Top 5 Chronic Constipation Treatments

Constipation is a very common concern and the condition is viewed differently by different people, depending on the person’s perception of his or her bowel function. For most patients, what is commonly called constipation is a combination of the following: straining at stool, hard stool, inability to defecate when desired, and infrequent defecation. Chronic constipation is when a person has three or less bowel movements per week, experiences excessive straining, and has hard or pellet like stool during bowel movement.

Chronic constipation, by itself is not fatal and may be easily managed. The key is in understanding the different constipation causes. The main function of the colon is to absorb water that the body needs and to eliminate body waste. If the stool remains too long in the colon, it may retain too much water and make the stool too dry and hard. In most cases, the cause of constipation is the slow passage of stool in the colon, which causes it to loose more water than normal.

In most cases, chronic constipation can be initially treated with proper education, lifestyle changes, dietary planning, and fiber supplementation. Here are some tips on cures for constipation.

  • Plan a diet rich in fiber. Fiber is good for the digestion. It also retains more water when it is digested. Foods rich in fiber include bran, whole wheat produce, cereals, fruits and vegetables. Also, cut down on white bread, cakes and sugar. Eating prunes and plum juice may also be beneficial.
  • Drinking lots of fluid can do the trick. Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. Hot drinks such as coffee, tea or hot water may also stimulate bowel movements.
  • Regular exercise may also help as it is said to relax your body, improve digestion and reduce stress.
  • Have a regular bowel habit. They say that the bowel is more relaxed after eating and in the morning. So the best time is usually after having breakfast. Sit and relax for at least 10 minutes regardless as to whether you do manage to do it or not. Do not try to hurry your body. And do not strain or try to push it down.
  • Try using a laxative. There are many different laxatives available both on prescription and over the counter. Most laxatives are effective and one can rarely claim to be better than the others. And so choosing what to get is really up to the individual. Avoid using laxatives for long periods of time however.
  • Patients should also be informed on normal bowel patterns and be given reassurance that a bowel movement of up to every second day may still be normal. Sedentary and obese patients should be encouraged to lose weight and get regular exercise.

Chronic constipation need not be a problem you have to live with for the rest of your lives. If managed properly, patients with constipation problems may live normal, lives free from bowel movement worries. And since in most cases, constipation is due to how you live and eat, the solution may also be found in what changes you make in your lifestyle and eating habits.

Colon Cleanse