medicinal plant such as aloe can be used to treat the intestines. It is necessary to take 1-2 sheets, clean from the side spines, wash and chop. Then 300 g of honey is heated in a glass container to a fluid state, aloe is added to it and insisted for a day. The resulting mixture should be taken in the morning one hour before meals in a warm form.
Bowel surgery
If this organ is impassable and no conservative methods help it to normalize its work, then doctors resort to surgical intervention. Intestinal surgery helps eliminate the obstruction that interferes with the promotion of feces. If surgery is performed on the small intestine, then a resection is usually performed, which helps to completely restore patency. All segments of the intestine with dead tissue are usually completely removed.
Output
Many people suffer from chronic constipation, which occurs due to bowel obstruction. Many factors contribute to this. If the intestines do not work, what should I do? To do this, there are conservative and surgical methods of treatment. Be sure to take measures to ensure that this body resumes its normal functioning, otherwise chronic constipation can lead to the most sad consequences.