Constipation is a common condition that affects people of all ages, from children to the elderly. Children are anorexic, slow to grow, adults with long-term constipation are prone to hemorrhoids, anal fissures… Therefore, patients need to be examined and treated early to improve their condition.
Long-term constipation, bloody constipation can also cause dangerous digestive diseases such as hemorrhoids or anal and rectal diseases. Constipation with a lot of bleeding can cause irritation, itching, inflammation of the anus, invading bacteria and stimulating the production of cancer cells. Therefore, understanding constipation will help people prevent, detect and treat early, to avoid potential risks of digestive diseases.
Here are detailed information about constipation you can refer to:
What is Constipation?
Constipation is a condition in which it is difficult to defecate, the stools are dry and hard, sad to go to the toilet but cannot go, have to push hard, the stool is difficult to pass, it takes a long time or many days to go once.
Constipation is a condition in which it is difficult to defecate, the stools are dry and hard, and you can’t go to the toilet
Usually, constipation occurs and ends within a few days. However, people who often suffer from constipation need to be careful with diseases such as colon, hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia, lead poisoning, asthenia, etc.
Cause of Constipation
Each group of constipation is caused by different causes:
Primary causes of constipation
Constipation with normal peristalsis: Caused by a disorder in the ejection mechanism, stemming from a problem with the sphincter and anal sphincter. This type of constipation is difficult to detect on physical examination.
Constipation with slow peristalsis: When bowel movements are not functioning properly, constipation will occur. This type of constipation is more common in women with symptoms such as bloating, less need to defecate.
Constipation due to pelvic floor dysfunction: Pelvic floor dysfunction is caused by the degeneration of muscles and ligaments, leading to the inability to keep the organs in the pelvic floor in their correct position. The anus and rectum are also among the organs affected and lead to constipation. Characteristic of constipation in this cause is due to a lot of straining, defecation is not complete, it is necessary to support the new expulsion of feces.
Causes of secondary constipation
Due to diet and activities: Low fiber diet, excess fat of animal origin, eating a lot of sugar, coffee, tea, alcohol, not drinking enough water; inactivity; Frequent delay in bowel movements is a common cause of constipation.
Physical disease: If you have anal fissures, gastrointestinal obstruction due to tumors, thrombosed hemorrhoids, and idiopathic rectal enlargement, you will easily become constipated.
Having a systemic disease: Having a neurological disease (stroke, Hirschsprung, Parkinson’s, head trauma, spinal cord); psychological problems (depression, anxiety disorders); endocrine disorders (hypercalcemia metabolism, hypokalemia, diabetes); thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism); connective tissue diseases (scleroderma, lupus); Lead poisoning also causes constipation.
Pregnancy: Women during pregnancy have hormonal changes during pregnancy, plus pressure from the uterus that puts pressure on the intestines, or the diet changes too much during pregnancy (taking supplements a lot of iron, calcium, eating a lot of protein-rich foods)… all affect bowel movements leading to constipation.
Taking certain medications: People who are taking antidepressants; anticholinergic drugs; antacids; diuretic; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, diclofenac); drugs containing codeine and morphine; anticonvulsants… can be constipated.
Subjects prone to constipation
Constipation can occur in all subjects, regardless of gender, or age from children, adults to the elderly. Here are the subjects who are prone to constipation:
Office people: Sitting for a long time with little activity, plus eating irregularly, eating a lot of fast food, spicy and hot food, drinking a lot of alcohol… are all possible causes of constipation.
Office workers are one of those prone to constipation
Elderly people: Elderly people with reduced intestinal function and sedentary lifestyle are also prone to constipation.
Pregnant and postpartum women: Hormonal changes along with a diet too rich in nutrients, limited exercise also make pregnant and postpartum women very easy to cause constipation.
Children: Children are also easily constipated, because they drink a lot of powdered milk or they have just started weaning, their digestive system has not yet adapted, and they are lazy to eat vegetables.
Symptoms of Constipation
Symptoms of constipation in each subject, age may be different, but usually have common characteristics: difficult defecation, have to strain a lot, hard, thin stools, abdominal distension, palpable hard abdomen. More specific:
Signs of constipation in adults: Can’t defecate for more than 3 days, abdominal distention, straining but unable to defecate, or very difficult to pass stools, hard stools, stools may be bloody due to anal bleeding.
Signs of constipation in children: Unable to have a bowel movement 3 times a week, abdominal distension, difficult defecation, when defecating, the child has to push red, hard stools, may bleed slightly in the anus due to too much straining. level. Or in infants and children under 1 year old 5-7 days without defecation; hard stools, which may contain blood and mucus; babies are fussy, lazy to eat / suckle, not sleep well due to bloating, abdominal pain.
What to eat when constipated?
People with constipation should eat the following foods:
- Fruits: People with constipation should eat fruits that are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber but low in calories. To overcome constipation, you should increase your intake of fruits, especially apples, pears, oranges, bananas, papaya, dragon fruit, strawberries, blueberries, prunes, etc.
- Green vegetables: People with constipation should also add more green vegetables. The abundant fiber content in green vegetables both enhances the activity of intestinal peristalsis and helps soften stools, thereby effectively overcoming constipation. Do not forget to add green vegetables, especially spinach, sweet potato, amaranth, cauliflower, etc. to your daily meals.
Eat more green vegetables to improve constipation
- Sweet potatoes: In sweet potatoes contain a lot of fiber, water, vitamins and minerals, so eating sweet potatoes can improve constipation very effectively.
- Legumes: Legumes are also high in fiber and contain a lot of natural fats, which have a laxative effect and stimulate digestion.
- Yogurt: Yogurt contains a large amount of beneficial bacteria, especially good for the digestive system. A jar of yogurt a day will help keep the intestines healthy, help prevent and improve constipation effectively.
