Constipation and Tips

Constipation affects 20% of the general population of the country, while 33% experience constipation occasionally, during holidays and travel. It particularly affects women and even 2.5 times more than men. 59% of patients are ashamed to talk about their problem and simply ask for a known laxative.

Constipation is characterized by a sparse frequency of bowel movements (less than 3 times a week) and dehydrated and hard stools. It is a common problem, which often contributes to a disease of the digestive system, but also latent organic disorders (eg hypothyroidism).

Symptoms:

- Slow and painful defecation with hard and dehydrated stools.

- Feeling of incomplete emptying.

- Bloating, pressure in the stomach, abdominal pain with or without flatulence, hemorrhoids, stomach cramps and bad mood.

We could divide the problem into:

A - Occasional Constipation: It is often due to abrupt changes in diet or daily habits (strict diet, travel), lack of exercise (lying down, immobility on long trips), dehydration of stools (in extreme heat), psychological stress, but also in a pregnancy and generally lasts only a few days.

B - Chronic Constipation: It is usually idiopathic (without a specific cause) and requires the adoption of a healthy diet. Caution, if a worsening of the existing condition is observed, a visit to the doctor is needed and a colonoscopy may be performed with the slightest suspicion.

C - Recent or Recently Aggravated Constipation: Constipation that lasts for more than 15 days, without previous bowel disorders, always requires the search for an organic etiology: a disease of the digestive system (inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer) or a disease not related to the digestive tract (nerve, metabolic disorder) , hypothyroidism, hypokalaemia).

Also, constipation could be a medicinal side effect (iatrogenic constipation) from taking neuroleptics, antiparkinsonian, antidepressants, iron, codeine, morphine derivatives). Alternating diarrhea / constipation indicates irritable bowel syndrome.