All about oils for constipation
Most people sooner or later experience digestive disorders, which also include constipation.
It occurs for various reasons (physical inactivity, errors in diet, chronic diseases, bad habits) and brings a lot of unpleasant sensations.
If it is mild, you can use natural remedies, such as oils. Read more about the beneficial properties, features and methods of use below in the article.
Each oil has, first of all, individual characteristics that are associated with effects on different organ systems. It depends on the method of production, source and quality of the product that determines the composition.
Proper storage of oils is of great importance. Otherwise, they may acquire carcinogenic properties (the ability to provoke the development of a tumor process).
The main component of any vegetable oil is fats, the functions of which are extremely diverse. First of all, they are necessary for a balanced diet and normal functioning of the human body. The following types are of greatest importance:
- Saturated fatty acids - found in cocoa and coconut oils;
- Monounsaturated fatty acids – in sesame, olive, peanut oil and avocado;
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids - in flax and sunflower seeds, pine nuts, almonds, corn, soybeans. They are distinguished by their high Omega-3 content.
In most cases, many oils contain all 3 types of fatty acids, but in different ratios. In addition, they may contain vitamins, phytoestrogens, antioxidants, fiber substances and microelements.
Constipation is characterized by the absence of bowel movements for more than 24 hours or bowel movements that are accompanied by a feeling of incomplete bowel movement. If it is mild, after consulting a doctor, you can use vegetable oil as a laxative.
This is possible due to the effect oils have on the gastrointestinal tract. But it should be remembered that in each case there are a number of contraindications and recommendations that must be strictly followed so as not to provoke diarrhea or more serious complications.
The best oils for constipation
In order for the oil to be used for constipation, it must meet certain requirements. These include stimulating bile secretion, coating the intestinal wall and softening stool. In small quantities, any vegetable fat can be taken even daily for both therapeutic and preventive purposes.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin seed oil has a high content of silicon, zinc and iron, so it is used not only for stool retention, but also for other lesions of the gastrointestinal tract (pathology of the hepatobiliary and urinary systems, wounds, burns, eczema, colitis, hemorrhoids). This product can be purchased in capsule form, which will relieve discomfort when taken in its pure form.
Pumpkin oil for constipation, take 1 tbsp. 3-4 weeks every day. It should be at room temperature (cannot be used for frying), without any unpleasant odor or impurities. In case of chronic pathology, it can be added to cold dishes - salads, kefir, milk.
Castor
Castor oil also has a good effect on constipation due to the large amount of organic acids in its composition - oleic, ricinoleic and linoleic. It promotes soft bowel movements, and can be used for hemorrhoids and helminthic infestations.
It is acceptable to use it in its pure form, in capsules or as microenemas (one-time use in emergency situations) after consulting a specialist.
Castor oil is contraindicated for bleeding, kidney damage, exacerbations of gastrointestinal diseases, children under 12 years of age, menstruation and pregnancy (can cause miscarriage or premature birth).
It cannot be used for a long time; the average course is 3 days (up to 30 g per dose for adults and 10 g for older children). Violation of the dosage threatens the appearance of side effects - diarrhea, dehydration, inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal atony.
Sunflower and olive
If there are no other means, you can use sunflower oil. It contains a lot of similar substances, having a complex effect on the entire body, stimulating intestinal motility, eliminating spastic pain and bile secretion.
It is also useful for strengthening the immune system, good functioning of the nervous system and normal metabolism. In this case, we are talking about consuming fresh unrefined oil that has not been subjected to heat treatment (there will be no effect).
It is best to use it using one of the following methods:
- Every day on an empty stomach, 1 tablespoon (can be washed down with a glass of water);
- At night, mix a glass of kefir and 1 tbsp. oils;
- As an additive to porridge (oatmeal, millet) or salads;
- In the form of a kind of cocktail: 1 tbsp. oils, juice from carrots, spinach and beets (total volume 250 ml).
You should not abuse it if you are overweight, have gallstones or have high cholesterol levels. For children and pregnant women in limited quantities.
The best alternative to this remedy would be olive oil, which has many beneficial properties, after consulting a doctor.
Linen
One of the best remedies is flaxseed oil for constipation. It has a minimum of contraindications and is allowed for children from 6 months of age, as well as for pregnant women. It is important to follow these rules when using it:
- Do not heat;
- Do not use for frying;
- Best used in the absence of other oils or laxatives;
- The maximum course is 5 weeks with the same break;
- Daily dose – 2 tablespoons.
