Constipation

Constipation is a condition where smooth bowel movement becomes extremely difficult. In this condition, your stools become so hard that it becomes difficult to pass them out of the anus. You may also feel the urge to have repeated bowel movements because of incomplete emptying of the stools from your body.

Causes of constipation
When food is ingested, your body absorbs the nutrients and water from the food. The remaining, undigested part of the food, passes through your intestines and is stored in your Rectum as stools. This is ultimately excreted out from the body when you have a bowel movement. A number of factors can affect this process.
One or many of the following factors can cause the stools to move more slowly through your intestines, leading to constipation:

• Not drinking adequate water or fluids.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Lack of enough fiber in the diet.
• Certain medications.
• Resisting the urge to have a bowel movement.
• Regular or haphazard use of laxatives.

Frequency of bowel movement
Having a bowel movement once a day is quite normal, but it is not essentially a hard and fast rule that you must have a bowel movement every day. Some individuals may have bowel movement as many as three times a day while some may have it three times a week; all these fall in the normal range. But, then, how do you know that you have constipation? It is quite simple. If you have fewer bowel movements than you usually do, you may be suffering from Constipation.

Preventing Constipation
Although severe Constipation can lead to various health complications, it is not something that cannot be prevented. Here are a few tips that will help you be on guard:

• If you feel like having a bowel movement, go for it—do not resist.
• Eat foods that contain a lot of fiber. This will promote smooth bowel movement.
• Have plenty of fluids. It is important to keep your body adequately hydrated with lots of water, juices, soup, etc.
• Self medicating yourself with laxatives is not a sensible thing to do. Consult your doctor.
• Physical activity or exercises can promote better digestion thereby preventing Constipation.

Seeking medical help
If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, it is advisable to consult your doctor immediately. Remember that self-medication is dangerous and can, in fact, worsen your condition.

Talk to your doctor if:

• You are suffering from Constipation for the first time or it is new and unusual to you.
• The Constipation lasts for 3 weeks or more.
• You have stomach pain or pain in the anal area.
• You notice blood in your stools.

A word about laxatives
Try to avoid the use of laxatives. Long-term use of laxatives can make you dependent on them whenever you want to have a bowel movement. If you have used laxatives for a long time, your doctor may recommend that you gradually reduce their use to give your body a chance to return to normal. There are certain laxatives called “bulk-forming laxatives” that work naturally to add bulk and water to your stools, so that the stool can move more smoothly through your intestines.