Health: Constipation

I have witnessed more people suffering from problems related to constipation than any big medical problem, which compels me to write again about constipation. Constipation is the state of inability to pass stools. It may be absolute when one is not able to pass stool at all or relative when stools are passed with difficulty. It is a problem which gives rise to so many other health related problems that one feels sick and distressed all the time. One suffering from constipation does not realize that the abdominal pain, body ache, nausea, heart burn, lethargy, eructation, e.t.c., all other symptoms he is experiencing are because of constipation only. In majority of cases, it occurs due to life style factors which can be corrected very well. Chronic constipation becomes one of the reasons for making a person feel sick and seeking medical treatment. The chronic discomfort affects the working of a person. Diseases like diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis of the intestines, e.t.c., can cause constipation in the affected individual. Spinal injuries also cause constipation. Antacids like aluminium hydroxide, drugs like buscopan used for abdominal pain, iron syrups and tablets, are some of the drugs which produce constipation as a side effect. Constipation produced due to a disease of the intestines or due to drugs reverses completely after the cause is removed. But in all other cases, constipation is produced due to a functional abnormality of bowels. Defective diet lacking in fibre and water makes the intestines sluggish and this augments over time. Lack of physical exercise also contributes to it. As the intestines become more and more sluggish, constipation also increases, becoming more troublesome. People affected, spend their valuable time and money in buying sure shot indigenous medicines and visiting hospitals for something which they can rectify themselves by correcting their food habits. People get sick due to not evacuating their bowels regularly. Then they take to the bed complaining of abdominal pain. In fact what is needed is, drinking plenty of water and moving around actively to activate the bowels. Constipation can occur in young and old alike. With advancing age, intestinal motility tends to become slow, causing constipation in elderly people. The young suffer from constipation due to defective life styles and stress. Mental stress is yet another factor which causes and maintains constipation. Intake of high carbohydrate foods like potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, also aggravate constipation as their fibre content is negligible. Fresh green vegetables and fruits like pine apple and citrus fruits help in correcting constipation. Papaya is very useful in this regard as it has fibre and pectin which is a natural digestive aid. Eating whole wheat bread is more advantageous as compared to bread made of refined white flour. Not only it is more nutritious but has a high fibre content which prevents constipation. Drinking plenty of water ensures good movement of bowels and helps to control constipation. One suffering from constipation should start taking hot water in the night before sleeping to cleanse the bowels in morning. Hot water acts as a laxative Regular physical exercise is beneficial for overall general health of the body and also constipation. . Some people drink 2 to 3 glasses of hot water in the morning and then exercise to cleanse the bowels. After adopting these measures a person needs to be patient. The results will come surely but after some time the intestines which have become sluggish over years take time to restore their normal functions. One should not become dependant on laxative drugs for relieving constipation. These drugs are habit forming. That is after some time of use the body becomes resistant to their effect and their dose has to increase. With increasing dose there is risk of dilatation of the large intestine, which aggravates constipation. Constipation is a correctable problem but causes much sickness and suffering in people due to ignorance about it. Rarely, in extreme cases, death can also occur due to total paralysis of bowel movements. It is wise to prevent constipation rather than seeking treatment. Once it is improved by correct diet and physical activity, there is usually no relapse. E-mail – rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk