|
|
Constipation
is the infrequent and difficult passage of stool. The frequency of bowel
movements among healthy people varies greatly, ranging from three movements
a day to three a week. As a rule, if more than 3 days pass without a bowel
movement, the intestinal contents may harden, and a person may have difficulty
or even pain during elimination. Stool may harden and be painful to pass
even after shorter intervals between bowel movements.
1) What Are Some Common Misconceptions About Constipation?
Many false beliefs exist concerning proper bowel habits. One of these
is that a bowel movement every day is necessary. Another common fallacy
is that wastes stored in the body are absorbed and are dangerous to health
or shorten the life span. These misconceptions have led to a marked overuse
and abuse of laxatives. Every year, Americans spend $725 million on laxatives.
Many are not needed and some are harmful.
2) What Are Some of the Causes of Constipation?
Constipation is a symptom, not a disease. Like a fever, constipation can
be caused by many different conditions. Most people have experienced an
occasional brief bout of constipation that has corrected itself with diet
and time. The following is a list of some of the most common causes of
constipation:
Poor Diet
A main cause of constipation may be a diet high in animal fats (meats,
dairy products, eggs) and refined sugar (rich desserts and other sweets),
but low in fiber (vegetables, fruits, whole grains). Some studies have
suggested that high-fiber diets result in larger stools, more frequent
bowel movements, and therefore less constipation.
Imaginary Constipation
This is very common and results from misconceptions about what is normal
and what is not. If recognized early enough, this type of constipation
can be cured by informing the sufferer that the frequency of his or her
bowel movements is normal.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Also known as spastic colon, IBS is one of the most common causes of constipation
in the United States. Some people develop spasms of the colon that delay
the speed with which the contents of the intestine move through the digestive
tract, leading to constipation.
Poor Bowel Habits
A person can initiate a cycle of constipation by ignoring the urge to
have a bowel movement. Some people do this to avoid using public toilets,
others because they are too busy. After a period of time a person may
stop feeling the urge. This leads to progressive constipation.
Laxative Abuse
People who habitually take laxatives become dependent upon them and may
require increasing dosages until, finally, the intestine becomes insensitive
and fails to work properly.
Travel
People often experience constipation when traveling long distances, which
may relate to changes in lifestyle, schedule, diet and drinking water.
Hormonal Disturbances
Certain hormonal disturbances, such as an underactive thyroid gland, can
produce constipation.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is another common cause of constipation. The reason may be partly
mechanical in that the pressure of the heavy womb compresses the intestine,
and may be partly due to hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Fissures and Hemorrhoids
Painful conditions of the anus can produce a spasm of the anal sphincter
muscle, which can delay a bowel movement.
Specific Diseases
Many diseases that affect the body tissues, such as scleroderma or lupus,
and certain neurological or muscular diseases, such as multiple sclerosis,
Parkinson's disease and stroke can be responsible for constipation.
Loss of Body Salts
The loss of body salts through the kidneys or through vomiting or diarrhea
is another cause of constipation.
Mechanical Compression
Scarring, inflammation around diverticula, tumors and cancer can produce
mechanical compression of the intestine and result in constipation.
Nerve Damage
Injuries to the spinal cord and tumors pressing on the spinal cord can
produce constipation by affecting the nerves that lead to the intestine.
Medications
Many medications can cause constipation. These include pain medications
(especially narcotics), antacids that contain aluminum, antispasmodic
drugs, antidepressant drugs, tranquilizers, iron supplements, and anti-convulsants
for epilepsy.
|
|
