Relieving Constipation - The Constipation Relieving Treatments
Relieving constipation naturally with diet, colon cleansing, colonic irrigation, laxatives treatment and much more!
Constipation relieving treatment requires a lot of different approaches and the best of these don’t normally involve drugs. Whether due to IBS or other causes, constipation relief options may include lifestyle changes, diet changes, review of any medications you are taking, colon cleansing in the form of a bowel cleanse or colonic irrigation as well as consideration of laxatives in relieving constipation, only if all else fails.
There are lots of different causes of constipation and these are important to understand when defining the best way of relieving constipation symptoms. IBS is a very common feature in some of these cases. On this web page, I hope to address various approaches in managing your problem including:
Lifestyle changes
IBS lifestyle
changes are probably the single most important factor way of relieving constipation naturally. Lack of exercise, poor fluid intake, psychological issues and poor diet are common causes of constipation. A lot of people we see don’t exercise. This may be due to physical disability, but more often than not is due to lack of inclination.
However, even if there is physical disability, there are always exercises that can be done that are constipation relieving. This may include the use of a water pool under supervision, basic exercises for those in wheelchairs, to more active exercise including sports etc for the able bodied.
Encouragement is so important in this situation, not only from your doctor, but also from friends and family (who can also be involved and simultaneously improve their health too!). The use of community sports facilities can be helpful and there are usually trained members of staff who can help determine the most appropriate level of exercise for you.
Poor fluid intake or inappropriate fluid intake is common. In the western world, the intake of excessive caffeine in the form of Tea and Coffee is common. Whilst these are fluids, they can actually have a detrimental effect on the bowel and should be limited when constipation is an issue. It is quite clear that a fluid intake of at least 3 litres a day should be achieved to help in relieving constipation and can include water and fruit juices. Physically measuring the volume, rather than relying on judgement, is the best way of achieving this.
Constipation
and
psychology issues
are common. The causes for this are numerous, but may include negative life experiences including previous physical or psychological abuse, concern of inducing pain during defecation, depression and anxiety plus many more. These issues need addressing by professionals and should be discussed with your doctor who can put you in touch with the appropriate services.
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Diet To Help In Relieving Constipation
IBS Diet
is a very important factor in relieving constipation. In the pressured world in which we all live, trying to maintain a healthy diet is both difficult to achieve and also takes time. I’m sure that I’m not alone in saying that a lot of people don’t take regular meals and often skip meals because of the pressures they are under.
This can have a significant effect on the bowel and can change the way in which it handles ingested foods. Bowels, like humans need regularity and if there is any disruption to this, the bowel can become constipated. Also, there's often a reliance on pre-packaged foods that are often high in carbohydrates and fats, but low in fiber which is necessary to maintain a healthy bowel motion.
Ensuring the intake of the "5 daily" fruits or vegetables is so important and critical to long term health. Increasing fiber intake to as much as 20 to 30G often has a positive effect in relieving constipation. You can read more about a constipation relief with diet, particularly related to the
IBS
or Irritable Bowel Syndrome , by clicking the
IBS diet
link.
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Colon Cleansing in Relieving Constipation
Colon cleansing is a popular way of treating constipation and has been used in diarrhea too. They have been around for centuries in the form of oral treatments (teas, laxatives and enzymes), enemas and colonic irrigation. The science behind a colon cleanse works on the basis of clearing toxins from the colon thus promoting a sense of wellbeing, reduced fatigue, headache, producing more energy and an improvement in symptoms. They're usually promoted as part of a healthy lifestyle.
A bowel or
best colon cleanse
has no confirmed scientific basis, although popular with a lot of constipation and diarrhea sufferers as they're often promoted as a natural alternative. From our own inference, patients who have had strong laxatives such as Picolax and Klean Prep prior to colonoscopy often comment that their symptoms significantly improve for a few weeks after the procedure.
Bearing this in mind, the use of a colonic irrigation where a tube is passed into the rectum providing a warmed and gravity fed irrigation fluid into the colon may provide some relief in constipation. However, consent should always be obtained as there is a small risk involved with this procedure. These risks should be thought of as similar to
colonoscopy risks
particularly perforation (putting a hole in the bowel) so the procedure should only be carried out by an experienced practitioner. Irrigations should be avoided in bowel conditions such as IBD, if there are
diverticulitis symptoms
present, bowel cancer and other pathological bowel conditions where the risk of complications are potentially increased.
Colon cleansing clearly does have a role in relieving constipation, but which colon cleanse? The answer to this is it's your choice. They're all based on variations of herbs, electrolytes and enzymes and finding one that works for YOU is the most important thing. There are many different ones available, some of which are advertised on this site. A trial may be helpful to your symptoms.
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Review Of Medication For Constipation Relief
Medications may have a detrimental effect in constipation. Any review of your medications should be undertaken by a qualified healthcare professional. Under no circumstances should it be done by you as stopping medicines could have a detrimental rather than advantageous effect on constipation. There are a lot of medications that can result in constipation, some of which are outlined in the constipation section.
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Constipation Remedies
I’m sure you have heard of constipation remedies from your family or friends. There's no absolute science to them, but most are sensible and easily achieved and may help in relieving constipation naturally. Usually they involve fruits because of their fiber content. The main ones are Grapes, Figs and raisons and can be taken as the fruit itself or as syrup. Vegetable greens in the form of Spinach, Lettuce and cabbage are important.
Cutting out foods that bind, in particular, eggs can help as well as reducing complex carbohydrates and refined sugars can reduce wind and discomfort as well as constipation relieving.
Taking a teaspoonful of Castor Oil or Corn oil with water is an old fashioned remedy that can help in relieving constipation.
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Laxatives in Relieving Symptoms of Constipation
Laxatives should be thought of as the last resort in relieving constipation and there are various types that can be tried. By clicking on the links to each, you can gain more information on these. The ones that I will highlight include
Fybogel
,
Sterculia
, lactulose,
methylcellulose
, docusate, Sodium Picosulphate (Picolax) and Klean Prep.
Zelnorm or Tegaserod, a 5-HT4 agonist was licensed for use in abdominal pain, bloating and constipation, but is currently off license in the UK because potential side effects.
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Relieving constipation requires lots of different approaches and I hope this web page has been helpful.
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