Constipation Remedy - It"s Easier than you Might Think
One of the colon's basic functions is to soak up water from food excess. While food waste remains inside your colon, it increasingly loses water content. Progressively, the waste will become extremely dry and becomes hard to pass.
It is hard to say how long between bowel movements is officially too long. It can vary greatly between two individuals. A few people experience two or three bowel movements every day. Others move their bowels no more than three or four times a week.
Nonetheless, for those of you who have bowel movements only a couple of times a week, or need to strain to pass stool, chances are you're constipated.
There are several reasons why constipation develops. It tends to become more common as we age when the muscle tissue within the digestive track become less active. Situations that increase your risk of constipation inlcude not drinking enough liquids, a diet low in fiber as well as too little exercise.
A number of medications can also slow digestion resulting in constipation. Some of these include narcotics and antacids that have aluminum. Those with irritable bowel syndrome can experience alternating episodes of constipation and diarrhea.
Modifications to your lifestyle is considered the easiest and safest path to get relief from constipation. If these adjustments don't work as well for you as you'd like, you might think about a natural fiber supplement (found under the names Metamucil or Citrucel). You can expect relief from these products in one to three days. It is imperative though to take these supplements with plenty of water. They are so absorbent that if you don't drink enough water your constipation will be made all the worse.
As a rule constipation is a short-lived condition that can be easily remedied. Although it should be noted that there are a a small number of situations where constipation can be signaling a more severe underlying condition. Speak to your doctor if you experience recent, unexplained constipation or significant change in bowel patterns or habits, constipation that lasts for a week or longer in spite of having changed your diet and increased excercise, bloody stool, or extreme abdominal pain.
It is hard to say how long between bowel movements is officially too long. It can vary greatly between two individuals. A few people experience two or three bowel movements every day. Others move their bowels no more than three or four times a week.
Nonetheless, for those of you who have bowel movements only a couple of times a week, or need to strain to pass stool, chances are you're constipated.
There are several reasons why constipation develops. It tends to become more common as we age when the muscle tissue within the digestive track become less active. Situations that increase your risk of constipation inlcude not drinking enough liquids, a diet low in fiber as well as too little exercise.
A number of medications can also slow digestion resulting in constipation. Some of these include narcotics and antacids that have aluminum. Those with irritable bowel syndrome can experience alternating episodes of constipation and diarrhea.
Modifications to your lifestyle is considered the easiest and safest path to get relief from constipation. If these adjustments don't work as well for you as you'd like, you might think about a natural fiber supplement (found under the names Metamucil or Citrucel). You can expect relief from these products in one to three days. It is imperative though to take these supplements with plenty of water. They are so absorbent that if you don't drink enough water your constipation will be made all the worse.
As a rule constipation is a short-lived condition that can be easily remedied. Although it should be noted that there are a a small number of situations where constipation can be signaling a more severe underlying condition. Speak to your doctor if you experience recent, unexplained constipation or significant change in bowel patterns or habits, constipation that lasts for a week or longer in spite of having changed your diet and increased excercise, bloody stool, or extreme abdominal pain.
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