CONSTIPATION
Discovering The Ins And Outs Of Chronic Constipation
What is it?
Chronic Constipation is a disorder that causes a person have fewer than three bowel movements a week or has bowel movements with feces that are hard, dry, and small, which makes them painful or difficult to pass.
Why it's caused, symptoms, and how to prevent it.
Causes:
•Lack of Food
•Tumors
•Surgery
•Dietary
•Dehydration
•Structural Problems
Symptoms:
•Sharp abdominal pain, cramps, blotting
•Fewer than 3 bowl movements a week
•Difficulty passing stools
•Straining
•Hard or lumpy stools
•Feeling like your bowel is never completely empty
•Feeling like there is something blocking your bowel
•Manual maneuvering to stimulate the bowel
Prevention Steps :
•Eat a high-fiber diet.
•Limit low-fiber foods.
•Drink plenty of liquids.
•Exercise regularly.
•Don't ignore the urge to have a bowel movement.
•Try fiber supplements
•Be careful about introducing stimulant laxatives.
Diet
•20 to 35 grams of fiber a day for adults
•Drink lots of water
•avoid eating chocolate, dairy products, red meat, bananas, caffein
•try eating more prunes,beans, kiwi, rye bread, pears
Diagnostic Methods and Treatments
Diagnostic Methods :
- blood test
- lower GI series
- flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy
- colorectal transit studies
- anorectal function tests
- defecography
- x-ray
Treatments :
- changes in eating, diet, and nutrition
- biofeedback
- exercise and lifestyle changes
- medication
- surgery
Condition Prevalence and Disease Process
Condition Prevalence :
Chronic constipation affects an estimated amount of 42 million people.People of any age, race, or gender can get constipated. Mostly women, adults 65 and older, non-Caucasians, and people in lower socioeconomic classes are reporting constipation.It is also a common problem during pregnancy, after childbirth or surgery, or after taking medications to ease pains from broken bone, tooth extraction, and back pain.
Disease Process :
When you are constipated and have trouble relieving your self, the feces backs up and can cause cramps and discomfort in the stomach area and after a while they’ll start to get more severe. In the end it could result in death.
Bibliography
"Chronic Constipation." Diagnosis. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
Deshmukh, Ujwal. Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 06 Oct. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
"Let's Talk Constipation." Let's Talk Constipation. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013
"National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)." Constipation. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
"TeensHealth." Constipation. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
"Top Constipation Foods: 5 Foods to Avoid and 5 to Eat - MedicineNet."MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013