This article will figure out how to treat spastic constipation. Empty bowel function may be impaired for a variety of reasons. This is usually associated with such a pathological condition, which is spastic constipation or atony.
Background pathology
Spastic constipation, which is triggered by intestinal spasm, appears due to increased bowel tone. The mechanism of this phenomenon is as follows:
- In some intestinal segments muscle cramps develop, as a result of which the feces are pinched in the intestine, the ability to further advance them is lost.
- Such cramps, as a rule, are accompanied by flatulence, a spastic feeling of heaviness and overcrowding in the abdomen, spastic pain, which is associated with an increase in gas formation in the intestine.
- Spasm can occur due to some endocrine pathologies, or under the influence of emotional and mental disorders.
Treatment of spastic constipation in adults should be comprehensive and timely.
Causes
The following pathologies can be attributed to the causes of this type of violation of intestinal activity:
- Hypothyroidism
- Diabetes.
- Ovarian dysfunction (for example, in menopause).
- Pituitary Disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
- Neurogenic pricks.
- Poisoning.
The most common factor in the development of this pathological condition is regulatory disruption in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. How do spastic constipation in adults manifest themselves?
Symptoms of the disease
For intestinal spasms, it is characteristic that a delay in the act of defecation occurs periodically, and not constantly. Between constipation, stools may be normal or liquefied. Often there are cases when the pathology is characterized by mild forms of diarrhea, which, as a rule, is the result of the body's response to prolonged stagnation of feces and spasms of the intestinal muscles. Basically, this happens when such cramps are associated with a variety of nervous and psychological disorders.
What are the symptoms of spastic constipation?
The clinical picture of muscle intestinal spasm is manifested by irritable bowel syndromes, which is expressed in the following main signs:
- Pain in the abdomen, often in the form of cramping pains.
- Periodic delays in bowel movements.
- Excretion together with feces of mucus elements.
- Excessive irritability and emotionality.
- Feeling of constant fatigue.
In some cases, stool retention can be very slight, however, the excretion of feces is incomplete, and the feces come out in the form of small elements. After such a bowel movement, a feeling of incomplete bowel movement, as well as heaviness in the abdomen and unjustified satiety remains.
During pregnancy
About 80% of women complain about the problem of spastic constipation during pregnancy, and about 20% after delivery. At this time, women are more likely to be disturbed by the so-called “atonic” constipation, which is associated with the absence or decrease in intestinal motility. However, bowel cramps during pregnancy are not uncommon.
As for the differences between spastic constipation and atonic constipation, in this case, the following phenomena occur:
- Atony of the intestine is a complete lack of peristalsis, which is usually associated with relaxation of the smooth muscles of the intestine, as well as the lack of the required amount of fiber in the diet and some other reasons. With the development of this pathology, there is no urge to defecate in the intestine.
- The spastic state of this organ is usually accompanied by increasing and briefly weakening pains, increased gas formation, rumbling in the abdomen and irregular stools (constipation can be replaced by diarrhea).
The main causes of constipation in pregnant women
They are:
- Pressure on the intestines, which directly depends on the duration of pregnancy - the more it is, the greater pressure the growing uterus exerts on the intestines and other organs. As a result, blood circulation in the system of the vessels of the pelvis slows down and is disturbed, which can affect intestinal motility and cause cramping.
- Hormonal changes. A high amount of progesterone in the pregnant body relaxes not only the smooth muscles of the uterus, but also the intestines. In this case, spasms may occur in some parts of the intestines, leading to constipation of a similar nature.
- During pregnancy, most women experience emotional instability. They are easily irritated, they have causeless fear, a variety of experiences. Such phenomena are associated with hormonal changes in the body, and their side effect may be neurogenic constipation, which disappear on its own after normalization of the mental state.
- Allergic reactions or food poisoning are considered a less frequent cause of such cramps.
The use of laxative drugs without prescribing a specialist during pregnancy is undesirable.
Constipation in children
Bowel cramps in children can occur as a result of disturbances or changes in the usual diet, for example, when switching to mixtures for artificial feeding, or with the introduction of complementary foods. The main reason is also not fully developed nervous system in a child, because of which all the same neurogenic constipation occurs.
At an older age, spastic constipation can occur due to the use of an increased number of sweet foods, as well as with insufficient intake of fluid, an improper diet. In some cases, a spasm is the result of severe stress in the child, for example, after a change of place of residence, a change in climatic conditions, after transfer to another educational institution, adverse family conditions, etc.
Spastic constipation in childhood occurs in almost every third small patient. Therapy of these conditions is prescribed by a specialist who takes into account the causes of the disease. Nevertheless, the administration of antispasmodic drugs to children should be avoided. Most often, a short course of treatment with a means having a laxative and relaxing property in the form of rectal suppositories is sufficient.
