Discovering Various Constipation CausesChronic constipation may not be as life threatening as cancer but any person who has experienced this malady will admit to the various degrees of discomfort one can be faced with. It is therefore helpful to take note of the various constipation causes, to be able to prevent or even manage this illness. Very often, slow movement of stool in the colon causes constipation. The colon functions by removing water from the stool. If the stool passes thru the colon too fast, less water is retained which could also be bad for the body. On the other hand, if stool stays too long in the colon, too much water is removed and the stool becomes too hard and dry. Broadly speaking this is the main cause of constipation, but there are several specific and important ones as well. 1. An unhealthy lifestyle. Anyone who lives the good life with too many fast food and saturated food on his menu can look forward to chronic constipation. If you lead this type of life and you want to be rid of constipation then you just have to make a diet and lifestyle change. 2. Lack of Fiber. Constipation most often results from a lack of fiber in the diet. It follows that having high fiber content in your diet can mean ease in defecation. Eating processed food everyday for breakfast and even for lunch and dinner can make you a good candidate for chronic constipation. If you don't want to be among the list then take in as many cereals and whole grain wheat breads as possible. 3. Lack of body fluids. Since water aids in easy defecation, it follows that lack of body fluids will result to constipation. Drink as much water as you can. The rule of thumb is to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. If you can add to this by drinking fruit dishes then it would be healthier for your colon. 4. Lack of exercise. While exercise is not directly proportional to defeating ease, it is somehow related to constipation. Living a sedentary life, along with the other constipation causes can lead to chronic constipation. 5. Certain medication. This may be new to you but you should be aware that some basic medications for pain and medications taken for digestive problems like diuretics and antacids can cause constipation. Some people take chronic constipation for granted, thinking that it can simply be washed away with one or two laxatives. Little do they know that regular use of laxatives can be the cause of a greater problem. If you have regular bowel movements every 2 to 3 days you shouldn't panic unless these are accompanied by pain. Never rely on laxatives to solve chronic constipation. The best thing to do is to get to the real constipation causes and then get rid of these causes to solve the problem. It is never too late to change your lifestyle to make way for a healthier body. |