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| Eating more fiber is one step in the right direction |
Constipation occurs when the body is unable to remove feces
from the body. This can be due to several different causes. Some of the causes
of constipation include but are not limited to:
- Not chewing well enough-You may be surprised to learn that how well you chew your food will determine how easily it passes through your body. You need to chew your food well in order to break it down for your stomach and allow the nutrients to be absorbed. When your food has not been chewed enough it makes it a lot harder to pass it through your system.
- Not having enough fiber-This is problem for many people. The fiber is what absorbs water while the food is passing through the colon. Fiber is what makes it easy for the entire waste removal process of the body to function. When there is not enough fiber in the body the colon will create much harder stools which in turn will make defection harder to do.
- Not having enough water-Many people are surprised to learn that the human body is made up of nearly 70% water. However, the less water that you take in the less you will have in your system. Because of this deficit the colon will absorb water from the stools in your body in order to make up the difference. This can in turn lead to constipation.
Symptoms of constipation most often include the following-
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- An inability to move stool through the rectum-The patient may feel that they just cannot move their stools despite continued pushing.
- An overwhelming urge to defecate-Because of the continued buildup of stool the patient with constipation may feel an almost constant urge to defecate.
- An abdominal pain that ranges from mild to serious-While the colon is trying to deal with the backup of stool many patients report abdominal pain that can be anything from mild to severe.
Treatment for constipation can include the following-
- Diet and lifestyle changes-This can include eating more fiber, drinking more water, getting regular exercise and taking time for regular bowel movements.
- Laxatives-These types of medications can be habit forming so it is important that these are considered only when diet and lifestyle change are not working.
- Other medications-These medications are usually only prescribed when diet and lifestyle changes along with the use of laxatives are not working. Your doctor will determine what type of medication is right for you.
- Procedures-There is a variety of procedures(both surgical and non-surgical), that can be tried should the above listed treatment options not be successful. Keep in mind that these are usually only done as a last resort.
While treatment for constipation can seem embarrassing it is
imperative that you seek out help if the problem is chronic. Chronic
constipation can bring on several serious medical conditions if it is left
untreated. While pursing treatment it is also important to use the right kind
of incontinence product that will help to make dealing with this problem much
easier. To find out more about all aspects of incontinence please visit http://caregiverpartnership.com/landing/incontinence.
About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visit http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.
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