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Constipation

What is Constipation ?

The frequency of moving stool varies from individual to individual, ranging from three times a day to twice a week. Constipation happens when this function is unduly delayed from the normal pattern. Occasional constipation is not serious but a long standing disruption of this pattern, and changes in the appearance and consistency of a more serious disorder(e.g. intestinal cancer, hypothyroidism).

SYMPTOMS

Delay or difficulty in bowel movement.
Pellet-like stool(small, dry, and hard).
Pain, which may come and go in waves.
Flatulence(excessive gas in the bowels)and frequent passing of air.
Abdominal distension and discomfort.

COMMON CAUSES

Change of diet.
Insufficient fluid and fibre in the diet.
Too little exercise, causing the colon contractions that push the stool down to weaken.
Ignoring the urge to pass stool when busy.
Haemorrhoids (piles)or anal fissures(tears in the skin around the anus),which cause pain when passing stool.
Certain drugs and minerals(e.g. painkillers, iron tablets)and cough mixture with codeine.
Pregnancy, in which the fetus pushes down on the bowel.
Illness which causes loss of body fluids, alters the diet or hinders a person's mobility (e.g. paralysis).
In bottle-fed infants, feeding formulas that are too strong.
Aging process. The abdominal muscles gradually weaken with age.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Eat plenty of fibre daily(e.g. four servings of cereals, fruits and vegetables).
Drink 8 glasses of fluids a day.
Eat at regular hours.
Exercise everyday. Walk briskly for at least half an hour.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist if the measures listed above fail.

WHAT YOUR DOCTOR/PHARMACIST CAN DO FOR YOU

Rule out haemorrhoids, anal fissures, and the more serious causes of constipation (e.g. colon or rectal cancer).
Emphasize exercise and dietary strategies.
Prescribe a laxative.
Prescribe suppositories or an enema(passing fluid into the rectum through a tube inserted into the anus to induce bowel movement).
Treat the complications.

PREVENTION TIPS

Take plenty of fluids and fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
Exercise regularly.
Keep regular hours for your meals.
Follow a regular pattern for bowel movement. Do not ignore the urge to pass stool.

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