They say that after 50, when the children have grown up, the life time for themselves begins! But in nature everything is arranged so rationally that it is difficult to argue with it. It is customary that after 45 years of childbearing age. During this period, changes and processes begin to take place in the body, which are called the sunset in medicine.
Is there a problem
It would seem that yesterday we were full of strength and energy, could tirelessly take long walks, work for a long time or actively engage in sports, and today, old age has crept up to us imperceptibly. Vitamins and microelements are already being absorbed much worse, immunity has decreased, pressure has begun to bother, and the heart is “mischievous,” and in the large intestine the number of beneficial bacteria responsible for the normal state of microflora is literally reduced. To overcome all this, we are forced to drink pills in handfuls, which some illnesses treat, while others provoke. One of them is constipation, which will be discussed in our article. Many of her are embarrassed, so they do not go to the doctors, but try to correct the situation on their own. Let's talk about what constipation is dangerous . This is difficult or systematically insufficient bowel movement, bringing a lot of discomfort. It is worth talking about such a diagnosis if the act of defecation is delayed for 48 hours or more. What are the true causes of the disease? Can it be prevented? How to get rid of it as quickly and painlessly as possible? Let's figure it out.
Causes of constipation
With age, bowel function weakens. The problem mainly concerns the colon. The sensitivity of the anal sphincter also decreases, and the urge to defecate is not always felt as it should. All this ultimately leads to a problem such as constipation. The problem can also be caused by the following factors:
- Inadequate fluid intake.
- Improper and unbalanced nutrition.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- The use of drugs that destroy the intestinal microflora.
The presence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus or atherosclerosis, in some cases only exacerbates the clinical picture. It should be understood that the treatment of constipation in the elderly should take place exclusively under the supervision of a physician. In this case, you can immediately stop the complications caused by digestive disorders.
What to do
The treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly requires an integrated approach. To achieve maximum effectiveness, it is necessary to direct all efforts to the fight not with the symptoms, but with the causes that led to the problem. You should pay attention to such aspects of life:
- Food. It is important not only what the elderly person eats, how balanced his diet is, but also how often he eats food and in what quantity.
- Physical activity. The state of the whole organism, including the elasticity of the intestinal walls, depends on the general muscle tone. In the body of a person who regularly performs physical activity, the intestine does not lose the ability to contract and push food.
- Massage courses. This is an excellent procedure aimed at increasing the tone of the abdominal muscles. Moreover, after the first session you will notice increased blood flow.
- Medications. It is necessary to take control of the use of all those medicines that are recommended to you as a means of combating age-related diseases. Carefully study the recommendations and side effects, if possible, replace drugs that have side effects such as stool disorder.
- Methods of traditional medicine. They need to be selected by consulting a doctor.
- Drug laxatives. You can’t get carried away with them. Such drugs can only be used as an ambulance for prolonged constipation.
Prevention
The treatment of constipation in the elderly can be avoided if the recommended preventive measures are followed. It's no secret that it is much easier to prevent a problem than to deal with it later. If the violation of the stool is a one-time character, it is enough to take a laxative. To prevent constipation, preventive measures should be taken. They include good nutrition and adequate physical activity.
Proper nutrition
Remember the expression "We are what we eat." It works in this case too. Prevention of constipation must begin with a review of your diet. Medical studies have shown that by the age of 55-60 people have a whole bunch of diseases of various organs, including the digestive system. And all because they rather negligently throughout their lives approached the power system. Bowel diseases require a certain diet, which makes the diet more scarce. The problems of the dentofacial system make many refuse solid foods: fresh vegetables and fruits, meat, enriched with vitamins and minerals.
Key recommendations
A simple rule should be observed - frequent and balanced nutrition for constipation in the elderly. Treatment consists in strictly following the main recommendations of doctors:
- Frequent meals. Teach yourself to eat 6-8 times a day in small portions, avoiding breaks between them for more than 4 hours.
- Mandatory inclusion of soups in the diet.
