August 4th, 2015
Constipation is a condition when the frequency of bowel movements decreases or the passage of stools become difficult. It is a fairly common condition and everybody suffers from it at some point in his life. According to statistics, 2% of the US population suffers from constipation. More than 2.5 million people in America visit their doctor every year with constipation related problems. Women and elderly people are more likely to suffer from this condition.
There are a few parameters on the basis of which a person is labeled as being suffering from constipation. These parameters are:
If these conditions persist for more than three months, the person is said to be suffering from constipation.
Some common causes of constipation include:
Symptoms of constipation include:
Constipation is diagnosed on the basis of above mentioned parameters. However, certain diagnostic tests are performed in order to find out the cause of constipation. These tests include:
Several things have been recommended to prevent constipation. These include:
If a person complains of constipation, he is advised to increase his intake of water. He should drink at least two to four extra glasses of water every day. Apart from this, he is advised to consume warm liquids early in the morning. The person should increase the portion of fruits and vegetables in his diet. Eating bran or cereal would also help.
If the constipation does not improve with these steps, a mild laxative like Milk of Magnesia can be taken. However, under no circumstance should the use of laxatives be continued for more than two weeks without consulting the doctor.
Reference:
“Chronic Constipation: An Evidence-Based Review,” by Lawrence Leung, Taylor Riutta, Walter Rosser, et al. Published in the Journal of American Board of Family Medicine in August 2011, accessed on July 11, 2015. Retrieved from: https://www.jabfm.org/content/24/4/436.full
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