Diagnostics
The implementation of diagnostic measures and the treatment of spastic constipation is carried out by a specialist coloproctologist, as well as a therapist or gastroenterologist. The diagnosis is based on laboratory and instrumental techniques, among which are:
- Sigmoidoscopy, which is a procedure for examining the rectum and lower parts of the sigmoid colon using a special apparatus - a sigmoidoscope.
- Fibrocolonoscopy is a diagnostic method, which is an endoscopic examination of the intestinal cavity.
- Irrigoscopy, which is an X-ray technique that involves the introduction of a special contrasting substance into the intestinal cavity.
The above diagnostic studies are extremely important in order to assess the condition of the mucous membrane of the intestinal cavity, structural features and disorders, the degree of peristalsis, intestinal functionality and intestinal elasticity.
In some cases, an analysis of feces may be necessary to study the microflora, because due to the lack of some lactic acid bacteria, putrefactive fermentation in the intestine may occur, which directly affects the occurrence of problems with the intestinal emptying function. This event is carried out in order to differentiate spastic constipation with intestinal dysbiosis, which is also characterized by the occurrence of symptoms of flatulence, pain, constipation.
Objectively, upon palpation, a specialist can determine the localization of pain in various parts of the intestine. In addition, the compressed sigmoid tourniquet is well palpated, and, for example, the cecum can be assessed as relaxed.
Treatment of spastic constipation
Normalizing intestinal motility, one of the main organs of the digestive system, is the main task in the treatment of its spastic conditions. Therapy should be comprehensive and include several main therapeutic stages:
- Dietary nutrition, including increased fiber intake.
- Medications
- The use of homeopathic and folk remedies.
When there is such a problem as delayed defecation, it is necessary to get rid of it, as well as from any other pathologies, starting with a consultation with a doctor. A timely diagnosis will help make the treatment of spastic constipation the most effective and short-term.
If, for certain reasons, an appeal to a specialist cannot be carried out, then at the beginning of the development of a pathological condition, you can try to overcome it yourself.
How to get rid of spastic constipation at home?
Enema
Cleansing enemas are often used for bowel movements. However, you need to know that with spastic constipation, the introduction of a cool solution into the intestine should not be used, since this can increase muscle contraction and increase spasms. The temperature of the water with a cleansing enema should be average: the liquid is warmed to room temperature and injected into the intestine under low pressure.
The most effective are oil enemas, which use oil, heated to 32 ° C, in a volume of 150 ml, or oil-water mixtures with a volume of about 500 ml. In this case, castor olive and sunflower oil are most often used.
Laxatives
Laxatives for spasms in the intestine should be selected very carefully, focusing only on those made from herbal ingredients, and it is better to do without laxatives at all. The fact is that most of these medicines activate intestinal motility, which exacerbates the existing spasm and worsens the patient's condition.
If the intake of a laxative is inevitable, then it is recommended to resort to a comprehensive intake of medications. For example, the drug "Dufalac" for spastic constipation is prescribed in parallel with antispasmodic drugs. In this case, you can alleviate the condition and solve this problem.
Antispasmodics
Antispasmodic medicines for the intestine are divided into several categories and have restrictions on the use. The main and most common antispasmodic for the intestine is Papaverine, and in the absence of this medication, you can use such drugs as No-shpa or Dibazol.
Diet for spastic constipation
The main recommendations for proper nutrition will be:
- decrease in consumption of fatty, salty, fried, flour foods;
- increased consumption of vegetables, fresh fruits, previously passed through a blender or sieve;
- eating vegetable rather than meat soups;
- the exception of all astringent products: chocolate, rice, red meat, strong tea, pomegranates;
- replacing white bread with black or whole grain;
- for breakfast, you should eat oatmeal in the water with prunes or dried apples - these are products with a laxative effect;
- adding to the menu of dairy products with low fat content: whey, kefir, bio-yogurt, etc .;
- inclusion of dietary fiber in the diet.
A complete rejection of alcoholic and energy drinks and sweet soda is required. Instead, use more mineral and ordinary water without gas (at least 2 liters per day), green tea, freshly squeezed juice, herbal decoctions, which have a laxative effect. Food should be taken often, in small portions, chewed carefully in order to eliminate irritation of the gastrointestinal wall. A great tool for the normalization of intestinal activity is bran. They have the property of swelling, as a result, the volume of fecal matter increases and gas formation is prevented.
Reviews
Consider reviews of spastic constipation.
Most people who for some time suffered from pathological conditions such as constipation went to the doctor when treating these phenomena. They note that specialists in the development of this disease prescribe, as a rule, a certain complex drug treatment and diet. Diet should include eating light foods that are rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates. These substances significantly affect the course of digestive processes and facilitate bowel movements.
As for medications, experts often prescribe medications that help reduce tension in the smooth muscles of the intestines, that is, antispasmodic drugs. This type of therapy relieves pain during the development of spastic constipation, and the movement of feces through the intestines is stimulated by certain medications for constipation, or, in mild cases of the disease, rectal suppositories, which include substances that irritate the walls of the rectum and provoke bowel movements.
We examined the symptoms and treatment of spastic constipation.