What Is Constipation? 5 Best Tips to Get Rid of It
Whether it’s due to stress, poor nutrition, medications or change in climate, we all have experienced irregular bowel movements or difficulty in excretion at least once in our lives. Due to our lifestyle and dietary habits, we all are now at an increased risk of digestive disorders than ever before. And, of all the digestive disorders, constipation is the most common. On an average, approximately 16 % of people in this world are suffering from chronic constipation.
So, what exactly constipation is and how it can be treated? Check out this article to know all about constipation.
What is constipation?
In general, constipation is defined as a medical condition in which an individual has hard feces that are difficult to expel. To be more precise, or in medical terms, it is defined as a digestive disorder accompanied with three or lesser stools in a week. In severe cases, it may be even one stool in a week. Though the condition is only partially treatable or reversible, some medicines like Unienzyme as mentioned on docprime.com that contain digestive enzymes are known for providing relief in such condition.
Tips to get rid of constipation
- Exercise Regularly
One of the most common causes of constipation is stress. Exercising regularly can help you deal with stress. Not only this, but it also helps reduce the amount of time it takes for stool to pass through the intestine. A number of yoga postures can also help, but there exist certain postures which are more effective. Consult a yoga trainer to get things moving.
- Go For Natural Laxatives
Laxatives are the substances that bind with food in the stomach to facilitate an easy movement of stool through the large intestines. While synthetic laxatives may harm you, natural laxatives are something you can take on a regular basis. A few common natural laxatives that you may consume are senna, psyllium husk etc. However, the caution must be administered while taking laxatives, as their overdose for a prolonged period may decrease the natural ability of bowel to move stool.
- Intake Fibre-Rich Food
Fortunately, a number of food items such as green leafy vegetables, organic berries, nuts, and figs, are rich in fibre. And, consuming fibre-rich food is one the easiest and one of the best home remedies to get rid of toxins from the body. There are two types of fibres, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre helps water to bind to the stool to make it soft and insoluble fibre adds bulk to your faeces to speed up the bowel movement.
- Don’t Underestimate the Posture
No matter how lame it sounds, but the fact is that we have not been able to evolve in using toilets. The best way to excrete out waste from your body without straining it much is by sitting on squat positions. When you sit in such a position with your knees rising above the hips, the optimal angle to excrete is created and the stool moves easily.
- Drink and Drink!
We know, you have heard it a lot but, it’s worth saying again and again. Dehydration is another most common cause of constipation. Consuming lots of fluids can really do wonders. On average, an adult must drink three litres of water daily. Also, people who are struggling with constipation should consider drinking a glass of lukewarm water daily in the morning.
When to see a doctor?
While most of us prefer not to discuss our bathroom habits, the fact is that we need to identify our bathroom bowel patterns for cultivating good health. Bowel diseases, when left untreated, may lead to complications such as:
Also Read: 11 Of The Healthiest Winter Foods You Should Eat
- Rectal Prolapse: A medical condition in which a part of the large intestine slips out of the anus. It often requires a surgical procedure for the treatment.
- Faecal Impaction: It is one of the consequences of chronic constipation in which solid or hardened stool becomes immobile and sticks to the lower colon or in the rectum. The doctor may involve the use of physical procedures or medicine to treat such a condition.
- Haemorrhoids: It is another complication related to chronic constipation in which the veins in rectum and anus are swollen and may cause discomfort and bleeding. The condition may even become life-threatening in some severe
If you’ve been suffering from bowel diseases, and the home remedies that you have been trying are not working, don’t hesitate to consult a doctor. The doctor may ask you to undergo some tests to know the root cause of the problem and may plan the treatment accordingly.
Wrapping It Up
While the inability to poop may cause uneasiness and frustration, the fact is that exercising regularly, adding fibre content to the food and drinking lot of fluid are the petty things that can make a big difference. However, if these tips don’t work, don’t hesitate to consult a doctor. Just take care of your body, your body will thank you for it!