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Constipation? Experts named foods that improve Bowel movement

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It is common for people to have constipation, but for many people, it can be unpleasant and even frustrating. Constipation can manifest itself in a variety of ways in people, ranging from intermittent bowel openings to prolonged straining to a feeling that the colon has not been entirely evacuated.

When it comes to constipation, there are many ways to treat it, but for most people, simple lifestyle changes can be enough. These include drinking more water, eating more fruit and fiber, being more active, and not delaying the urge to open your bowel for long periods.

According to professor Shaheen Hamdy, when these straightforward methods fail, there are a variety of over-the-counter choices to consider.

These include soluble and insoluble fibre supplements, as well as basic laxatives like Senokot, bisacodyl, lactulose, or Milk of Magnesia, which are designed to either encourage the colon to work or soften the feces. If these don’t work, you might want to talk to your doctor about it.

Constipation, especially if it’s new and/or feels like a shift in your bowel habits, can often be an indication of a more serious condition that needs to be investigated, possibly with tests like a colonoscopy.

If you’re referred for further treatment, specialists can attempt newer medications for constipation including Prucalopride and Linaclotide, as well as more powerful combinations of laxatives like polyethylene glycol (PEG) or sodium picosulfate, as well as enemas and/or suppositories.

For some people, a course of these therapies may be sufficient to improve gastrointestinal function, and treatment can then be done on an “as needed” basis.

Finally, there are non-drug treatments for more difficult-to-treat constipation, such as anorectal biofeedback, which can help teach the colon to return to normal, and recto-anal irrigation, which is a type of water enema system that clears the rectum of stool.

In extremely rare circumstances, surgery to construct a stoma may be required (where the bowel exits over the skin of the abdomen). However, constipation can be treated medically with positive outcomes in the vast majority of instances, and with the right advice and care, it will not cause long-term problems.

Constipation can be caused by a variety of factors, including medication side effects, poor diet, and inactivity, according to Professor Paul J Ciclitira of the University of East Anglia. Metabolic, endocrine, and neurogenic illnesses, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, myotonic dystrophy, vascular, and muscle disorders, are all linked to constipation.

Irritable bowel syndrome may be the cause of long-term constipation, especially in middle-aged women. A diet heavy in fiber and liquids is indicated as a therapy for this. If the symptoms persist, buy Fybogel, which contains ispaghula husk, over the counter and take one sachet twice a day.

Subjects can also take 30ml of lactulose shortly before bedtime if necessary. This can also be acquired from a pharmacy over the counter. Consult a gastroenterologist if the symptoms persist. Constipation is more common in the elderly, which could be due to pharmaceutical side effects, but it should be studied further.

A poor diet low in fibre and plant-based foods, dehydration or insufficient water intake, stress, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or intestinal methanogenic overgrowth, according to Jo Cunningham, clinical director of the Gut Health Clinic, are some of the causes of “primary” or “functional” constipation (which means there’s no identified medical reason for it) (IMO).

It can also be caused by pelvic floor dyssynergia or dysfunction, which is a defecation problem in which the rectum muscles tense instead of relaxing during a bowel movement. Biofeedback and physical therapy are two treatments for defecation issues.

Constipation that arises as a side effect of a drug or as a result of an underlying health issue is referred to as “secondary” constipation. It can be caused by drugs (e.g., opioids or iron), metabolic problems (e.g., hypothyroidism or diabetes), neurological disorders (Parkinson’s, stroke, spinal cord injury), or mechanical obstruction of the intestine (e.g., colon cancer). Constipation is not treated in a “one-size-fits-all” manner.

In practice, behavioural, lifestyle, and dietary interventions, as well as bowel habit retraining and psychiatric therapies, are all used, albeit not all are appropriate for everyone. Increased fluid intake is frequently combined with progressive increases in fiber and plant-food diversity in dietary regimens.

Experts recommend having 1-2 kiwi fruits or 4-5 prunes every day. Fiber supplements (e.g., psyllium husk or partially hydrolyzed guar gum) may also be beneficial.

Other alternatives include trying a low Fodmap diet or a modified version of it (under the supervision of a Fodmap-trained dietician), trying probiotics (unless SIBO/IMO is present), and engaging in regular physical activity, which can help with intestinal motility, especially in the elderly.

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