Peristalsis of the intestine: how to increase it and reduce it

The intestine performs many functions: it digests food, sucks in useful substances and displays indigestible. When violations in his work, there are pains in the abdomen, changes in stool, flatulence, general state of health worsens because of the development of intoxication. Peristalsis of the intestine is its motor function, which ensures the movement of food from the stomach and an anal opening.

When shrinkage of the intestinal wall becomes insufficient, they speak of a decreased intestinal peristalsis, and if they are reinforced - about increased intestinal motility. Both these states require correction. It is often enough to change the diet and increase physical activity, but in some cases, medication is needed.

Physiological basis of intestinal peristalsis

Intestinal peristalsis: what is it? Sequential wave-like contractions of the muscles of the organ walls necessary for moving the contents.

Intestinal peristalsis is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Muscles in the walls are located in two layers: one - longitudinally, in the other - circularly( annularly).Information from the brain on nerve fibers about their contraction or relaxation.

Sequential change of these conditions ensures the movement of food, and then stool to the anus. The process of evacuation( defecation) also requires peristaltic movements of the intestinal walls.

Due to peristalsis, the supply of liquids in the digestive system is necessary to assimilate useful substances and to process the remaining ones: outflow of bile from the gall bladder to the small intestine, pancreatic juice from the pancreas. Therefore, motor skills are important not only for transportation, but also for digesting food.

Intestinal peristalsis in each of the digestive tract has its own specifics. First the contents of the stomach enter the duodenum. Muscle contractions in it arise in response to the stimulation of the walls by food, they can be slow, elevated or rapid. Usually several types of peristaltic waves move at the same time.

In the jejunum and ileum, motor activity is less intense. In the thick department, food is digested for a long time. Abbreviations occur only a few times a day and move the contents to the anal sphincter.

Causes of a disorder

Intensive, active peristalsis of the intestine is one of the forms of its violation, in which contractions occur frequently, and food moves very quickly, not having time to digest. More information about enhanced intestinal peristalsis →

The causes of such dysfunction can be:

• substances that irritate the bowel walls excessively - drugs, sour or sharp food;
• large volume of food;
• inflammatory processes in the intestines - colitis, enterocolitis, gastritis;
• psycho-emotional overload, stress, irritable bowel syndrome.

The oppression or absence of peristalsis, when the wall contractions are rare, slow or none at all, occurs for the following reasons: :

• frequent and uncontrolled consumption of high-calorie food;
• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - colitis, gastritis;
• tumors - polyps, cancer;
• abdominal surgery;
• age changes - muscle atrophy, hormonal failure, chronic pathology;
• hypodynamic way of life;
• effect of drugs.

Symptoms of

Symptoms of intestinal motility disorder depend on its type.

With increased, frequent contraction of the muscular walls, appears:

• Pain of a spasmodic nature. The irritation of the walls of the intestine and the intensification of peristalsis lead to a sharp and intensive reduction of its walls. The symptom increases after eating, taking medication, decreases during sleep.
• Frequent stools, sometimes liquid( diarrhea).
• Increased gas formation, bloating.
• Changes in the character of the feces: it becomes liquid, mucus appears, sometimes blood veins.
• After visiting the toilet, there is a feeling that the bowel is not completely emptied.

Weak intestinal peristalsis has the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain of varying localization and intensity. During the day they can show up with hardly noticeable discomfort or strong spasms. Often, this symptom subsides after defecation, the release of gases, during sleep, and increases after eating. Excessive gas formation, bloating.
• Constipation. Violations of this type of stool are persistent, but in rare cases they alternate with diarrhea, in the absence of treatment they become chronic.
• The increase in weight occurs due to digestive disorders and metabolic processes in the body.
• Signs of intoxication: deterioration of general health, weakness, headaches, bad mood, allergic reactions, rashes on the skin. Prolonged finding in the intestines of processed foods leads to absorption of toxins from them.

Diagnosis

To know how to restore, normalize intestinal peristalsis, it is necessary to find out the nature of the disorder and its causes.

The minimum set of diagnostic methods includes:

• Finger inspection.
• Coprogram - analysis of stool for the detection of dysbiosis and other digestive disorders.
• Endoscopy is an instrumental examination of the intestine. More on the use of anesthesia with a colonoscopy →
• Irrigoscopy - X-ray examination with the introduction of a contrast agent into the intestine.

