Constipation treatment in elderly people at home

Constipation and their treatment in elderly people occupy an important place in modern geriatrics. The age-related hypotension of the intestine hinders the full-fledged life of more than half of the population over the age of 65.Chronic diseases, a drop in muscle tone, a sedentary lifestyle - all this contributes to the emergence of problems with defecation.

Defecation with age is widely accepted as an option for normal bowel function. And this error greatly complicates the lives of people who do not go to the doctor, and day after day they are struggling with a delicate problem on their own. How to treat constipation in elderly patients? How to cope with the disease? We will tell you in detail in this article.

Treatment of constipation in the elderly

Treatment of constipation in the elderly is based on the normalization of the digestive tract, which is achieved only with a comprehensive approach to the disease:

• correction of food habits and normalization of nutrition;
• sufficient water consumption;
• increased mobility;
• regular performance of massage and gymnastic exercises;
• administration of drugs that have a laxative effect only as prescribed by the doctor;
• monitoring of drug self-medication and rejection of certain medications.

Medications

Treatment of constipation in the elderly should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor and only those drugs that he prescribed. The uncontrolled use of certain medications can be addictive.

For the treatment of constipation in the elderly, the following groups of drugs are used:

• Substances that irritate the intestinal mucosa and increase peristalsis( Senadé, Senadixin, Gutalax).These drugs have a quick action and can not be used for a long time.
• Osmotic laxatives are a group of medicines that retain water in the intestine( magnesium sulphate, Forlax).
• Prebiotics with a laxative effect. Not addictive, but the effect of their application does not occur earlier than in 1-2 days( Dufalac, Lactulose).
• Phytomedication. Affect the stool masses, soften them, which facilitates excretion( Phytolacs, Fitomycil).

In the treatment of acute or chronic constipation in the elderly, medicinal preparations can be used in various forms: tablets, suppositories, suspensions, chewing sweets. When selecting medicines, attention should be paid to the concomitant diseases, as well as the presence of an allergy to the components of medications.

If prescribed by a doctor for constipation in the elderly do not give a result, you need to apply again to a professional for the selection of medications.

Folk remedies

After consultation with a specialist, it is possible to treat constipation in the elderly at home. At medical examination it is necessary to tell about all chronic diseases, and also to consult with the doctor, whether it is possible to apply this or that method of folk therapy.

In elderly people with constipation, the following recipes can be used for treatment:

• Compote from dried fruits. Pour a handful of dried apricots and prunes into the boiling water, cook a little and leave for infusion. Drink recommended to drink a little during the day or in the morning on an empty stomach for one glass.
• Beet. Boiled beets should be cleaned and grated on a large grater, then season with vegetable oil and eat as a salad.
• Kefir. In a glass with a sour milk product add a spoonful of sunflower oil, mix thoroughly and drink before going to bed.

Physical Exercises

Exercising gymnastic exercises is not only a complex for the treatment of constipation, but it is also a good way to prevent abnormal bowel work. Older people who lead an active lifestyle are less sick and feel younger and healthier than their peers.

Therapeutic physical training makes it possible to strengthen the muscular corset and improve the peristalsis of the digestive tract, which facilitates the process of defecation. Therefore, moderate exercise is recommended in the treatment of constipation of different genesis in the elderly.

Charging aimed at enhancing intestinal motility may include some of the exercises listed below. If it is impossible to perform the whole complex, it is better to limit to 2-3 exercises than not to do them at all. Even a low-intensity, but regular exercise stimulates the gastrointestinal tract to reduce and move the stool to the exit.

Exemplary complex:

1. Lying on his back, alternately press one thing after another knee to the abdomen.
2. Standing on all fours, you should bend back and then round your back.
3. Lying on your back, you need to throw your hands behind your head, and your legs are bent at the knees. Alternately, tilt the knees in each direction, without tearing the blades off the surface.
4. Lying on the stomach, gently rotate the hips and pelvis. Such an exercise helps relax the pelvic muscles.

Diet

The first thing you need to pay attention to the treatment of constipation in the elderly, it is the food that they consume on a daily basis. It is the predominance of certain substances in the diet that allows one to normalize the stool or, on the contrary, aggravate the situation.

To improve the functioning of the intestine, the daily menu should contain products with a high content of coarse fibers: bran, fresh vegetables and fruits, cereals. In addition, an elderly person must necessarily eat lean meat and fish, as well as eggs and sour-milk products. Learn more about nutrition for constipation →

the treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly should be to limit the use of products such as:

• semolina and rice porridge, which have the effect of fixing;
• fatty foods;
• sweets;
• baking from wheat flour of the highest grade( it is better to replace it with peeling).

Treatment of chronic constipation

Chronic constipation is common in elderly patients, especially after 70 years.

Treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly is based on the same principles as the elimination of short-term problems with defecation. The difference lies in the fact that the main emphasis in normalizing the work of the intestine needs to be done to change the way of life, and to use medicines only in rare cases.

What can not be done?

Often, when there is a problem of constipation in the elderly, they do not go to the doctor, and are engaged in treatment at home.

So it is not necessary to do it, because with a competent approach to the treatment of constipation in a short time, you can normalize the work of the intestine and get rid of difficulties with its emptying. If a person refuses to contact a doctor, he should understand that such behavior can lead to serious health problems.

With home treatment of constipation should be aware of some rules:

• not allowed continued use of laxatives, since because of this may develop intestinal hypotension;
• should not treat constipation with enemas, this method only gives a short-term result, but does not eliminate the problem;
• , if the condition worsens, abdominal pain occurs, you should immediately seek medical help.

Treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly should be carried out under the supervision of a district therapist or proctologist. The lack of regular examination and the constant use of medicines can cause even greater harm to health.

Author: Violeta Kudryavtseva, doctor,
specifically for Moizhivot.ru

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