The constipation, Constipation treatment, The constipation reasons, Constipation symptoms,

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Constipation Home Remedies
Constipation is a common disturbance of the digestive tract. In this condition, the bowels do not move regularly, or are not completely emptied when they move. This condition is the chief cause of many diseases as it produces toxins which find their way into the bloodstream and are carried to all parts of the body. Appendicitis, rheumatism, arthritis, high blood pressure, cataract., and cancer are only a few of the diseases in which chronic constipation is an important predisposing factor.

Constipation Symptoms
Infrequency, irregularity in elimination of hard faecal matter
The most common symptoms of constipation are infrequency, irregularity or difficulty in elimination of the hard faecal matter.

Coated tongue, Foul breath, headache, depression , insomnia etc
The other symptoms include a coated tongue, foul breath, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, dark circles under the eyes, depression, nausea, pimples on the face, ulcer in the mouth, constant fullness in the abdomen, diarrhoea alternating with constipation, varicose veins, pain in the lumbar region, acidity, heart burn, and insomnia.

Causes of Constipation
Constipation Symptoms, Causes, Remedy and Diet
Faulty diet and style of living
The most important causes of chronic constipation are a faulty diet and style of living.

Insufficient intake of water, strong tea and coffee etc
Intake of refined and rich foods lacking in vitamins and minerals, insufficient intake of water, consumption of meat in large quantities, excessive use of strong tea and coffee, insufficient chewing, overeating and wrong combination of foods, irregular habits of eating and drinking may all contribute to poor bowel function.

Irregular habit of defecation, lack of physical activity
Other causes include faulty and irregular habit of defecation, frequent use of purgatives, weakness of abdominal muscles due to sedentary habits, lack of physical activity, and emotional stress and strain.

Home Remedies for Constipation
Constipation home remedies and natural cures, Questions and answers

Constipation treatment using Bael Fruit
Generally all fruits, except banana and jack fruit, are beneficial in the treatment of constipation. Certain fruits are, however, more effective. Bael fruit is regarded as the best of all laxatives. It cleans and tones up the intestines. Its regular use for two or three months throws out even the old accumulated faecal matter. It should be preferably taken in its original form and before dinner. About sixty grams of the fruit are sufficient for an adult.

Constipation treatment using Pear
Pears are beneficial in the treatment of constipation. Patients suffering from chronic constipation should adopt an exclusive diet of this fruit or it’s juice for a few days, but in ordinary cases, a medium-sized pear taken after dinner or with breakfast will have the desired effect.

Constipation treatment using Guava
Guava is another effective remedy for constipation. When eaten with seeds, it provides roughage to the diet and helps in the normal evacuation of the bowels. One or two guavas should be taken everyday.

Constipation treatment using Grapes
Grapes have proved very beneficial in overcoming constipation. The combination of the properties of the cellulose, sugar, and organic acid in grapes make them a laxative food. Their field of action is not limited to clearing the bowels only. They also tone up the stomach and intestines and relieve the most chronic constipation. One should take at least 350 gm of this fruit daily to achieve the desired results. When fresh grapes are not available, raisins, soaked in water, can be used. Raisins should be soaked for twenty-four to forty-eight hours. This will make them swell to the original size of the grapes. They should be eaten early in the morning, along with the water in which they have been soaked.

Constipation treatment using Orange
Orange is also beneficial in the treatment of constipation. Taking one or two oranges at bedtime and again on rising in the morning is an excellent way of stimulating the bowels. The general stimulating influence of orange juice excites peristaltic activity and helps prevent the accumulation of food residue in the colon.

Constipation treatment using Papaya and Figs
Other fruits specific for constipation are papaya and figs. Half a medium-sized papaya should be eaten at breakfast for it to act as a laxative. Both fresh and dry figs have a laxative effect. Four or five dry figs should be soaked overnight in a little water and eaten in the morning.

Constipation treatment using Spinach
Among the vegetables, spinach has been considered to be the most vital food for the entire digestive tract from time immemorial. Raw spinach contains the finest organic material for the cleansing, reconstruction, and regeneration of the intestinal tract. Raw spinach juice-100 ml, mixed with an equal quantity of water and taken twice daily, will cure the most aggravated cases of constipation within a few days.