In complicated cases, ultrasound of the abdominal and pelvic organs can be prescribed, computed tomography. Based on the results of the findings, the physician diagnoses and prescribes treatment.

What causes abnormalities of intestinal peristalsis

Poor intestinal peristalsis contributes to congestion stool. As a result, bacteria multiply actively there, rotting processes begin. The resulting toxins are absorbed into the bloodstream and come to various organs, disrupting their work.

In the first place, the liver suffers. Receiving an increased load, it does not cope with the filter function. There are signs of intoxication of the body: headaches, lethargy, drowsiness, decreased mood, deterioration of the skin in the hair, the appearance of acne and other eruptions.

The reverse peristalsis of the small intestine and stomach can lead to heartburn, belching, vomiting. Reinforced and frequent cuts in the walls provoke diarrhea, which is dangerous for dehydration.

With a large loss of fluid develops chills, tachycardia, dizziness. If medical assistance is not provided, these conditions develop into shortness of breath, convulsions, vomiting, and increased heart rate.

Another complication of increased intestinal peristalsis is inadequate absorption of nutrients, which can lead to disruption of metabolic processes in the body.

Treatment of

Violation of intestinal motility requires treatment, as it worsens well-being and can lead to complications. Therapy is carried out in a complex way, which implies correction of nutrition, performance of special physical exercises and taking medications. The doctor does all the appointments after establishing the causes of the violations and determining their nature.

Treatment of sluggish peristalsis of the intestine and stomach is aimed at stimulation. From the diet it is necessary to exclude high-calorie food: sweets, fatty dishes. Also prohibited are products that increase gas generation and fermentation: beans, boiled eggs, fresh pastries, fresh milk.

The basis of the daily menu should be vegetables, fruits, cereals, bran - fiber sources. Take food often and in small portions. During the day, drink about 2 liters of water.

When changes in the diet is not enough, the doctor prescribes preparations to enhance intestinal motility:

• increasing the muscle tone of the walls( Vasopressin, Proserin);
• laxatives( English salt, castor oil, Senadé, Regulax, magnesia).

Drugs are not always prescribed by the doctor, since intestinal motility can be improved by adjusting nutrition and physical exercises aimed at stimulating blood flow and strengthening the muscles of the press.

The approximate morning exercises complex can be as follows:

1. Exercise "bike" lying on the back. Perform 25 times.
2. Lying on the back, legs bend and pull to the chest, hold for 5 seconds, return to the starting position. Perform 10-12 times.
3. Lying on the back, straight legs raise and wound behind the head, slowly lowered. Perform 10-12 times.
4. Standing, feet shoulder width apart, make the body twist left and right. Perform 10-12 times in each direction.
5. Walking in place for 3-5 minutes.

With intensified and frequent contraction of the intestinal wall, another treatment is prescribed, since in this case it is necessary to reduce peristalsis. The diet is made individually, based on the patient's observations.

It is necessary to determine which products cause irritation and development of spasms. Most often these are sharp, smoked, fatty dishes, carbonated drinks and alcohol, milk. Products to reduce intestinal peristalsis - stewed and boiled vegetables, rice, oats, jelly.

To eliminate the increased intestinal peristalsis, drugs are prescribed that slow it down: Imodium, Loperamide, Lediumum, Diar. Therapeutic exercises are aimed at relaxing the muscles, physical exercises are combined with respiratory exercises. When selecting them, the main thing is to avoid loading the muscles of the press.

Starting position: standing on all fours or lying on the back. Suit exercises from yoga, pilates( "kitty", stretching oblique muscles).

Prevention of

Since it is often difficult to adjust peristalsis in an adult, it is worth paying attention to the prevention of its disorders:

• visit the gastroenterologist at least once a year to timely identify and eliminate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• maintain moderate physical activity - perform walking and cycling, visit the pool, etc.;
• adhere to the diet and maintain a healthy diet - a diet for normal intestinal motility includes the use of foods high in fiber, the rejection of sweets, legumes, baked goods, spicy and flavored dishes.

Peristalsis of the intestine is its ability to rhythmically reduce the walls. It is necessary to move food from the stomach to the anus, and also to digest it.

In case of peristalsis, its weakening or strengthening occurs. Both conditions bring discomfort, complications and require treatment. To restore the normal operation of the intestine, correction of nutrition, taking medication, performing physical exercises is necessary.

Author: Olga Khanova, doctor,
specially for Moizhivot.ru

Useful video about the intestine's work