It can be taken in the morning on an empty stomach and at night with milk, kefir, yogurt. Contraindicated in case of gallbladder disease (or lack thereof), taking hormonal medications, antidepressants and anticoagulants.
Sea buckthorn
Sea buckthorn oil eliminates the inflammatory process, accelerates the healing of injuries, and has an antiseptic effect. It can be drunk in liquid form, 1 tsp. on an empty stomach every day for 3-4 weeks for chronic constipation. In some cases, suppositories or microenemas may be recommended for children or pregnant women.
If desired, it can be prepared at home. To do this, you need to grind or chop 1 kg of fully ripe berries using a blender.
After this, they are aged through 4-6 layers of gauze, and the juice is poured into a dry glass container. It is recommended to let the product brew for several days in a dark place.
After this, you need to collect the oil from the surface into another container. Store it away from sunlight and children.
Rules and recommendations for use
Oil for constipation is best consumed in the morning on an empty stomach or immediately before going to bed at night. Evacuation occurs after more than 5-6 hours, and there is no painful urge to defecate, pain or flatulence.
If chronic constipation develops, it is imperative to consult a doctor, as this may indicate the presence of a serious illness. You also need his consultation before starting any self-medication.
A certain remedy is suitable for everyone, so each person chooses the best oil for constipation independently. You should not use several types at the same time, especially when using laxatives.
Before using oil, especially specific oil (castor or pumpkin), it is important to read the instructions and contraindications for use. Also, do not forget that there may be an individual intolerance to any drug or an allergy to it, including cross allergies.
A prerequisite for successful relief from constipation is compliance with the main type of treatment, diet and physical activity regimen. Any vegetable oil only temporarily eliminates the symptoms, but not the cause of the problem.
Source: https://easymed-nn.ru/zatrudneniya/pitanie/maslo-pri-zapore.html
Features of the use of sunflower oil
Recipes, menus and diet products
Sunflower oil is most often used for constipation.
Doctors recommend taking it once in the morning before breakfast, one tablespoon. This will not only facilitate the process of moving feces, but also soften them. In severe cases, as well as chronic constipation, you should consult a doctor. If you have a tendency to constipation or if they appear periodically, it is enough to adjust your diet. To do this, add one tablespoon of oil per serving to ready-made dishes, for example, porridge. If you want to achieve the effect faster, it is recommended to include buckwheat, millet or oatmeal in your diet. At the same time, they need to be cooked in water, not milk, and salt should be used in minimal quantities. They, combined with oils, allow you to quickly stabilize intestinal function.
In addition to the pronounced laxative effect, sunflower oil also has other beneficial properties. It contains a large amount of vitamins, namely A, B, D, E and so on. They have a positive effect on the functioning of internal organs and also help normalize the functioning of the nervous system. With regular use of sunflower oil to eliminate constipation, it is possible not only to solve this problem, but also to normalize metabolic processes, strengthen the immune system and get rid of a large number of inflammatory processes by accelerating regeneration.
Remember that vegetable oil is not a panacea for constipation, and self-medication can lead to serious consequences, so we strongly recommend that you consult a doctor for help in treating a delicate illness.
Best Laxative Products for Constipation
Constipation is something that few people want to talk about, even with their family and friends, but it is also something that can poison our entire existence. Think about it, is it possible to live peacefully, much less rejoice, love and achieve success in life, if you feel constant heaviness in your lower abdomen, and then pain, your appetite disappears, and your head also starts to hurt?
Constipation can and definitely must be fought. You should start with adjusting your diet. Include more laxative foods in your diet. And today we’ll talk about which foods have a laxative effect and are useful for constipation.
Why is this happening?
What are the causes of constipation? Experts say that this is caused by changes in the functioning of the intestines - it is clear that these changes are far from positive.
Perhaps in this case some kind of chronic disease develops - for example, a peptic ulcer, or polyps have appeared in the intestines - there are many options. So, if constipation is persistent and long-lasting, you need to see a doctor, undergo an examination and make a diagnosis - otherwise self-medication can cause considerable harm.
The most common reasons causing negative changes in intestinal function are: limited movement - physical inactivity; improper diet; eating refined foods and abusing animal proteins - eggs, meat, and the quality of these products is also not the highest. Even more often, city dwellers eat semi-finished products, and they certainly do not contain any fiber or nutrients that allow the intestines to function normally. Following certain diets for a long time also disrupts the functioning of the intestines, and it stops emptying itself.
