Medically reviewed by Mae Charisse Antalan, MD · General Practitioner
Food is one of the main sources of nutrients in the human body. However, not everything gets absorbed from the food we consume. These insoluble and undigested food turns into fecal material, which the body needs to eliminate. Although the body tries to regularly discard stuff that the body can’t use, a bowel movement may sometimes not be as loose as we want it to be. If that happens, then you might be experiencing constipation. But what does constipation mean?
Constipation or fecal impaction is a digestive problem, which causes difficulty in passing dry and hard stool or infrequent bowel movements. A person is considered to be constipated when he/she is having fewer bowel movements, usually less than three times in a week.
Constipation is normally experienced by everyone every once in a while. However, if you suffer from this digestive condition for several weeks, months, or longer, then you most likely have chronic constipation.
The following are the three different types of constipation:
To confirm if you suffer from constipation, you must first identify if the following constipation symptoms are present. Symptoms include:
If you experience the following constipation symptoms, especially if it’s chronic, immediately consult your doctor to know what’s been causing it and how to treat and prevent it from getting worse.
There are different factors that causes constipation, such as:
Constipation can be considered as one of the most common digestive issues. Almost everybody has had it, and in fact, some people are more susceptible than others. After knowing the constipation symptoms and causes, let us now find out who is at most risk of this condition.
These are the following factors that increase your risk of having constipation:
There are various treatments you can do or use to ease and get rid of constipation.
Here are some of them:
Some of the most common constipation symptoms are caused by poor lifestyle and diet choices. And so changing these habits can help solve constipation problems. Here’s what you can do:
If changing your diet and lifestyle does not help improve constipation, you can use laxatives instead. Below are laxatives that you can purchase over-the-counter:
If your stool problems can’t be treated by what’s mentioned above, it is best if you consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor might prescribe medications, training, and even surgeries to help treat your condition.
Constipation normally goes away on its own. However, if you continuously do the habits that might further worsen your condition, then it might develop into chronic constipation. Here’s what you can do to prevent chronic constipation from occurring:
Now that you are fully aware of what constipation is, then you are now fully equipped for when it strikes you or the people you know. Always remember to gear towards better and healthier choices to avoid constipation from ensuing or worsening.
Keep in mind that it is best if you consult your doctor for medical advice and prescriptions if you currently suffer from constipation and are having a hard time treating it.
Learn more about Digestive Health and Constipation, here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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