 | Constipation: Encyclopedia II - Constipation - Treatment
Constipation - Treatment
In people without medical problems, the main intervention is the increase of fluids (preferably water) and dietary fiber. The latter may be achieved by consuming more vegetables and fruit, whole meal bread and by adding linseeds to one's diet. The routine non-medical use of laxatives is to be discouraged as this may result in bowel action becoming dependant upon their use.
Laxatives may be necessary in people in whom dietary intervention is not effective or inappropriate. Stimulant laxatives (eg senna) are generally avoided, as they may worsen crampy sensations commonly experienced in constipation. In various conditions (such as the use of codeine or morphine), combinations of hydrating (eg lactulose or glycols), bulk-forming (eg psyllium) and stimulant agents may be necessary. Many of the products are widely available over-the-counter.
Enemas and Clysters are generally reserved for hospitalized patients in whom the constipation has proven to be severe, dangerous in other ways, or resistant to laxatives. Sorbitol, glycerin and arachis oil suppositories are used. Severe cases may require phosphate solutions introduced as enemas.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome constipation can respond to an IBS-specific diet. Having a foundation of high soluble fiber foods and soluble fiber supplements (acacia, methylcellulose), substituting soy or rice products for dairy, being careful with (but not avoiding) fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in insoluble fiber, and eating regular small amounts can all help to lessen the symptoms of IBS (Van Vorous 2000). Foods and beverages to be avoided or minimized include red meat, oily or fatty (and fried) products, dairy (even when there is no lactose intolerance), solid chocolate, coffee (regular and decaffeinated), alcohol, carbonated beverages (especialy those also containing sorbitol) and artificial sweeteners (Van Vorous 2000). Herbal remedies such as enteric coated peppermint oil capsules can also be helpful for IBS-constipation and associated abdominal pain.
Constipation that resists all the above measures requires physical intervention. Manual disimpaction (the physical removal of impacted stool) is done under sedation or a general anesthetic - this avoids pain and loosens the anal sphincter.
In alternative and traditional medicine, colonic irrigation, enemas, exercise, diet and herbs are used to treat constipation.
Other related archivesBonzo Dog Band, Clysters, Dehydration, Enemas, Functional constipation, Hypokalemia, Hypothyroidism, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Laxatives, Psychosomatic, Rectal examination, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Sorbitol, Tumors, X-rays, aluminium, anal fissures, anal sphincter, antidepressants, anus, arachis, bowel obstruction, bowel sounds, calcium, codeine, colon, colonic irrigation, crampy, dietary, dietary fiber, digestive system, diuretics, eliminate, enemas, feces, fiber, fruit, general anesthetic, glycerin, glycols, hemorrhoids, hormonal, hypothyroidism, intestine, iron, irritable bowel syndrome, lactulose, laxatives, linseeds, loperamide, morphine, opioids, over-the-counter, peristaltic action, phosphate, physical examination, porphyria, psyllium, rectum, sedation, senna, side effect, suppositories, surgery, thyroid gland, vegetables, vomiting, water, whole meal
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Treatment", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
