What is constipation?
Constipation is the most common digestive complaint faced by people. Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs more water from the waste material, making the stools hard to pass. Constipated people suffer from less frequent bowel movements, hard and difficult-to-pass stools, a feeling of not fully emptied bowels, and painful bowel movements. Severe constipation can cause complications like anal or rectal bleeding, diverticulitis, faecal impaction, piles, and anal fissures.
Who are at higher risk of developing constipation?
Constipation affects all age groups, including children. But it is more common in older people, women, especially pregnant women, people who do not include enough fibre in their diet, people who have neurological diseases, or those on certain medications.
What causes constipation?
Lifestyle
- Including less fibre in the diet
- Not drinking enough water
- Travelling or changes in a routine of eating or sleeping
- Consuming too much milk or cheese
- Stress
- Ignoring the urge to pass stools
Medications
- Painkillers like oxycodone, hydromorphone, codeine
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen or ibuprofen
- Certain antihypertensives like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers
- Antidepressant drugs like tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Allergy medications
- Certain psychiatric drugs like olanzapine or clozapine
- Antacids
- Iron pills
- Antiemtics like ondansetron
- Anti-seizure medications like phenytoin
Health conditions
- Diverticular disease
- Colorectal cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke
- Endocrine conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia
- Intestinal obstruction
- Lupus, amyloidosis, scleroderma
- Defects in the structure of the digestive tract like volvulus, fistula
- Issues with pelvic floor muscles
What are the natural remedies for constipation?
Constipation can be relieved at home without the help of doctors. The following are the top five remedies that can help with constipation.
- Water: Drinking water only when you feel thirsty may not be enough for adequate functioning of the digestive system. A person should drink at least 2.5 to 3.0 litres of water daily, or even more, depending on the physical activity and weather. Water helps keep the stools soft and pushes stools out of the large intestine. People who do not like to drink plain water can flavour it with cucumbers, lemon juice, or mint to make it more palatable. Moreover, these ingredients have positive effects on the digestion process.
- Fibre: Fibre is a plant-derived nutrient present in large amounts in vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Our bodies cannot break down fibre entirely. Thus, the undigested fibre in the digestive system forms the bulk of stools, making it easier for the large intestine to expel stools. The more fibre in the diet, the bulkier the stools are. If you are trying to add more fibre to your diet, increase the amount of fibre gradually, as adding more fibre to your diet at once can cause bloating and abdominal cramps. Foods like carrots, bananas, oatmeal, and cucumbers have easily digestible fibre. Include these foods regularly in your diet.
- Exercise: Physical activity stimulates the digestive system, makes the process of digestion easier, keeps the digestive system on the move, and promotes good bowel movements.
- Ginger, mint tea: Tea, warm water with ginger and mint, and black coffee can help promote bowel movements and ease discomfort from constipation.
- Yoghurt: Having a fresh bowl of yoghurt or curd daily improves the quality of gut bacteria and gut health and reduces the risk of getting constipated.
What to avoid to prevent constipation?
- Processed foods or junk foods: These foods have high amounts of sugars, salts and fats. They slow down the digestion process and cause constipation.
- Low-fibre foods: Limit low-fibre foods like white rice, white bread, and refined wheat flour products.
- Sedentary life: Move around as much as you can and take out 30 minutes a day for five days a week to do any physical activity if you are doing a desk job which involves sitting for long periods. The longer you spend time in a sitting position slower the intestines can function, putting you at risk of developing constipation.
- Ignoring the urge to pass stools: Some people ignore the urge as they want to use only the toilets at home. They try to override the urge and delay bowel movements as much as possible. Repeated ignorance of the urge can send confusing signals to the brain. Also, the longer the stools sit in the colon, the harder and dry they become, causing difficulty in passing them. Pushing hard stools out by straining increases the risk of piles and anal fissures.
- Stress: Manage your stress levels, as chronic stress can affect the functioning of the digestive system, contributing to constipation. Destress yourself with yoga, meditation, or going out for a walk.
Takeaway points
Constipation is the most common digestive complaint. It can be prevented by avoiding some foods and stress, while it can be relieved at home with home remedies.
However, if you are still experiencing constipation symptoms or worsening symptoms despite home remedies, or you have other symptoms along with constipation, you should seek help from a medical gastroenterologist immediately.
How can Bangalore Gastro Centre help you?
The top gastroenterologists at Bangalore Gastro Centre Hospitals in HSR Layout are highly experienced in managing patients with constipation and other intestinal diseases. The team includes a nutritionist who can help patients tailor their diet plans to manage constipation without medicines.
If you are looking for a constipation treatment doctor in Bengaluru, contact specialists at BGC to get it treated and get a colonoscopy test to determine the underlying health conditions causing frequent constipation episodes. The centre also offers piles and fissure treatment through advanced laser treatment.
