Constipation: symptoms, treatment

Constipation refers to that category of diseases, which are embarrassed to speak out loud. However, the problem should be taken seriously. If there is constipation, symptoms - treatment should begin on time.

Anxiety begins to be beaten in case of a chronic delay in bowel evacuation, when it does not happen more than 48 hours. More specifically, constipation, its symptoms are difficulties in emptying the bowels, when the act of defecation is violated. Disorders are manifested in the form of an increase in the intervals between stools, insufficient emptying. But even if the stool occurs at a normal frequency, and the act of defecation is difficult, this is also one of the signs of constipation.
However, before constipation is diagnosed, the treatment of which does not always pass quickly, it is worth inquiring about the heredity of the patient, to bind the disease with constitutional features. In other words, take into account the ratio of physiological norm and the frequency of emptying the intestine. It is purely individual, it happens 3 times a day, and once every three days. Therefore, before making conclusions, so that the symptoms, the treatment turned out to be correct, it is worthwhile to find out how the act of defecating the patient usually goes and compare with the complaints.

Constipation is temporary, happens occasionally, and chronic. Causes that provoke temporary constipation are many. These can be everyday conditions, food, an unusual, uncomfortable place for defecation, for example, when traveling. Not the best way to affect the body and stress - it usually occurs constipation, the symptoms of which disappear after the situation is getting better. Pregnancy is also accompanied by constipation - it provokes physiological changes in the body. Medicines, long stay in the hospital on bed rest - the causes of temporary constipation. But if, with all the above mentioned moments, constipation, its symptoms are unpleasant things, but tolerable, then in the case of a heart attack or after surgery on the abdomen, they are just dangerous.

By what criteria is chronic constipation diagnosed.
The diagnosis of constipation is made, treatment is prescribed if the doctor is satisfied that the problem exists. The patient must answer the questions without false shame.
If to list the signs on which constipation is determined, it is, first of all, the very process of defecation, its course. If the patient is a quarter or more of the process time, it is serious. It is equally important to know the consistency of feces, the lumps in it are also one of the signs. Feeling of heaviness, a feeling that the intestine has not completely emptied, and even defecation only twice a week, and even less often - the grounds to speak: it's constipation, the symptoms are obvious.
However, it is believed that even the presence of these symptoms does not give a definitive reason to make a diagnosis. Recognize that this is a constipation, the treatment of which is necessary if at least the two above mentioned signs are present in the patient constantly, for three months.
Given that stool retardation is not just a difficult act of defecation, but often painful sensations, lethargy, insomnia, bad mood, bloating and much more, another classification has appeared. It is based on factors that can directly cause constipation, symptoms. There are a lot of them and everyone is convincing. For example, exogenous factors, that is, external origin. The disease can be caused by certain lifestyle peculiarities, emotions, gastrointestinal tract disorders, neurological, endocrine and metabolic disorders, pathology and anomalies of the anorectal zone affect.
Constipation most often develops in three pathogenetic mechanisms, they can occur both in isolation and in combination with each other. This is when the absorption of water in the rectum occurs in a larger volume than is required when the stool masses through the colon go slowly and, finally, if the patient can not perform the act of defecation.
It is worthwhile to focus attention on the mechanism of passage of stool mass through the large intestine, which is affected by the tone of its areas. If the peristalsis of smooth muscle fibers is normal, then problems with passage do not arise. If it fails, it leads to the fact that there is constipation, its symptoms. These so-called functional constipation come in two forms: hypotonic constipation and hypertension. The first is caused by sluggish peristalsis of the intestine, which makes it impossible for the fecal masses to move forward, the stasis of the contents begins. If in the gut hypertension of any site arises, and feces come to it, they can not overcome the obstacle and get constipated.

How to treat constipation.
The main principle of treatment is etiotropic therapy, that is, the elimination of the cause. Constipation, his symptoms, of course, also go away. Usually it only needs to change the way of life, diet.
Treatment without medication is, first of all, food saturated with dietary fiber. Due to this, water retention, the feces volume increases, the consistency becomes soft, and all together causes peristalsis. For this purpose, raw vegetables and fruits, sour-milk products, cereals, vegetable oil, coarse bread are introduced into the diet. But tea, coffee, rice, chocolate is better to exclude - use will cause constipation, its symptoms.
Food is important to take regularly, especially breakfast, liquid - 2 liters a day. Ensure that the act of defecation occurs regularly, try not to ignore the urge to not reduce the excitability of receptors in the rectum. And, of course, move more - then constipation, treating it in this way is the most effective.
If drugs can not be dispensed with, then those are prescribed that have a laxative effect. Among the means of plant origin are the leaves of the hay, the buckthorn bark, castor oil. Synthetic - phenolphthalein, bisacodyl, sodium sulfate, lactulose. It is important to consider that all of them should be used only if a doctor has been appointed. Because, for example, the excess dose causes diarrhea, followed by dehydration and metabolic disturbances. And in combination with other medicines there can be unpredictable consequences.