Almost all people experienced constipation pain. Most often, this phenomenon occurs in infancy and in the elderly. However, constipation is possible at any age. What is it and why can a person not empty his intestines calmly?
Constipation is a disorder of the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, when feces do not form regularly and move poorly inside the intestines. Scientists attribute this pathology to malnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle, but abnormal changes in the intestines can have a wide range of reasons, which we will learn later in the article. Now let's look at how constipation appears, what happens in the intestines, why there are pains with constipation, where exactly they occur and what they can tell the patient about.
Status Description
Physiological reasons can provoke constipation, for example, the structure of the intestine is altered or there is strong pressure on it from the neighboring organs, associated with age or disease. This happens with almost all pregnant women, since when the fetus is born, there is strong pressure on all organs, including the intestines.
Stool stagnation occurs when the motility of the muscles, which should push the mass to the rectum, is weakened. On the other hand, a person can ignore the urge to defecate, overexposing the accumulated mass in the intestine, which can cause severe constipation with pain. In some patients, there is a mismatch between the size of the colon and the volume of its contents, which also causes discomfort, delayed excretion of feces and pain in the abdomen.
If constipation is chronic and interferes with the body's normal functioning and pains are felt, then this phenomenon cannot be ignored, you must always consult a doctor and undergo a proper examination, which will help to find out the true cause of the occurring phenomenon.
Causes of constipation
1. Stressful situations and depressive states.
2. A sharp change of scenery, for example, on a tourist trip. (After normalization, the bowel movement is restored).
3. Poor nutrition. A person consumes little liquid and plant foods.
4. A sedentary lifestyle.
5. Gastrointestinal diseases: ulcers, pancreatitis, dysbiosis, intestinal tumors, etc.
6. The formation of fecal stones, when the feces that accumulate in one place harden.
7. Pregnancy.
8. NS diseases: stroke, multiple sclerosis, tumors in the spinal cord, Parkinson's disease, etc.
9. Taking medications that have negative side effects in the form of constipation.
10. Diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes) or lack of thyroid hormones.
11. Pain with constipation occurs in the anus in the presence of cracks, hemorrhoids or paraproctitis in the anus.
Intestinal diagnostics
After consultation with a specialist, the patient will most likely be referred for an additional examination. Firstly, it will be necessary to pass an analysis of feces, which will help establish the presence of many intestinal pathologies. Secondly, the doctor by palpation of the lower part of the peritoneum will determine the degree of pain, the presence of swelling, accumulation of gases (flatulence). Also, rectal palpation will help to identify the expansion of the rectum, which will indicate the presence of a chronic form of constipation.
The following examinations will clarify the diagnosis:
- Colonoscopy A probe with an endoscope is inserted through the anus and the doctor examines the intestinal mucous membranes: are there any neoplasms on the walls of the colon.
- Anorectal manometry allows you to understand the strength of contractions of the intestinal muscles and anus.
- An X-ray examination with barium sulfate makes it possible to examine all the walls of the intestine, to identify the problem of bloating and the cause of pain with constipation.
- Electrogastroenterography. Such an examination gives a picture of the work of the intestinal muscles, the motility of their activity.
Symptoms
Constipation and abdominal pain are phenomena that constantly accompany each other. Why do they arise, how to explain them in different situations?
Often the pain appears during the period when the feces exit, when a person is squeezing, and a hard lump passes through the intestines and anus, greatly stretching the sphincter, which may cause cracks that cause pain after constipation, or hemorrhagic bumps popping up.
Sometimes pain can occur in the body during the day. Often patients complain of a headache, a feeling of bloating. There are even heartaches or heart palpitations.
People with chronic constipation suffer from insomnia, loss of appetite, loss of strength, nervousness. An eructation or an unpleasant aftertaste may appear in the oral cavity. Some signs of constipation are visible visually by skin condition. It becomes flabby, less elastic. The color of the skin also changes, pallor with yellowness appears.
Location of pain
With difficult bowel movements, pain can occur not only in the intestine. During the passage of solid feces during constipation, the lower back hurts, especially during bends and uncomfortable postures. There is mechanical pressure on the back.
With bloating, the gases can cause pain on the left side of the lower abdomen, sometimes there is an inflammatory process in the large intestine. Spasms can be alleviated by diet, temporarily abandoning fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy products and black bread, do not eat spices, spicy and spicy foods.
But what if the sides hurt with constipation? If the pain is felt on the right side, then the patient has gastrointestinal disorders, such as gastritis, duodenitis, which are accompanied by belching, sour breath. The pain may intensify before eating, on an empty stomach, give to the right shoulder blade, spread all over the back. Such sensations can also be observed with a hiatal hernia and ulcers. Intestinal colic can be accompanied by nausea and even vomiting, pain in the stomach. Constipation requires a special diet.
Why does the headache
If feces are not removed from the intestine in time, intoxication of the body begins. Harmful toxins and poisons in the metabolic process fall back into the circulatory system, sometimes causing dull or throbbing pain in the head. People who are depressed and prone to neurasthenia are especially affected.
A headache can turn into a migraine attack, accompanied by rheumatic pains, however, after an enema cleansing of the intestine, this condition disappears. The absence of nervous shocks and a calm full sleep contribute to the restoration of the proper functioning of the intestine. It is also recommended to follow a diet with a lot of fiber contained in plant foods and drink plenty of clean water.
Constipation during pregnancy
Pain in different organs when a woman carries a fetus is associated with an increase in the uterus, the growth of the fetus, which puts pressure on all organs. As a result, in the second and third trimester, the outflow of blood is disturbed, which contributes to the occurrence of stagnation in the veins of the small pelvis. This leads to expansion of the rectal veins (hemorrhoids) and as a result to constipation, fissures in the anal sphincter, nausea and pain on the left side of the abdomen.
It is only necessary to treat constipation by gymnastics and proper nutrition; laxatives or other medications should not be taken during pregnancy, as this can contribute to early contractions and miscarriage, frequent loose stools.
Treatment
If, as a result of the examination, serious intestinal pathologies have not been identified, then the main method of treatment will be proper nutrition, the use of a large amount of purified water, special exercises, massages. An active lifestyle promotes good intestinal motility, so you need to take walks and morning exercises every day.
Food should include cereals, vegetables, and fruits that are high in fiber. Food should be fractional, regular, at least 3-4 times a day. You can’t eat up at night. Refuse fried and sour, smoked too until you eat. It is not recommended to use sweets, fresh bakery products during constipation. You can’t eat products that contribute to gas formation: cabbage, radishes, beans, peas, etc.
If constipation becomes chronic, laxatives are prescribed, as well as drugs that hold fluid in the intestines and soften hard feces. You can use oils, for example, castor oil.
Preventative measures
To prevent constipation, it is advisable to observe the following recommendations:
- In the morning, do gymnastics with the inclinations and lateral turns of the torso; flexion and extension of the legs in the supine position are also useful.
- During the day, take small breaks at work, especially if it is a sedentary activity at the computer. A few exercises will help maintain muscle tone.
- After a working day, walk at least a couple of stops. If you are retired and do not work, then choose a daily route and stick to your walking schedule.
- Good effect on bowel function and water procedures. You can join the pool next door, or you can just take a contrast shower before going to bed.
- Try to visit the bathroom every day at the same time, drink more fluids, and with constipation, regulate the intestines with fermented milk products, mashed vegetables, fruit juices, and compotes.