Of late, while visiting my mum, she shared that she has constipation. When I ask around, I found that a lot of people also have this problem. So what is constipation, what are the causes and how to go about treating it ? ? ?
What is constipation?
To different people, it means different things. Basically, it refers to infrequent bowel movements. However, some will interpret it as a decrease in the amount of stool. Others describe it as difficulty in passing motion or a sense of incomplete evacuation. When this happens, they usually seek medication to help pass motion.
Ideally, one should clear his/her bowels after every meal. For some peope, it can vary from three times a day to three times a week while some may go a week or more without experiencing discomfort or harmful effects. Bowel habits are affected by diet. The average Singaporean diet includes 12 to 20 grams of fibre per day. This is below the recommended 25 to 30 grams of fibre.
About 80% of people suffer from constipation at some time during their lives. While brief periods of constipation are normal, it is advisible to seek help when the situation prolongs. The general assumption if that if motion is not passed out, it will result in poisons in the body. This can lead to overuse and abuse of laxatives.
What causes constipation?
Many factors may cause constipation. This include inadequate fibre and water intake, a sedentary lifestyle, and environmental changes. It may be aggravated by travel, pregnancy or change in diet. For some people, repeatedly ignoring the urge to pass motion may result in constipation.
More serious causes of constipation include growths or areas of narrowing in the colon. Hence, it is wise to seek the advice of a doctor when constipation persists. Constipation can also be due to nervous or endocrine disorders or diseases like thyroid, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and spinal cord injuries.
Treatment for constipation
Below are some tips for treatment of constipation:
- Eat well balanced, regularly scheduled meals to promote normal bowel function.
- To ensure roughage, eat foods that are high in fibre such as bran, shredded wheat, whole grain breads and certain fruits and vegetables. The recommended fibre intake is 25 to 30 grams per day for proper bowel function.
- With high fibre diet, this will also help lower cholesterol levels, prevent symptomatic hemorrhoids and reduce the risk of developing colon polyps and caner.
- Ensure that you drink enough fluids to help keep the stools soft. Try to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of liquid each day in the form of juice, milk, coffee, tea, soup, water or other fluids.
- An increase in activity such as exercise will also help the bowel move.
- Alternatively, fibre supplements may be taken as these are not harmful to the body.
- While laxatives stimulate the colon to work more rapidly, prolonged usage may stretch and weaken the colon. Hence, it is advisible to avoid laxative unless recommended and monitored by doctors.
- A change in lifestyle may also help. Having a specific time each day to have a bowel movement may be helpful. In some cases, bio-feedback may help to retrain poorly functioning anal sphincter muscles.
- Only in rare circumstances are surgical procedures necessary to treat constipation. Your doctor can discuss these options with you in greater detail to determine the best treatment for you.
- Last but not least, try Reiki. After learning this technique, I now have more frequent bowel clearance.
Metaphorically, the intestines represent garbage that are to be disposed. Parents, if you still have a lot of cluttered items, why not take this opportunity to spring-clean them. Who knows, your bowels may be smoothier. . .
Posted on February 16th, 2007 by June
Filed under: Parenting Tips
Very impressive website, as well as some good ideas in your post. I’ll be back her for sure. Thanks for the good content.
Hi
Thank you for your interest in my website and glad that you like my posts.
Cheers
June
Substantially, the article is really the sweetest on this deserving topic. I fit in with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your coming updates. Saying thanks will not just be adequate, for the fantasti c lucidity in your writing. I will directly grab your rss feed to stay informed of any updates. Genuine work and much success in your business dealings!
Hi Rico
Glad to know that you have enjoyed my post.
Cheers
June
I love your site. Could let me know how I can go about subscribing with it? By the way I found this website through Yahoo.
Hi Iola
Thank you for your interest in my website. You may include it in your RSS feed for future reference.
Cheers
June
Hey - nice blog, just looking around some blogs, seems a pretty nice platform you are using. I’m currently using Wordpress for a few of my sites but looking to change one of them over to a platform similar to yours as a trial run. Anything in particular you would recommend about it?
Hi
I am also using Wordpress. Just keep looking and you will find want that suits you.
Cheers
June
That is very sublime stuff. Never new that beliefs could be this varied. Thanks for all the enthusiasm to extend such helpful information at this site.
I have been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.
Though I would’ve loved it much more if you added a relevant video or at least pictures to back up the explanation, I still thought that your write-up quite helpful. It’s usually hard to make a complicated matter seem very easy. I enjoy your weblog and will sign up to your feed so I will not miss anything. Fantastic content
Thanks for writing this good blogposting. I definitely such as the style which you use to create about things. It had been quite educational and I want to many thanks you for thaking the time to write about this. A great deal of persons would clarify this stuff so additional complex, but with your statements I genuinely realize now almost everything. I am sure I will examine back your site and my rss reader will like your stuff too.
You hit the nail on the head with that one, awesome read! Keep up the good work.
You can definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren¡¯t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
Hi Lenard
Glad to know that you have enjoyed my articles.
Cheers
June
Thanks so much! So useful
Thanks so much! So useful
Been looking for some good comment suggestions for a while now. This is perfect!
Hi, Thank you so much for your kind words.yes, feel free to post this on your blog. It’s always nice to get conversation and links from others interested in the same things.Very special!
it Is easily my favourite, lovely post really will be coming back to this time and time again. Thanks!
www.juneparenting.com is very great. I enjoyed your blog a lot. Thank you.
Hey admin, very informative blog post! Pleasee continue this awesome work.
Wonderful info, numerous thanks towards author. It’s incomprehensible to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming. Thanks yet again and good luck!
Well, this can be my initial check out for your webpage! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative inside of a community in exactly the same niche. Your website provided us useful data to function on. You could have performed a marvellous employment!
Nicely, it is my 1st visit to your web site! We’re a group of volunteers and commencing a brand new initiative inside a community in exactly the same niche. Your webpage supplied us beneficial info to perform on. You might have carried out a marvellous job!
I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business.
I enjoyed reading your interesting yet very informative insights. I am looking forward to reading more of your most recent articles and blogs.
Great article, i hope can know much information About it fitness & exercise