Abdominal pain and constipation

Introduction

Abdominal pain is a non-specific symptom that can indicate all kinds of disease processes. Often the pain is accompanied by other leading symptoms, such as constipation. In constipation, no stool is excreted over a long period of time, usually over several days, and is accumulated in the intestine.

The causes are manifold and range from simple intolerance to serious illness. However, the former is the most common – something was eaten that the bowel could not tolerate. Both spoiled food and food allergies can cause acute constipation.

In addition to these mostly short-lived processes, constipation can also occur repeatedly or over a longer period of time. The reason for this is often a faulty diet. The psyche also plays an important role in the activity of our intestines.

For many people, emotional stress and strain has a negative impact on the gastrointestinal tract, which can result in nausea, diarrhoea or even constipation. In addition to these natural processes, many diseases of the intestine also cause constipation. These can be acute and short-lived, such as invagination, or chronic, such as Crohn’s disease or Hirschsprung’s disease.

Constipation can become a real torture and is experienced as extremely unpleasant to painful. Since this condition is as old as mankind itself, home remedies have been established over centuries that can provide quick relief as long as there is no serious problem underlying it. Fibre-rich food and plenty of fluids usually soften the stool and thus enable a proper and painless digestion.

Fresh and dried fruit have also proven to be effective for constipation. There are also many different medications that have different effects in detail, which promote and accelerate the emptying of the bowels. Abdominal pain and constipation is a disease that is not specific to age and gender.

There are, however, particular peaks in age in small children and in older people. People who have a sensitive intestine or suffer from a so-called irritable bowel syndrome are also more frequently affected by the two extremes of diarrhoea and constipation. Patients who take certain drugs, such as opiates (morphine), also have to expect constipation as undesirable side effects. Do you suffer from abdominal pain in the second half of the day?

Therapy

Constipation is a widespread condition and can cause a very stressful state in the long run. If constipation occurs more frequently or lasts disproportionately long, a doctor should be consulted. In addition to a detailed interview with the patient (anamnesis), the doctor will find out about the patient’s toilet behaviour and, if necessary, initiate various investigations to get to the bottom of the causes.

The physical examination with listening, tapping and palpation of the abdomen is usually in the foreground. In addition, laboratory tests, an ultrasound examination or a colonoscopy can be performed. The patient should first try to solve the problem without the use of medication.

There are several simple rules and home remedies that are intended to stimulate digestion and provide relief. A balanced diet with lots of vegetables, fruit and wholemeal products is just as important as drinking enough – at least 1.5 to 2 litres. The patient should get enough exercise, but also allow himself and his body to rest.

For many people, intestinal activity is closely linked to the psyche and reacts sensitively to stress. Well-tried household remedies are a morning glass of juice or coffee, dried fruit and stomach massages. When taking swelling remedies such as linseed or psyllium seeds, enough liquid must be added, as this is the only way to soften the bowel movement.

If the tips do not help to normalise bowel activity, the doctor can use laxatives to enable regular toilet visits. The most common laxative is Movicol® (Macrogol®), which has an attractive effect on water in the bowel. This increases the stool volume and triggers the laxative effect. Other drugs influence the stool in other ways or increase the movement of the bowel, which means that existing bowel movement is better transported.