And if you also start resorting to the help of laxative products and remedies, and give yourself cleansing enemas without a doctor’s recommendation, then constipation becomes habitual, and in order to achieve free stool, you have to make incredible efforts.
Meanwhile, constipation can be treated not only with pills and other laxatives, and even laxative herbs for weight loss - folk remedies - are also optional - you just need to start eating so that the intestines can work on their own. This does not happen right away, but it is laxative foods that are the best and safest remedies for constipation when necessary, and they gradually make this ailment recede.
Fiber-rich foods
Of course, the best laxative foods are those that are high in fiber: vegetables, fruits, herbs and grains. Food rich in fiber increases the number of so-called acid-loving bacteria in the intestines - they are not only harmful, but also beneficial.
These bacteria take part in the processing of food, and as a result of these processes, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are formed - substances that play a very important role in the functioning of the intestines as a whole.
They provide energy to beneficial intestinal microflora; improve the barrier function of its walls, preventing microbes from passing through them into other environments of the body; regulate his motor activity; stimulate blood flow; maintain normal pH levels, etc.
These processes are quite complex, but quite accessible to our understanding - in general terms, so that we can have an idea of the nature of constipation and understand exactly how to deal with them.
There are many effective laxative products, and bran occupies one of the first places in this regard. They contain a lot of coarse fiber, and also contain all the B vitamins, and they are easy and simple to use: you must first take 1 tsp. 3 times a day, and over 2 weeks gradually increase the dose to 1 tbsp.
3 times a day. You can buy bran in a store, herbal or regular pharmacy, and take it by brewing it with boiling water - only in this case will it work. The water is drained after 30 minutes, and the bran is added to porridge, soup, salad, etc.
Bread with bran also has a laxative effect, unless, of course, you overeat on it.
A well-known product like pumpkin has a good laxative effect - you can make a lot of tasty things from it, and not just the well-known pumpkin porridge.
You can also eat it raw - separately, or adding it to salads, baking, stewing or frying.
By the way, that same porridge - made from pumpkin with millet - is very tasty and healthy if you prepare it correctly, and millet cereal also has a slight laxative effect.
Prunes help many people even more than pumpkin, and in general the choice of products is always individual.
You can drink compote and decoction, eat boiled and raw berries - just wash them thoroughly; adding prunes to various dishes and wholemeal baked goods is an excellent addition to any low-calorie diet.
Prune decoction can be safely given even to babies under one year old, and plum juice and plum puree are also included in this group of tasty laxative products.
Oatmeal jelly, decoction, or just oatmeal are also effective homemade laxative products, and they act very gently. You need to use whole grains, not instant porridge, although regular Hercules may also work.
An excellent remedy for constipation is a salad called “broom”. It is so called because it cleanses the intestines, as if sweeping out everything unnecessary and unnecessary: these are raw grated vegetables - beets, carrots, white cabbage, celery. You can add turnips or radishes if your stomach tolerates them, but the oil and salt in this salad are unnecessary.
Peas are an unexpected laxative product, but they clearly improve bowel function. Dry peas should be ground into powder, and take only 1 tsp. per day - soon the stool will return to normal.
Flax seed may not seem like a tasty food at first glance, but it is actually quite tasty when you taste it.
Like bran, you can buy it without any problems, and before going to bed, drink a glass of flaxseed infusion, and eat the seeds - it’s better to chew them. The seed should be infused for 5 hours, pour 1 tsp.
a glass of boiling water; During the day, you can also add the soaked seed to salads, cereals and other dishes.
List of effective laxative products
Other products available to everyone that have a laxative effect
:
- Onions are an excellent laxative product in any form - raw, baked, stewed, boiled, fried - it improves the digestibility of food and helps even with chronic constipation.
- Red beets - also in any form. Sometimes you can even do enemas with its decoction - for long-term and persistent constipation.
- Cucumber pickle without any seasonings or spices has a laxative property. The brine in which the cucumbers have stood for a month will be effective - you should drink a glass of it 4 times a day. The cucumbers themselves, both fresh and lightly salted, also perfectly stimulate the intestines.
- Any vegetable juices with pulp have long been known as laxative products. For example, beet juice, like spinach juice, can be mixed with carrot and celery juice, and drink a glass 2-3 times a day.
- In the morning on an empty stomach you can drink water with honey: 1 tbsp. per glass of water at room temperature. Before going to bed, kefir with vegetable oil will help: 2 tsp. Stir the oil thoroughly in a glass of kefir and drink in small sips, slowly. Those who have a sedentary job need to consume more fermented milk products - for a laxative effect, one-day ones are suitable, since then they begin to strengthen.
