
Constipation - And What To Do About It
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Constipation is the lack of timely or infrequent bowel movements. Constipation is generally temporary.
The following have been shown to help deal with constipation:
- Drink plenty of fluids to help keep your stool soft (at least 8 glasses of water or other fluids each day)
- Warm and hot fluids such as tea and coffee work especially well.
- Be sure the drinking water is safe - particularly if you are undergoing chemotherapy or your immune system is low.. To learn more, see: Water.
- Eat high-fiber foods. Dietary fiber speeds movement of food through the GI tract and binds with water. This causes stools to become bulkier and pass out of the colon more easily.
- High-fiber foods include the following:
- Rice bran and wheat bran
- Whole grain breads and cereals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Raw or cooked vegetables such as beans or squash, broccoli or carrots
- Fresh and dried fruit, part icularly prunes
- Eat fruits and vegetables with peels or skins on.
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Popcorn
- Also consider:
- Supplements that contain fiber to what you eat .
- Compare food labels of similar foods to find higher-fiber choices.
- Bake with whole wheat flour instead of white or all purpose flour .
- To learn more, see: Nutrition
- High-fiber foods include the following:
- Consider laxative drinks and foods such as:
- Apple juice
- Pear juice.
- Prunes and prune juice
- Avoid milk and cheese. They can cause constipation in some people.
- Physical activity helps move food through the bowel. Lack of exercise can slow food by reducing muscle contractions.
- Try to push yourself to walk if you can. Even just getting out for a walk can help.
- Check with your doctor before increasing your physical activity. To learn more, see Exercise.
- Complementary therapies such as:
- Aloe vera juice several times a day
- Flax or linseed seeds crushed into food or chewed
- Herb teas such as Smooth Move Tea
- Consider taking an over-the-counter medication such as the following (Check with your doctor before using):
- Bulk laxatives (bran, Metamucil, Citrucel)
- Colace, Dulcolax, Senokot.
- Enemas (tap water, soap suds, Fleets)
- Lubricant (mineral oil)
- Osmotic laxatives (lactulose, sorbitol)
- Saline laxatives (milk of magnesia, magnesium citrate, sodium phosphate)
- Stimulant laxatives [bisacodyl (Ducolax), castor oil]
- Stool softener (Colace)
- Suppositories (glycerine, bisacodyl)
NOTE:
- If you do not have a bowel movement for two days, call your doctor and ask about taking a laxative or stool softener. Laxatives and stool softeners may interfere with the effectiveness of drugs or treatments or actually cause harm.
- If you have severe constipation and first-line treatment doesn't work, ask your medical provider about trying acupuncture to the abdomen, boosted by an electric current.
- If you have rectal or anal cancer or colon cancer in the lower part of your colon, do not use a Fleet Enema or put anything else in your anus. Any object can nick a tumor or other condition and cause it to bleed which can cause a loss of a lot of blood. This prohibition includes anal sex, sex toys and even suppositories. With a suppository, you stick your finger in your rectum.
To Learn More
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