Constipation treatment using Other Remedies
Half a lime, squeezed is a glass of hot water, with half a teaspoon of salt is also an effective remedy for constipation. Drinking water which has been kept overnight in a copper vessel, first thing in the morning, brings good results. Linseed (alse) is extremely useful in difficult cases of constipation. A teaspoon of linseed swallowed with water before each meal provides both roughage and lubrication.

Constipation diet
Constipation : Home Remedies suggested by users
Natural and simple diet consisting of unrefined foods
The most important factor in curing constipation is a natural and simple diet. This should consist of unrefined foods such as wholegrain cereals, bran, honey, lentils, green and leafy vegetables, fresh and dry fruits, and milk products in the form of butter, clarified butter, and cream. The diet alone is not enough.

Chew food properly, Avoid hurried meals and irregular meals
Food should be properly chewed. Hurried meals and meals at odd times should be avoided. Sugar and sugary foods should be strictly avoided. Foods which constipate are all products made of white flour, rice, bread, pulses, cakes, pastries, biscuits, cheese, fleshy foods, preserves, white sugar, and hard-boiled eggs.

Other Constipation treatments
Fresh air, outdoor games and exercise
Toning up the muscles also helps in the treatment of constipation. Fresh air, outdoor games, walking, swimming, and exercise play an important role in strengthening the muscles, and thereby preventing constipation.

Wikipedia..

Constipation, costiveness, or irregularity is a condition of the digestive system in which a person (or animal) experiences hard feces that is difficult to expel. This usually happens because the colon has absorbed too much water from the food due to the lack of water holding capacity of the contents of the bowels. If the food moves through the gastro-intestinal tract too slowly, the colon may absorb too much water, resulting in feces that are dry and hard. Defecation may be extremely painful, and in severe cases (fecal impaction) lead to symptoms of bowel obstruction. The term obstipation is used for severe constipation that prevents passage of both stools and gas. Causes of constipation may be dietary, hormonal, anatomical, a side effect of medications (e.g., some opiates), poisoning by heavy metals, or an illness or disorder. Treatments consist of the use of laxatives, enemas, changes in dietary and exercise habits, and other medical interventions depending on the underlying cause and urgency of needed relief.

Definition

Types 1 and 2 on the Bristol Stool Chart indicate constipationIn common constipation, the stool is hard, difficult, and painful to pass. Usually, there is an infrequent urge to void. Straining to pass stool may cause high intra-rectal pressure leading to hemorrhoids. In later stages of constipation, the abdomen may become distended, hard and diffusely tender and the patient may experience cramps and colicky symptoms, occasionally with enhanced bowel sounds.

The definition of constipation includes the following:[1]

infrequent bowel movements (typically three times or fewer per week)
difficulty during defecation (straining during more than 25% of bowel movements or a subjective sensation of hard stools), or
the sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation.
Severe cases (“fecal impaction” or malignant constipation) may exhibit symptoms of bowel obstruction (vomiting, very tender abdomen) and “paradoxical diarrhea”, where soft stool from the small intestine bypasses the mass of impacted fecal matter in the colon.

Causes
There are many reasons why constipation occurs, including poor intake of fluids which leads to dehydration; ignoring the urge to go to the bathroom and this later results in desensitization of bowel; lack of fiber in the diet; sedentary lifestyle both in young and old individuals; irritable bowel syndrome of the constipation variety; pregnancy is a common reversible cause of constipation; getting old as the intestine start to slow down; changes in daily life style routine like travel; acute illness; increasing use of pain pills; abuse of laxatives which later leads to desensitization of bowel motility; specific medical disorders like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, low thyroid activity; presence of intestinal mass or colon cancer; use of medications like water pills, drugs to treat Parkinson’s disease, anti depressants and anti hypertensives; presence of tears in the anal canal and hemorrhoids usually cause spasms of anal muscles and leads to constipation; injuries to the spinal cord resulting in paralysis is a common cause of constipation in young individuals. However, in the majority of people there is no cause of constipation ever identified. In elderly individuals it is important to remember that constipation may be caused by colon cancer. Finally a major cause of constipation in children is fear of using the toilet. Many older children often ignore the urge to have a bowel movement and later develop a lay bowel (See Encopresis).

