What is Chronic Constipation?
Chronic constipation is irregular bowel movements or hard passage of stools that continues for a number of weeks or much longer. Constipation is mostly referred to as having less than 3 bowel movements weekly. Although infrequent constipation is quite common, some individuals encounter chronic constipation that may interrupt their chance to carry on their every day duties.Severe Chronic constipation may also cause excessive straining to have a bowel movement and other signs and symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of severe constipation may include:
Feeling as if there is a congestion in your rectum that stops bowel movements
Passing less than three stools a week
Feeling as if you are unable to fully empty the stool from your rectum
Straining to have bowel movements
Needing assistance to empty your rectum, like using your fingers to press on your tummy and also making use of a finger to get rid of stool from your rectum
Having lumpy or even hard stools
Constipation may be regarded chronic if you have encountered several of these symptoms for the last 3 months.
When is chronic constipation an emergency
It is advised to make a visit to a medical professional if you experience inexplicable and continual changes in your bowel movements.
Chronic constipation causes in adults
Constipation most often happens whenever waste or stool goes too very slowly via the digestive tract or could not be removed efficiently from the rectum, which may cause the stool to be hard and dry. Chronic constipation has a lot of possible causes.
Troubles with the pelvic muscles associated with having a bowel movement could cause chronic constipation. These complications may include:
Inability to calm the pelvic muscle tissues to enable a bowel movement (anismus)
Pelvic muscles do not coordinate relaxation and contraction correctly (dyssynergia)
Weakened pelvic muscle tissues
Circumstances that influence hormones inside the bodyBody hormones assist balance fluids in the body. Diseases and conditions that distraught the balance of hormones may result in constipation, including:
Diabetes
Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism)
Pregnancy
Blockages in the colon or rectumBlockages in the colon or rectum may reduce or prevent stool movement. Causes include:
Bowel blockage
Other abdominal cancer that presses on the colon
Colon cancer
Anal fissure
Rectal cancer
Rectum swelling via the back walls} of the vagina (rectocele)
Narrowing of the colon (bowel stricture)
Risk factorsIssues that may raise your risk of chronic constipation are:
Eating a diet that is less in fiber
Being elderly
Getting minimal physical exercise
Having a psychological health issue like depression or an eating disorder
Being a woman
Being dehydrated
Taking certain medications, like sedatives, narcotics, some antidepressants or medicines to lessen blood pressure levels.
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Chronic constipation complications include:
Intestine that protrudes from the anus (rectal prolapse).
Straining to have a bowel movement can cause little amount of the rectum to stretch and protrude from the anus
Stool that are unable to be expelled (fecal impaction). Chronic constipation may cause an piling up of strong stool that becomes trapped in the intestines.
Swollen veins in the anus ( hemorrhoid ). Straining to have a bowel movement may cause inflammation in the veins, inside and around your anus.
Torn skin in your anus (anal fissure). A big or difficult stool can cause little tears in the anus.
Chronic constipation treatments
The following can help you treat chronic constipation.
Stay as energetic as possible and get frequent exercise
Include a lot of high-fiber foods in your diet, such as beans, vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals and bran.
Try to set up a regular schedule for bowel movements, particularly after a meal.
Drink a lot of fluids.
Make sure toddlers who start to eat solid foods get a lot of fiber in their diets.
Try to manage with stress.
Don't disregard the need to pass stool.
