Friday 6 June 2014

When Things Aren’t Moving: Understanding and Dealing with Constipation

Constipation is a minor irritation for many people around the world. Although for the majority of people it poses very little threat, for some, it can become incredibly serious. It is important, therefore, that you understand the symptoms of constipation, its causes and its remedies. Although not the pleasantest of subjects, we will discuss some of the key things that you need to understand about constipation.

Firstly: the Best Cure is Prevention

It is important that you understand the causes of constipation. It is only by understanding what you need to do, that you can avoid becoming constipated in the first place. Clearly, it is much better to prevent constipation, than to deal with it once it arrives. There are a few things that you can do to ensure that your bowel movements are regular; and they usually consist of making lifestyle choices.

1.Drink plenty of water. You need to ensure that you stay hydrated. When you’re dehydrated, your intestines and colon will try to absorb as much moisture from your food as possible. When the food in your intestines and colon become too dry, they will not move through the system with ease, and you will become constipated

2.Eat plenty of fibre. Fibre literally sweeps out the bowels and keeps everything moving and regular. It is important that you eat adequate amounts of fibre to ensure that your digestive system remains regular. Listen to the doctors and eat between five to seven servings of fruit and vegetables each day, as well as eating plenty of whole grains.

3.Exercise: exercise raises blood flow and keeps your system working fast. The slower your metabolism the slower food will pass through your body, and the more likely you are to become constipated. A higher metabolism – which you achieve through exercise – will ensure that your body’s working to an optimal capacity.

As we said, it’s a lifestyle choice. As always, the doctors are right: eat well, stay hydrated and exercise if you want to avoid constipation.

Symptoms

Most of us experience constipation at one point or another. Even those of us with a healthy lifestyle can become constipated. For example, certain medications, such as paracetamol, can cause constipation. Here are some common symptoms, so you know when you might be suffering from constipation:

•Bloating in the tummy – particularly the lower portion
•Pain, or difficulty, when defecating
•Bleeding around the rectum
•Lower back pain
•Feeling like you can’t fully evacuate your bowels
•Difficulty passing wind
•Discomfort in the tummy

Remedies

If you experience the above symptoms and you suspect constipation then try one of the following constipation remedies:

•Eat prunes or take a prune supplement
•Drink a litre or two of water
•Take specific dietary constipation remedies, such as Oxy Powder
•Try laxatives
•If all else fails, then visit your doctor who will be able to assist further.



It is important that you deal with constipation early, to avoid increasing your levels of constipation, which would lead to more symptoms.

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