Constipation: Keeping Your Bowels Moving
Smoothly
What is constipation?Constipation is when you have trouble having bowel
movements. Your stools may be very hard, making them so
difficult to pass that you have to strain. Or you may feel
like you still need to have a bowel movement even after you've
had one.
How often should I have a bowel
movement?Not everyone
has bowel movements once a day. Don't believe ads that say you
must have a daily bowel movement to be "regular." A normal
range is generally 3 times a day to 3 times a week. You may be
getting constipated if you begin to have bowel movements much
less often than you usually do.
What causes constipation?
As the food you eat passes
through your digestive tract, your body takes nutrients and
water from the food. This process creates a stool, which is
moved through your intestines with muscle contractions
(squeezing motions).
A number of things can affect
this process. These include not drinking enough fluids, not
being active enough, not eating enough fiber, taking certain
drugs, not going to the bathroom when you have the urge to
have a bowel movement and regularly using laxatives. Any of
these things can cause the stools to move more slowly through
your intestines, leading to constipation.
How is constipation treated?
The main thing in treating
constipation is to be sure you're eating enough fiber and
drinking enough fluids. This helps your stools move through
your intestines by increasing the bulk of your stools and
making your stools softer. Increasing how much you exercise
will also help.
Talk to your family doctor if you
notice any blood in your stools, if constipation is new and
unusual for you, if you're constipated for 3 weeks or more, or
if you're in pain.
What should I eat?
Eat plenty of fiber (see the box
below). Two to 4 servings of fruits and 3 to 5 servings of
vegetables a day is ideal. Add extra fiber to your diet by
eating cereals that contain bran or by adding bran as a
topping on your fruit or cereal.
If you are adding fiber to your
diet, start slowly and gradually increase the amount. This
will help reduce gas and bloating. Make sure to drink plenty
of water too.
Should I use laxatives?
Laxatives should usually be
avoided. They aren't meant for long-term use. An exception to
this is bulk-forming laxatives.
Bulk-forming laxatives work
naturally to add bulk and water to your stools so that they
can pass more easily through your intestines. Bulk-forming
laxatives can be used every day. They include oat bran,
psyllium (one brand: Metamucil), polycarbophil (one brand:
FiberCon) and methylcellulose (one brand: Citrucel).
How are bulk-forming laxatives
used?
You must use bulk-forming
laxatives daily for them to work. Follow the directions on the
label. Start slowly and drink plenty of fluids. Gradually
increase how much you use every 3 to 5 days (as you get used
to it) until you get the effect you want.
You can help bulk-forming
laxatives taste better by mixing them with fruit
juice.
Do bulk-forming laxatives have side
effects?You may notice
some bloating, gas or cramping at first, especially if you
start taking too much or increase the amount you're using too
quickly. These symptoms should go away in a few weeks or less.
Are mineral oil and castor oil good
laxatives?
These laxatives should generally
be used only when your doctor recommends them, such as if
you've just had surgery and shouldn't strain to have a bowel
movement.
While both mineral oil and castor
oil have their place as laxatives, they shouldn't be used
regularly. If mineral oil is used regularly, it can cause
deficiencies of vitamins A, D, E and K. Castor oil can lead to
serious problems if it's used regularly.
Should I try enemas?
Enemas aren't usually needed.
Many people use enemas too much. It's better to let your body
work more naturally.
What if I've been using enemas or
laxatives for a long time?
You may have to retrain your body
to go without laxatives or enemas if you've been using them
for a long time. This means eating plenty of fiber and using a
bulk-forming laxative, drinking plenty of water, exercising
and learning to give yourself time to have a bowel movement.
If you've used laxatives and
enemas for a long time, your family doctor may suggest that
you wean yourself off of them slowly to give your system a
chance to return to normal. Be patient--it may take many
months for your bowels to get back to normal if you've been
using laxatives or enemas regularly. Talk with your family
doctor about any concerns you
have. | 