- Include grain bread, legumes, salads, vegetables and fruits in your menu as often as possible. You can eat rice - only brown, and pasta made from second-grade flour - little by little, along with a lot of vegetables.
Spirulina against constipation
If you experience frequent constipation and a tendency to chronic diseases, including colds, it is worth including spirulina in your diet, an algae that has long been used in medicine and dietetics.
Spirulina improves metabolism, strengthens the immune system and cleanses the intestines well - while many breakdown products, toxins and “bad” fats are removed from the body, and beneficial microflora is restored. The effect of spirulina is so healing that it is used in medicine as a means of preventing intestinal cancer.
Laxative fruits
Among fruits, apples, peaches, and tangerines are most often recommended as laxatives; dried fruits – figs, dried apricots; raw vegetables, except those listed - zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts; legumes – beans and black peas; whole grains and cereals in bread products. If you drink wine, it is better to prefer white: the organic acids contained in it also contribute to better intestinal function.
Do not forget to also drink clean water, and not just coffee, tea or compote, and chew any food as thoroughly as possible - then gradually you will forget that you were once tormented by constipation, and you will always feel light and free.
As you can see, there are a lot of laxative products. Just replace your usual dishes with them, it may not be very familiar at first, but then everything will stabilize. And when your intestines improve, constipation goes away, your figure improves and your skin becomes completely different - you will always eat only the right, natural and healthy foods.
Source: https://zen.yandex.ru/media/inmoment/luchshie-slabitelnye-produkty-pri-zaporah-5c64726be9ed8e00ac240cfa
Butter for constipation in adults
As with other gastrointestinal diseases, the main provisions of dietary therapy for constipation are based on the principles of regularity, avoidance of fast food, untimely dry snacks and consumption of exclusively healthy foods. A necessary factor in proper nutrition for constipation is strict adherence to the drinking regime, because liquid (in any form) activates intestinal functions.
Basic principles of diet therapy for constipation
The basic principles of proper nutrition for constipation are normalizing the diet and following a special diet.
The proper functioning of the intestines and its ability to have regular bowel movements largely depend on the regime and diet. Therefore, diet therapy should become a mandatory component of treatment.
In many cases, proper nutrition for intestinal constipation is enough to normalize stool.
How to eat with constipation to get rid of the problem? Nutrition for constipation should be complete and varied. The daily intake of basic nutrients should be 400-450 g of carbohydrates, 60-100 g of protein and 40-80 g of fat. In addition, you need to ensure that your diet contains minerals, vitamins, macro- and microelements.
What food should you eat for constipation of any etiology? The diet of a person suffering from this disease should contain a lot of plant fiber (ballast substances that stimulate digestion in general and intestinal motility in particular).
Plant fiber causes a quick feeling of fullness, suppresses appetite for a long time and at the same time contains few calories.
Plant fibers increase the mass of intestinal contents and dilute it, thereby accelerating the exit of feces from the intestines.
However, when studying the question of how to eat properly for constipation, it is worth paying attention to the fact that foods rich in plant fibers can provoke flatulence (bloating), and in older people, fecal incontinence. Therefore, you need to increase the proportion of fiber in your diet gradually, first in small quantities.
When recommending what foods to eat for constipation, doctors always advise taking into account the body’s individual reaction to certain foods: if the body has an increased tendency to produce gas, it is better to give preference to potatoes, fresh vegetables and fruits, minimizing the consumption of peas, beans, cabbage and baked goods made from flour coarse grind.
What should you not eat if you have constipation accompanied by abdominal pain and dyspeptic disorders? In this case, it is not recommended to consume bran and oatmeal.
These products can also become an independent cause of digestive disorders, so you must first check the body’s reaction to them: eat a small amount of oatmeal or bran steamed in boiling water and evaluate how your digestive system reacts.
What foods to eat when constipated: the right foods
You should eat about 25-30 g of fiber per day. To get this amount of plant fiber, you need to eat about 200 g of vegetables and fruits, as well as 10-15 g of steamed bran.
It is better to adjust your daily dose of plant fibers contained in food products for constipation yourself, based on your own well-being and the body’s reaction to the introduction of fiber into the diet.
