Health Care

Causes and Risk Factors of Constipation

The common causes of constipation are: Not enough fiber in the diet, Not enough liquid, Lack of exercise, Medications, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Laxative abuse, and Disease. Constipation means that a person has three bowel movements or fewer in a week. The stool is hard and dry. Sometimes it is painful to pass. You may feel "draggy" and full.

Some people think they should have a bowel movement every day. That is not really true. There is no "right" number of bowel movements. Each person's body finds its own normal number of bowel movements. It depends on the food you eat, how much you exercise, and other things.

At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, it lasts for a short time and is not serious. When you understand what causes constipation, you can take steps to prevent it. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - IBS is a common condition marked by chronic or occasional diarrhea, alternating with constipation and accompanied by straining and abdominal cramps.

What You Can Do About Constipation

Changing what you eat and drink and how much you exercise will help relieve and prevent constipation. Here are some steps you can take.

1. Eat more fiber. The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day, but the average American eats about 5 to 20 grams a day. Fiber helps form soft, bulky stool. It is found in many vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Be sure to add fiber a little at a time, so your body gets used to it slowly. Limit foods that have little or no fiber such as ice cream, cheese, meat, snacks like chips and pizza, and processed foods such as instant mashed potatoes or already-prepared frozen dinners. Below lists some high-fiber foods.

FRUITS: Apples, Peaches, Raspberries, Tangerines VEGETABLES: Acorn squash, raw Broccoli, raw Brussels sprouts, raw Cabbage, raw Carrots, raw Cauliflower, raw Spinach, cooked Zucchini Breads, Cereals, and Beans: Black-eyed peas, cooked Kidney beans, cooked Lima beans, cooked Whole-grain cereal, cold (All-Bran, Total, Bran Flakes), Whole-grain cereal, hot (oatmeal, Wheatena), Whole-wheat or 7-grain bread

2. Drink plenty of water and other liquids such as fruit and vegetable juices and clear soups.

Liquids like water and juice add fluid to the colon and bulk to stools, making movements softer and easier to pass. Recommended daily consumption of liquid is eight, eight-ounce glasses (totaling 64 ounces) per day. Try not to drink liquids that contain caffeine or alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol tend to dry out your digestive system.

3. Get enough exercise.

Regular exercise helps your digestive system stay active and healthy. You don't need to become a great athlete. A 20- to 30-minute walk every day may help.

4. Allow yourself enough time to have a bowel movement.

Sometimes we feel so hurried that we don't pay attention to our body's needs. Make sure you don't ignore the urge to have a bowel movement.

5. Use laxatives only if a doctor says you should.

A laxative is a food or chemical substance that acts to loosen the bowels by softening and increasing the bulk of bowel contents, increasing the amount of water in the colon and lubricating the intestinal walls. Over time, laxatives can damage nerve cells in the colon and interfere with the colon's natural ability to contract. The truly acceptable method for relieving long-standing constipation problems is a Natural Herbal Colon Cleanse.

Laxatives are medicines that will make you pass a stool. Most people who are mildly constipated do not need laxatives. However, if you are doing all the right things and you are still constipated, your doctor may recommend laxatives for a limited time.

Your doctor will tell you if you need a laxative and what type is best for you. Laxatives come in many forms: liquid, chewing gum, pills, and powder that you mix with water, for example. But most practitioners are now recommending a Natural Herbal Colon Cleanse.

6. Check with your doctor about any medicines you take.

Some medicines can cause constipation. They include calcium pills, pain pills with codeine in them, some antacids, iron pills, diuretics (water pills), and medicines for depression. If you take medicine for another problem, be sure to ask your doctor whether it could cause constipation. Some medications that can cause constipation are:

analgesics (Codeine, Demerol, Perocdan), antacids (Maalox, Mylanta), anticholingerics (Donnatal), anticonvulsants (Dilantin), anti-depressants (Tricyclics), Beta-blockers (Inderal, Tenormin) iron and calcium supplements, pain medications, antispasmodics and diuretics.

Points to Remember

• Constipation affects almost everyone at one time or another. • Many people think they're constipated when really they aren't. • In most cases, following these simple tips will help prevent constipation: o Eat a variety of foods, especially beans, bran, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. o Drink plenty of liquids. o Exercise regularly. o Don't ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. o Understand that normal bowel habits are different for everyone. o If your bowel habits change, check with your doctor. • Most people with mild constipation do not need laxatives.

However, doctors may recommend laxatives for a limited time for people with chronic constipation.

• Medicines that you take for another problem might cause constipation.

A major remedy for constipation, which should be used in conjunction with a lifestyle change and benefits of the above modifications, is a Natural Herbal Colon Cleanse.

An all Natural Herbal Colon Cleanse treatment has changed hundreds of thousands of people's lives through a gentle and effective whole body safe and effective internal cleansing, and proven to be the best solution to constipation.

About the Author

George L. Johnson, I have a background in health care and research of natural medicines. I researched colon health and remedies for poor health. I used these products to successfully cleanse my colon and restore my health.

For more information visit: Natural Herbal Colon Cleanse