How can constipation be prevented or treated ?
There are relatively simple measures that help to prevent constipation as far as possible. Nutrition plays an essential role here. Attention should be paid to a diet rich in fiber.
Dietary fibre is found, for example, in wholemeal products, cereal products and fruit and vegetables. A sufficient daily drinking amount is also very important to prevent constipation. A healthy person with a healthy heart and kidneys should drink at least 2 liters per day.
Furthermore, sufficient physical exercise is essential for an intact digestive function. This does not necessarily mean endurance sports. Everyday exercise such as daily walks, regular climbing stairs etc.
play a decisive role in the overall fitness of the body and the digestive system. There are numerous household remedies for fighting constipation. Some are more effective than others.
However, the effectiveness is always individual, not everything helps everyone equally well. For example, dried plums are a popular household remedy for constipation. They should be soaked for some time beforehand.
They can then be eaten on their own or, for example, with muesli or yoghurt.In the best case, the liquid in which the plums have been soaked is also consumed. It is generally important to drink enough after the consumption of dried fruit, otherwise the constipation can increase. Plum juice is also said to help with constipation by stimulating intestinal activity.
Another popular household remedy is the intake of one tablespoon of oil, for example olive oil or linseed oil. It is best to take the oil on an empty stomach. In addition, products that contain a lot of fiber, such as linseed or flea seed, are also said to help against constipation.
They bind a lot of water in the intestine and swell up. The increased liquid in the intestine causes the stool to soften. The seeds can either be soaked or eaten dry (for example as a muesli component).
Here too, it is extremely important to consume sufficient fluid afterwards, otherwise there is a risk of constipation. Furthermore, salt water is known as a remedy for constipation, but this variant is not without danger as too much salt can be dangerous for the body. For some sufferers it is also said to help to drink a glass of lukewarm water.
In general, a high-fiber diet with lots of fruit and vegetables helps against constipation. In addition to fruit and vegetables, many dietary fibres are contained in wholemeal products, muesli, etc. There are numerous homeopathic remedies which are said to have a good effect on constipation.
These include Acidum sulfuricum (sulfuric acid), Kalium carbonicum (potassium carbonate), Bryonia (fence beet) and Silicea (silica). Nutrition plays an important role in the genesis of constipation. High-fat low-fiber food promotes constipation.
A lack of fluid intake can also be the cause of constipation. On the other hand, the intake of sufficient fibre and fluid is a means of preventing constipation. Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grain products and cereal products such as pasta, rice, oatmeal and nuts.
If all this is not sufficiently effective, you can buy a remedy in the pharmacy to aid digestion. To mention here for example Movicol ®. This is a powder that is stirred into a glass of water and then drunk.
The application is possible several times a day. In contrast to other laxatives, Movicol ® should be taken regularly. An enema is one way to treat constipation.
However, this variant is more suitable for pronounced complaints that cannot be treated in any other way. In this case, fluid is introduced into the rectum via a kind of device that is inserted into the rectum. This leads to a fluid intake and to an irritation of the receptors in the intestinal wall.
This in turn leads in most cases relatively quickly to emptying. Enema is usually performed in a hospital. However, there are also devices for performing enemas in the home.
However, enema administration should be practiced, as injuries can occur if it is not performed properly. A quick effect in the case of constipation is said to be achieved with household remedies, especially the tablespoon of oil. It should be taken on an empty stomach.
In general, the enema is considered to be the remedy with the quickest effect on constipation. Also suppositories with different active ingredients that are supposed to counteract constipation usually work quickly. Constipation is understood to be a bowel emptying disorder with lack of bowel movement.
Other characteristics such as hard stool consistency, rare defecations, strong pressing or blockage-fullness can also occur. In children, constipation manifests itself very differently from one individual to another, as the frequency of bowel movements depends strongly on the composition of the food. Constipation is a common clinical picture, especially women, older people and children suffer from this disease.
The cause of constipation is usually a wrong diet low in fibre and liquid in combination with a lack of exercise or a short-term change in lifestyle. However, infections and organic changes can also lead to constipation (including mechanical changes, muscle disorders, nervous disorders, stroke, herniated disc, intestinal obstruction). In children, constipation is caused not only by poor nutrition but also by mechanical changes in the bowel (ileus as a result of a volvulus, intussusception, etc.
), intestinal movement disorders (as a result of disorders of innervation, excess vitamins, hypothyroidism), psychological changes or nervous disorders. The cause of constipation in both children and adults can also be medication (antiepileptic drugs, anticholinergics, opiates).Constipation is diagnosed in addition to anamnesis and physical examination by means of blood value changes, imaging procedures such as ultrasound (sonography), X-ray and colonoscopy (colonoscopy) as well as other special diagnostic tests. Therapy and prognosis depend on the cause of the constipation.
In the case of functional constipation, the first priority is a change in dietary habits and more exercise. Fibre-rich foods should be consumed and the amount of food consumed should be increased. Additional intake of dietary fiber (linseed, etc.)
and avoidance of constipating foods complements the therapy. If these therapeutic measures are not sufficient, it is possible to administer emptying aids (enema, klyster) or laxatives, which should not be taken permanently. If the cause of constipation is an organic disorder, it must be treated either conservatively (usually with medication) or surgically. Which could also interest you: Enema