Meals during constipation must contain the following foods:
- fresh vegetables, fruits and berries (beans, potatoes, cabbage, pumpkin, peas, onions, green leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce), radishes, turnips, beets, cucumbers, plums, peaches, apricots, persimmons, oranges, cherries, cherry, strawberry and raspberry);
- dried fruits (raisins, dried apricots, prunes, figs, dates, melon);
- buckwheat, pearl barley and millet porridge, as well as corn, wheat, barley and oat flakes;
- seeds;
- whole grain bread and wholemeal bread (bran).
Fiber, along with starch, belongs to the group of complex unrefined carbohydrates. In addition to them, there are also simple refined carbohydrates - fructose, sucrose, glucose, lactose (milk sugar). And if carbohydrates of the first group should be included in the diet as much as possible, then carbohydrates of the second group should be tried to consume a minimum amount.
Simple carbohydrates are best consumed as part of constipation products such as fruits and vegetables, as well as dairy products and cereals. Pasta contains a large number of easily digestible carbohydrates, and it is better to avoid them altogether or consume them in very limited quantities.
What can you eat from baked goods if you have constipation? It is better to eat rye, bran or whole grain bread. It is better to avoid fresh white bread and sweet pastries, as they provoke fermentation in the intestines, slow down bowel movements and can cause the development of putrefactive processes when intestinal contents stagnate.
Proteins are an important part of the diet. They are found in products of animal origin: meat, fish, milk and dairy products, eggs.
Soybeans, beans and nuts contain plant proteins, but they are considered incomplete due to their incomplete content of essential amino acids.
They are just not enough to maintain normal metabolism and maintain all body functions in optimal conditions. Therefore, vegetarianism is contraindicated for constipation.
The only exception is soy protein, which contains the full range of 22 essential amino acids. But it is recommended to use only it without additional consumption of animal proteins for short periods (for example, during fasting).
In offal, canned meat, sausages and fatty meats, the protein content is low - about 25%. But they are high in saturated fats, which increase cholesterol levels in the blood and cause obesity.
Therefore, it is better not to consume them, giving preference to lean meat (chicken, lamb, veal, rabbit, turkey).
You also need to eat fatty sea fish, which, in addition to protein, contains phosphorus, sodium and potassium salts, polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are necessary for proper metabolism and cardiovascular health.
What is the best dairy product to eat for constipation? Doctors recommend eating hard cheese, cottage cheese, kefir, and fermented baked milk. It is better to avoid whole milk, since in case of intestinal diseases it not only does not bring benefits, but also provokes stagnation with fermentation processes.
When preparing food for constipation, always pay attention to the culinary processing of protein products: frying should be excluded, it is better to cook by baking, stewing, boiling (including steaming). You should also not eat smoked foods (for example, it is better to eat salted or baked fish).
As for fats, it is absolutely impossible to give them up, since they are an important component of a complete human diet. But you should also not exceed the recommended daily intake.
When choosing what to eat for constipation, give preference to vegetable fats: vegetable oils, nuts containing a lot of fat, seeds. Of the animal fats, only those found in sea fish are recommended.
Consumption of other animal products containing saturated fats - eggs, liver, fatty meats, whole milk and butter - should be kept to a minimum.
Source: https://cross-bones.ru/slivochnoe-maslo-pri-zapore-u-vzroslyh/
Is it possible to use butter for constipation?
Our readers successfully use Monastic Tea to treat gastritis and ulcers. Seeing how popular this product is, we decided to bring it to your attention. Read more here...
Constipation is one of the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
But with timely help and systematic treatment, it can be overcome. One of the most common treatment methods is a diet for constipation.
What happens inside the body
Constipation occurs due to modern lifestyle. Frequent stressful situations, poor-quality products, untimely nutrition, and also if a person leads a passive lifestyle, can lead to disruption of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
But these are not all the reasons why constipation occurs. For example, this may be an incorrect diet, excessive consumption of protein foods and lack of fiber.
Also, incorrectly selected medications or side effects from medications can lead to this disorder.
This condition can be alleviated by taking a natural laxative in the form of natural fiber. To do this, you should add vegetables, fruits, cereals, as well as bran bread, dried fruits and bananas to your menu.
For the purpose of prevention, it is necessary to take a large amount of water and avoid fresh flour products or sweets.
Why is a diet necessary for constipation?
Diet for constipation is the main therapeutic therapy for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, for a faster effect, it is recommended to use ointments, medications, enemas and laxatives.
Causes of constipation
Constipation can occur for completely different reasons. This may be poor nutrition, disruption of the digestive tract, as well as organs of the endocrine system.
The main reasons are considered:
- If a person uses the wrong measures to lose weight. For example, intense myostimulation, an incorrectly selected diet.