- Drink plenty of water: You should maintain the habit of drinking enough water every day to help the process of purification and digestion take place smoothly, support the activity of bowel movements as well as soften stools, reduce constipation.
People with constipation should avoid eating the following foods:
- Milk and dairy products: The consumption of dairy products contains a lot of lactose, which can cause gas, indigestion and make people with constipation more uncomfortable. However, instead of completely giving up dairy products, you can simply drink less milk and switch to yogurt with probiotics that are good for your digestive system and help relieve constipation.
- Fast food or processed foods: Most fast foods and processed foods are very low in fiber and rich in preservatives that are not good for your digestive system.
- Fried foods: Fried foods contain a lot of fat and are difficult to digest, when food passes slowly through the rectum, it can cause dehydration and make stools dry and hard.
- Eggs: Eggs are high in protein but low in fiber, you don’t need to abstain from eggs completely, just add fiber-rich foods to your egg meal.
- Red meat: Like eggs, red meat is a food rich in protein and fat but low in fiber, eat them with foods rich in fiber.
- Sweets: Cakes, cookies, and other treats with added sugars are often very low in fiber and high in fats that aren’t beneficial for your constipation symptoms.
- Refined flour, white rice: In the refining process, the amount of fiber in the bran and germ of wheat and white rice has been removed, besides, these foods contain a lot of starch that can cause bloating. belly. You should replace it with brown rice if possible.
- Alcoholic drinks, stimulants: These drinks can draw water in your intestinal wall and worsen your constipation.
Is long-term constipation dangerous?
Untreated constipation for a long time can cause complications affecting the digestive system in particular and the patient’s health in general such as:
- Swollen veins in the anus (hemorrhoids);
- tearing of the skin in the anus (anal fissure);
- Faeces that cannot be passed (stool pressure);
- Intestines protruding from the anus (rectal prolapse)…
- In children, prolonged constipation also affects the absorption of nutrients, leading to nutritional deficiencies, slow weight gain, growth retardation in height and brain; affect the psychology of children due to constipation causing discomfort, crying a lot leading to fatigue, poor sleep …
Constipation with blood is dangerous?
Hemorrhagic constipation can occur when the patient has prolonged constipation. When defecating, the patient often has to push hard to push the stool out, creating great friction with the anal wall, causing the anal wall to scratch, causing bleeding. In constipated patients, blood may stick to the outside of the stool or to the end of the stool, the amount of blood may be more or less depending on the condition of the anal canal.
Constipation with blood can also cause dangerous complications
Constipation with blood can also cause dangerous complications. Specifically, complications of bloody constipation can lead to hemorrhoids, anal fissures and, most dangerously, anal and rectal cancer. Excessive bleeding can cause irritation, inflammation, itching, anal infection, invading bacteria and stimulating the production of cancer cells.
Prevention and treatment of constipation
You can reduce the risk of constipation again by doing the following:
- To prevent constipation, patients should follow a diet full of fiber. Fiber is found in vegetables, fruits, tubers and whole grains.
- You should also drink enough water (2 liters/day, you can drink other liquids such as fruit juices and vegetables) during the day to soften stools and limit constipation.
- You should do gentle exercises to enhance abdominal circulation, pelvic floor muscle activity, easier defecation, and avoid constipation.
- Go to the toilet at the same time every day, go to the toilet at a certain time, and sit on the toilet in the right position.
- Take a laxative to make bowel movements easier.
Note: When your body has these signs, you need to go to reputable medical facilities for examination: Fever, blood in the toilet or toilet paper after defecation, weight loss, fatigue.
Address good, reputable constipation examination?
Currently, there are many clinics and hospitals that visit and treat constipation across the country, so patients will have more choices for themselves. However, to avoid loss of money and costly expenses, patients should go to reputable facilities for examination.
If you are hesitant to choose a reputable address to visit for constipation-related diseases, the Digestive Center – Hong Ngoc General Hospital is a reliable address for you. Here, patients will be examined by a team of good, dedicated and experienced specialists, who are leading experts who have worked at leading hospitals such as Bach Mai Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy. , 198… Especially, many doctors at the center are highly trained in England, Japan, and Korea.
For specific advice, please contact hotline: 0911 908 856
Digestive Center – Hong Ngoc General Hospital
- Hong Ngoc Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital – No. 8 Chau Van Liem, Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi
- Hong Ngoc General Hospital – 55 Yen Ninh, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
- Hong Ngoc Savico Long Bien Clinic – 3rd Floor, Building B, Savico Megamall, 07-09 Nguyen Van Linh, Long Bien, Hanoi
Register for information and advice at:
*Note: The information provided in the article of Hong Ngoc General Hospital is for reference only, not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Patients are not allowed to buy drugs for treatment on their own. To know the exact medical condition, the patient needs to go to the hospital to be directly examined by the doctor, diagnosed and advised on a reasonable treatment regimen.
Follow the fanpage of Hong Ngoc Hospital to get more useful information about health and attractive promotions from the hospital.
Bạn thấy bài viết Táo bón: Nguyên nhân, dấu hiệu và cách phòng ngừa có thoải mãn đươc vấn đề bạn đang tìm hiểu không?, nếu không hãy comment góp ý thêm về Táo bón: Nguyên nhân, dấu hiệu và cách phòng ngừa bên dưới để Trung Cấp Y Dược Tại TPHCM có thể thay đổi & cải thiện nội dung tốt hơn cho các bạn nhé! Cám ơn bạn đã ghé thăm Website: trungcapyduoctphcm.edu.vn
Nhớ để nguồn bài viết này: Táo bón: Nguyên nhân, dấu hiệu và cách phòng ngừa của website trungcapyduoctphcm.edu.vn
Chuyên mục: Sống khỏe