Differential diagnosis
The main causes of constipation include:

Hardening of the feces
Insufficient intake of dietary fiber
Dehydration from any cause or inadequate fluid intake
Medication, e.g., diuretics and those containing iron, calcium, aluminum
Paralysis or slowed transit, where peristaltic action is diminished or absent, so that feces are not moved along
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)
Hypokalemia
Injured anal sphincter (patulous anus)
Medications, such as loperamide, opioids (e.g., codeine and morphine) and certain tricyclic antidepressants
Severe illness due to other causes
Acute porphyria (a rare inherited condition)
Lead poisoning
Lactose Intolerance
Dyschezia (usually the result of suppressing defecation)
Diverticula
Tumors, either of the bowel or surrounding tissues
Obstructed defecation, due to:
Mechanical causes from morphological abnormalities of the anorectum including megarectum, rectal prolapse, rectocele, and enterocele
Functional causes from neurological disorders and dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles or anorectal muscles, including anismus, descending perineum syndrome, and Hirschsprung’s disease
Retained foreign body or a bezoar
Psychosomatic constipation, based on anxiety or unfamiliarity with surroundings.
Functional constipation
Constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, characterized by a combination of constipation and abdominal discomfort and/or pain[2]
Smoking cessation (nicotine has a laxative effect)[3]
Abdominal surgery, other types of surgery, childbirth
Severe dehydration
Some causes are with particular respect to infants:[4]
Switching from breast milk to bottle feeds, or to solid meals
Potty training anxiety
Hirschsprung’s disease – a condition from birth where the child has a nerve cell defect that affects communication between the brain and bowels
Diagnosis approach
The diagnosis is essentially made from the patient’s description of the symptoms. Bowel movements that are difficult to pass, very firm, or made up of small hard pellets (like those excreted by rabbits) qualify as constipation, even if they occur every day. Other symptoms related to constipation can include bloating, distension, abdominal pain, headaches, a feeling of fatigue and nervous exhaustion, or a sense of incomplete emptying.[5]

Inquiring about dietary habits will often reveal a low intake of dietary fiber or inadequate amounts of fluids. Constipation as a result of poor ambulation or immobility should be considered in the elderly. Constipation may arise as a side effect of medications, including antidepressants, which can suppress acetylcholine[6][7] and opiates, which can slow the movement of food through the intestines[8]. Rarely, other symptoms suggestive of hypothyroidism may be elicited.[citation needed]

During physical examination, scybala (manually palpable lumps of stool) may be detected on palpation of the abdomen. Rectal examination gives an impression of the anal sphincter tone and whether the lower rectum contains any feces or not; if so, then suppositories or enemas may be considered. Otherwise, oral medication may be required. Rectal examination also gives information on the consistency of the stool, presence of hemorrhoids, admixture of blood and whether any tumors, polyps or abnormalities are present.

X-rays of the abdomen, generally only performed on hospitalized patients or if bowel obstruction is suspected, may reveal extensive impacted fecal matter in the colon, and confirm or rule out other causes of similar symptoms.

Chronic constipation (symptoms present for more than 3 months at least 3 days per month) associated with abdominal discomfort is often diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) when no obvious cause is found. Physicians caring for patients with chronic constipation are advised to rule out obvious causes through normal testing.[9]

Colonic propagating pressure wave sequences (PSs) are responsible for discrete movements of the bowel contents and are vital for normal defecation. Deficiencies in PS frequency, amplitude and extent of propagation are all implicated in severe defecatory dysfunction (SDD). Mechanisms that can normalise these aberrant motor patterns may help rectify the problem. Recently the novel therapy of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) has been utilized for the treatment of severe constipation.[10]

Treatment
In people without medical problems, the main intervention is to increase the intake of fluids (preferably water), take laxatives and increase intake dietary fiber. The latter may be achieved by consuming more vegetables and fruit and whole meal bread, and pulses such as baked beans and chick peas and by adding flax seed to one’s diet. The routine non-medical use of laxatives is to be discouraged as this may result in bowel action becoming dependent upon their use. Enemas can be used to provide a form of mechanical stimulation. However, enemas are generally useful only for stool in the rectum, not in the intestinal tract.

Lactulose, a nonabsorbable synthetic sugar that keeps sodium and water inside the intestinal lumen, relieves constipation. It can be used for months together. Among the other safe remedies, fiber supplements, lactitiol, sorbitol, milk of magnesia, lubricants, etc., may be of value. Electrolyte imbalance, e.g., hyponatremia may occur in some cases especially in diabetics.