- Passive lifestyle. If a person spends a lot of time sitting, then sooner or later this affects the functioning of the intestines.
- Consequences of surgery or the presence of chronic diseases. This could be diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gastritis.
- Hormonal disorders. Problems with the functioning of the endocrine system organs. For example, problems with the thyroid gland or pancreas.
In old age, problems with the gastrointestinal tract in the form of constipation are quite common. In this case, the reasons may occur quite often, and even several reasons together.
Specialists have specially developed a diet for this problem that can improve the condition of the body, in general, and speed up the passage of feces.
Additionally, the symptoms that occur with constipation are eliminated, and the process of bloating and accumulation of bacteria in the body is reduced.
In the diet, it is necessary to take food that can improve intestinal motility, reduce the release of gases, and also take foods that are easily and quickly processed by the body.
Basic rules of use
The goal for relieving constipation is to help your bowels move daily. The diet helps increase the amount of microelements, vitamins, and plant fiber.
It is necessary that the diet consist of 400 grams of carbohydrates, 120 grams of fat, 120 grams of protein and a teaspoon of salt. Most foods should contain fiber.
- Diet. You need to take food in small quantities, at least 5 times a day. It is recommended to eat food every two hours. A person should not feel hungry.
- Rejection of bad habits. It is necessary to completely abstain from alcoholic beverages. They increase the load on the kidneys and have a diuretic effect. Otherwise, a disruption occurs in the body, including the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Plant fiber. The diet for constipation consists of taking plenty of fiber. They are found in vegetables and fruits. Fiber provokes an improvement in intestinal motility. Additionally, it helps cleanse the body of toxins and improve intestinal microflora.
- Food processing. You should only eat food that has been steamed, oven-baked, boiled, or processed in a slow cooker. To improve intestinal function, it is necessary to exclude crushed food. For example, mashed potatoes.
- Temperature regime for food intake. The food must be warm, but in no case hot or cold. If food is not at the right temperature, it will irritate the intestinal walls and lead to disease.
- Large amount of liquid. You need to take plenty of fluids per day, namely water. It is necessary to completely stop drinking cocoa, tea or coffee. They are the ones who can make the situation worse.
Vegetable oil for constipation reviews
Consultation with a therapist, gastroenterologist. Like the table, like the chair. Constipation is retention of bowel movements for more than 48 hours. Constipation is a common health disorder and, according to medical statistics, is especially common in young children and the elderly.
In highly developed Western countries, up to ten percent of the population suffers from chronic (constant) constipation, and it occurs three times more often in women than in men.
Almost all people experience constipation when traveling, after stress and after surgery. Such constipation is a consequence of stress in the body, goes away when you return to your usual lifestyle and is not considered a disease. If they often recur and become habitual, careful diagnosis and treatment are necessary.
The causes of constipation are various:
a diet poor in plant fibers, combined with a small amount of fluid intake and a sedentary lifestyle; diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (peptic ulcer, chronic pancreatitis, dysbiosis, irritable bowel syndrome, colon tumors); accumulations of hardened feces in the intestines (“fecal stones”); diseases of the anus (anal fissures, hemorrhoids, paraproctitis), accompanied by severe pain and preventing bowel movements; neurological diseases (stroke, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries and tumors, multiple sclerosis); diseases of the endocrine system (hypothyroidism, diabetes, etc.); taking certain medications (atropine, baking soda, almagel, cocaine, etc.); long-term depression.
Constipation is characterized by the fact that the passage of feces slows down sharply as a result of weakening of the contraction of the intestinal walls or the presence of an obstacle in the path of feces.
In principle, recognizing constipation is not that difficult. However, its symptoms can be confused with other body conditions. Indeed, in addition to constipation itself, a person may be bothered by pain and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen. Relief occurs after defecation or passing of gas. Bloating may be accompanied by pain in the heart, palpitations, etc.
With constipation, appetite decreases, belching appears, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth appears. Headaches and pain in the muscles of the body often occur. General nervousness arises, mood deteriorates, and sleep is disrupted.
Constipation may be accompanied by changes in the skin: it becomes pale, with a yellowish tint, flabby, and loses elasticity.
Prolonged existence of constipation can lead to the development of intestinal diverticulosis, diseases of the rectum (hemorrhoids, rectal fissures and inflammation of the rectum).
The most serious complication of long-term constipation is colon cancer. It is believed that the tumor develops under the influence of carcinogenic (cancer-promoting) substances formed in the intestine when its contents stagnate.