Constipation

If someone is constipated, it means that they are having difficulty emptying their bowels. For some people it means that they are not able to go to the toilet as frequently as normal and for others it means hardened stools that they have difficulty passing, causing strain. In the medical world, constipation is classed as less than three bowel movements a week and severe constipation is classed as one bowel movement a week. There is acute constipation and chronic constipation.
Acute constipation may require immediate attention as it just suddenly occurs and there could be a more serious issue related to it. Chronic constipation is when someone has been suffering with it for a long period of time.
There are many factors associated with and causing constipation, such as, not drinking enough water on a daily basis, stress, hormones, pregnancy, IBS, too much dairy in your diet, not being active enough as well as neurological disorders or colon cancer.

SYMPTOMS OF CONSTIPATION

As well as not being able to pass stools, people suffering with constipation may also experience bloating and stomach cramps. As the stools are hard, this may also cause anal bleeding and some people, despite being constipated may also experience diarrhoea.

Treatments

If you suffer from constipation you may be able to treat it at home with a diet and lifestyle change. These can increase the speed at which waste and stool moves through your intestines. If these do not help you may be recommended for medication or surgery.

Medications

The first medication you might be prescribed is a laxative:

Fibre supplements — these add bulk to your stool and include psyllium (Metamicil, Konsyl), calcium polycarbophil (FiberCon) and methyl cellulose fibre (Citrucel)
Stimulants — these cause the intestines to contract and include Correctol, bisacodyl (Ducodyl), Dulcolax and sneezes oral (Senokot).
Osmotics — these help fluids move through the colon and include oral magnesium hydroxide (Phillip’s Milk of Magnesia), magnesium citrate, lactulose (Kristalose), polyethylene glycol (Miralax, Golytely, Nulytely).
Lubricants — these allow stool to move through your colon easier and include mineral oils.
Stool softeners — these moisten the stool by drawing water from the intestine include docusate sodium (Colace) and docusate calcium (Surfak).
Enemas and suppositories — these soften stool and produce bowel movement and these include phosphate (Fleet), soapsuds, tap water enemas, Glycerin and bisacodyl suppositories.

Other Medications

These medications could be prescribed by your doctor if the over-the-counter medications do not help your chronic constipation.

To draw water into your intestines — these work by bringing water into our intestines and speeding up the movement of stool and include lubiprostone (Amitiza) and linaclotide (Linzess).
Other kinds of medication — other medications can be used to treat chronic constipation and include misoprostol (Cytotec), colchicine/probenecid (Col-Probenecid) and onabotulinumtoxinA (also known as botulinum toxin A or Botox).

Training of Pelvic Muscles

This type of training is called biofeedback training and involves the use of a therapist who can use exercises to help you to learn to relax and tighten muscles in your pelvis. These exercises can help you to release stool more easily. During this procedure a catheter is inserted into your rectum in order to measure muscle tension. Your therapist will assist you through exercises to relax and tighten your pelvic muscles. A machine with gauge the muscle tension with the use of sound and lights to help to understand your relaxed muscles.

Surgery

If other treatments haven’t worked surgery may be an option if your chronic constipation is caused by blockage, rectocele, anal fissure or stricture. If you have abnormally slow stool movements through the colon, then having surgery that involves removing part or the whole colon.

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