- Refusal of baking. It is necessary to forget about muffin, fresh white bread, giving preference to baking from wholemeal flour and bran.
- Enrichment of the diet with laxative products, which include plums, prunes, apples, dairy products, pumpkin and zucchini.
- Compliance with the rules of preparation. Do not eat fried foods, it is better to steam them.
- Drinking plenty of ordinary water.
Physical exercise
A respectable age is not a reason to give up activity. In order to keep the intestinal muscles toned, it is necessary to perform at least elementary physical exercises. Accustom yourself every morning to start with exercise, take a daily walk, breathe fresh air. By the way, it’s enough to walk several kilometers a day to feel good.
Massage
Not only physical activity and diet for constipation in the elderly will help get rid of the problem. Treatment will be most effective if supplemented with massage. The best option is to entrust yourself to professionals. But if this is not possible, it is quite possible to limit yourself to self-massage. Treating constipation in bedridden elderly people with massage is a great option.
The procedure is most effective if carried out immediately after waking up, on an empty stomach. Performing moderate rotational movements around the navel in a clockwise direction, you will be able to start the normal functioning of the digestive system.
Laxatives to fight the problem
If preventive measures (even with regular use) do not bring the expected result, it is necessary to transgress to "heavy artillery". How to maximize the treatment of constipation in the elderly? The drugs offered by modern manufacturers really show excellent results. For older people, it is appropriate to use:
- Probiotics with a laxative effect. They not only help to empty oneself and get rid of pain, but also heal the intestinal microflora, fight harmful bacteria. Such drugs are not addictive and have virtually no side effects. Bright representatives of this group are Dufalac and Normase.
- Osmotic laxatives. They contribute to the accumulation of fluid in the intestinal lumen. Using them to treat constipation in the elderly helps to change the consistency of feces, softens it. Extremely careful in the use of laxatives of this group should be patients with impaired blood pressure. If you want to get the effect of thinning feces, pay attention to the preparations "Magnesium sulfate", "Microlax", "Fortrans".
- Phytochemistry. They also soften the stool, helping to remove them from the intestines. Herbal origin largely determines the popularity of these funds, because they are safe for human health. Doctors recommend Phytomucil, Fitolaks.
Treatment of constipation in the elderly with medications (even those that seem to be the most harmless) should only be carried out under the supervision of specialists.
ethnoscience
Modern medicine offers quite effective drugs. But then, when their use is impossible for several reasons, the treatment of constipation in older people with folk remedies becomes an excellent option. Our ancestors believed in the magical power of plants, actively used them in the fight against various diseases. Many recipes have survived to this day, including those aimed at combating constipation:
- Flaxseed oil - a tablespoon of this remedy, drunk on an empty stomach, will help to cope with the problem.
- Boiled beets demonstrate excellent properties and stimulate intestinal motility. Regular consumption of this vegetable helps to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Wheat bran - show a gentle laxative result.
- Folk treatments for constipation in the elderly include the use of many different herbal remedies. To prepare one of them, licorice and marshmallow roots, flax seeds and fennel fruits, taken in weight ratios of 1: 2: 2: 1, will be needed. All must be thoroughly mixed. Half an hour, empty 10 g of the collection in a water bath, cool and strain. The broth should be taken after dinner, 100 ml. They need to be poured into a glass, add 100 ml of boiled water and drink.
- Senna grass - a tool that strengthens the intestinal wall. To prepare the tincture, you need to pour a tablespoon of grass with cold water and leave overnight. In the morning, the product must be filtered and drunk on an empty stomach. The tool is quite effective, so you should be extremely careful with dosages starting from 1/3 cup.
To summarize
The treatment of constipation in the elderly requires special control. At the same time, many prefer to hush up the problem, leaving it without due attention. There are many ways to deal with the disease. Be sure to consult a specialist in advance to eliminate side effects and achieve the highest possible result. In this case, it will be possible to cope with a very unpleasant and difficult illness as quickly and painlessly as possible.