The Lowdown on your Slowdown: Constipation Causes and Cures

Whether you suffer from frequent constipation, or just get backed up once in a while, there are many ways to help get things moving again – safely and effectively.

Let’s take a look . . .

Constipation Overview
Constipation can mean different things to different people. It can be described as infrequent stools, hard stools, difficulty passing stools or the feeling that you did not have a complete bowel movement. Each of the types of constipation has a different cause and all of them can cause discomfort in the body. Medically speaking, constipation is defined when someone has less than 3 bowel movements per week. Severe constipation is defined when a person has only one bowel movement per week.

Should you be worried?
While some people become concerned when they do not have a bowel movement once a day, there is actually no medical reason supporting the need for a person to have a daily bowel movement, and less than 50% of people have a daily pattern. The number of bowel movements that people have per day actually decreases with age. Contrary to popular belief, there are not toxins that accumulate when bowel movements are infrequent and there’s no evidence to support that a person will develop cancer if they experience frequent constipation.

It is important to distinguish medically between occasional constipation and a chronic problem. Acute constipation requires immediate medical attention as it may be an underlying cause for a much more serious medical condition such as a tumor or cancer of the colon. Also, if constipation is accompanied with other serious medical conditions such as rectal bleeding, abdominal pain or cramps, it could also be a sign of a serious medical condition. See a health care professional immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

Common Causes for Constipation
A commonly overlooked cause for constipation is medication. There are several medications that can cause this condition including: codeine, oxycodone, antidepressants, iron supplements and antacids containing aluminum. While these are the most common medications known to cause this issue, there are many others that also cause constipation.

Diets that are low in fiber have been known to contribute to constipation. People are eating less fruits and vegetables in their daily diets which can contribute to this problem.

Another suspected cause of severe constipation is the overuse of stimulant laxatives. Constant use can cause damage to the nerves and muscles of the colon. Most experts agree that stimulant laxatives should be a last resort when other less troublesome measures have been ineffective in curing constipation.

Your body’s hormonal balance can also contribute to constipation. Too little thyroid hormone and too many other hormones can cause constipation. For example, a woman who is menstruating may experience mild constipation and women who are pregnant can also experience constipation.

There are several diseases that can affect the colon, causing constipation. Diabetes, Sclerodema, Hirschsprung’s disease and cancer can cause the colon to constrict which can lead to constipation.

Solutions for Being Stopped-Up

The simplest solution to ease your body of constipation is to eat a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. By adding a higher quantity of high fiber foods to your diet, your body should become more regular over time. Fiber supplements are also an excellent way to help your body to become more regular. Routine exercise is important in helping your body to produce bowel movements. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is also a crucial component in maintaining a healthy bowel system.

If you are looking for some natural solutions to constipation, consider the live bacteria now added to some yogurts (lactobacillus acidophilus) which is thought to promote intestinal and colon health. Also, diets that are deficient in magnesium may contribute to constipation. Magnesium can be found in leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and in supplements.

If the problem still persists, stool softeners may help. Enemas and laxatives should be used as a last resort and only for severe cases.

Constipation does affect millions of people, although only a small proportion experience serious problems as a result. Learn about your body, maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise to stave off constipation. If you develop a short term problem, consider some lifestyle changes along with natural supplements.
And, hopefully the next time you spend too much time in the bathroom, it’s by choice and not due to your personal poor plumbing!