In alternative and traditional medicine, colonic irrigation, enemas, exercise, diet, and herbs are used to treat constipation. The mechanism of the herbal, enema, and colonic irrigation treatments often includes the breakdown of impacted and hardened fecal matter. The management of constipation should start with changes in life style and diet. This can help most people to recover [11]

High fiber diet is recommended to produce soft, moist and bulky stools which ease constipation. This means eating at least 25 grs of fiber a day. Foods with high fiber content include beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Processed foods like cheese, lean meat and white flour products should be limited [12] Exercise of any type has been shown to stimulate bowel motility; drinking lots of fluids softens stool; setting time aside for a regular bowel movements and never make a habit out of ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement.

Laxatives
Main article: laxative
Laxatives may be necessary in people in whom dietary or other interventions are not effective or are inappropriate. Laxatives should be used with caution and only as necessary. The following sequence of laxative use is recommended: bulk forming, then stool softeners, then osmotic, then stimulants, then suppositories, and finally enemas (only as a last resort). The reason for this cautious use is because laxatives can lead to dependence, and like all medications they have side effects. Laxatives should not be used if there are signs and/or symptoms of a bowel obstruction.[13]

The various types of laxatives on the market include lubricants (mineral oil), biscodyl, stool softeners (Colace), fiber supplements (Metamucil), Osmotics (sorbitol), and saline (milk of magnesia). There are also prescription based laxatives like Amitiza and prucalopride which are used for people with specific disorders. Females who develop constipation during pregnancy should try to eat lots of fiber and whole grains.

Physical intervention
Malignant constipation that resists all the above measures requires physical intervention. Manual dissimpaction (the physical removal of impacted stool using the hands) is done for those patients who have lost control of their bowels secondary to spinal injuries. Manual dissimpaction is also used by physicians and nurses to relieve rectal impactions. Manual dissimpaction is usually done under sedation or a general anesthetic—this avoids pain from the surgeons hand and loosens the anal sphincter.

Many of the products are widely available over-the-counter. Enemas (clysters) are a remedy occasionally used for hospitalized patients in whom the constipation has proven to be severe, dangerous in other ways, or resistant to laxatives. Sorbitol, glycerin and arachis oil suppositories can be used. Severe cases may require agressive phosphate solutions introduced as enemas.

Children
Lactulose and milk of magnesia has been compared to PEG (polyethylene glycol) in children. They had similar side effects but PEG was more effective at treating constipation.[14][15] Osmotic laxatives are recommended over stimulant laxatives.[16]

Prevention
Constipation is usually easier to prevent than to treat. The relief of constipation with osmotic agents, i.e., lactulose, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or magnesium salts, should immediately be followed with prevention using increased fibre (fruits, vegetables, and grains) and a nightly decreasing dose of osmotic laxative. With continuing narcotic use, for instance, nightly doses of osmotic agents can be given indefinitely (without harm) to cause a daily bowel movement.

Recent controlled studies have questioned the role of physical exercise in the prevention and management of chronic constipation, while exercise is often recommended by published materials on the subject.[17]

In various conditions (such as the use of codeine or morphine), combinations of hydrating (e.g., lactulose or glycols), bulk-forming (e.g., psyllium) and stimulant agents may be necessary to prevent constipation.

Epidemiology
Depending on the definition employed, constipation occurs in 2% of the population; being more common in women, the elderly and children.[18]

Constipation is most common in children and elderly individuals. In children constipation is often found to be associated with several medical problems including altered behavior. In adults constipation can be very distressing and can severely degrade the quality of life. Sometimes constipation in the elderly may be a harbinger of a serious illness like cancer. [19]

The actual number of people who suffer from constipation is not known because millions treat themselves with over the counter laxatives and never see a physician. However, hospital data indicate that at least 14 percent of the USA population is affected by constipation. Nearly 20 million seek active treatment for this disorder on a daily basis. People spend close to $1 billion each year on laxatives and there are about 2.5 millions visits to health care workers each year. Constipation occurs in all races but is most frequent in African Americans and women. Constipation increases with age and the highest rates are found in individuals over the age of 60. Constipation also affects close to 3% of children less than 4 years and about 1 percent of school aged children. In children constipation is more common in boys. Constipation is one of the top reasons why children are seen in pediatric clinics and accounts for the majority of referrals to specialists. [20]

In animals
Hibernating animals can experience tappens that are usually expelled in the spring. For example, bears eat many foods that create a “rectal plug” before hibernation.

Canines may also experience constipation, which they usually attempt to repair by ingesting grass and other plant materials.

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