Constipation—the most prevalent digestive issue reported in the United States—can be an incredibly bothersome condition. Constipation causes bloating, irritability, and headaches, and on top of all those symptoms, treating constipation—particularly cases of chronic constipation—can be quite arduous and costly. Indeed, chronic constipation is the reason for up to 3 million visits to physicians with hundreds of millions of dollars spent on remedies.
Understanding Chronic Constipation
Every patient who suffers from chronic constipation has a different experience. For some patients, chronic constipation refers to meager bowel movements for weeks on end. While for others, it presents itself as irregularity and difficulty having bowel movements. For example, a majority of patients explain their situation as an inability to pass stools despite having the urge, regardless of how much they spend time in their bathroom.
6 Tips for the Treatment of Chronic Constipation
#1 Have a Morning Routine
Make it a habit to use the bathroom around the same time every morning because your digestive motility is usually at its peak in the morning.
#2 Be in Tune with Your Body
When you have the urge to have a bowel movement, don’t put it off. The contractions that incite bowel movements do not happen continuously, so if you do not use the bathroom as soon as you get the urge, you may miss your window. When your stool remains in your colon for a long time, its expulsion becomes more difficult with time due to water absorption. The urge to have a bowel movement also usually strikes following a meal, so learn to heed the signals your body sends out.
#3 Take a beat and de-stress
Stress can be detrimental to your overall physiological health but also your digestive function. Too much stress creates tension throughout the body, as well as the intestines, so it is paramount to take up a daily relaxation method to optimize digestive health.
#4 Drink lots of fluids
You need to drink lots of fluids, particularly water. For a healthy digestive system, experts recommend drinking a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily. You need to up your intake when it is hot outside and when you are being physically active.
#5 Increase your fiber intake
Increasing your intake of dietary fiber or using fiber supplements containing psyllium in combination with a high intake of fluids is also highly effective in improving chronic constipation.
#6 Discuss your medication options with your primary physician
There are many medications that can ease constipation, but a majority of them shouldn’t be taken long-term. Consult with your primary physician before beginning to take any medicines.
Featured Image: Depositphotos/© AndreyPopov
Posted on May 5, 2023