Constipation – Causes, Diagnosis, And Natural Treatments

Constipation is a digestive system disorder characterized by a difficulty in passing stool or experiencing hard stool. This is a condition in which the large intestine absorbs excess water from the food and leaves the stool hard, dry, and tough to pass out.

A large chunk of American population experiences this condition. This is no surprise, as the American diet is typically lacking in fiber, which is an important element for good bowel movement. According to American Dietetic Association (ADA), an average American takes just 15 grams of fiber daily against the recommended dose of 30-38 grams/day for men and 21-25 grams/day for women.

Causes
• Diet is an important factor. Lack of fiber in diet is the major cause of constipation. And much of the food on an average American’s plate is refined or processed that contains very little fiber.
• Insufficient intake of fluids.
• Abrupt change in the environment.
• Inactive lifestyle.
• Pregnancy.
• Resisting the urge to answer nature’s call. The longer the waste matter stays in the intestine, the harder it becomes.
• Hormones – hypothyroidism (inadequate production of thyroid hormone) and high level of parathyroid hormone causes constipation. Also, high levels of female hormones like estrogen and progesterone during menstruation can trigger this condition.
• Too much traveling or sudden change in diet.
• Narrowing of areas in colon or growths may cause serious cases of constipation.

In rare cases, constipation can be a sign of Parkinson’s disease, thyroid disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and injuries of the spine.

Diagnosis
Constipation is marked by sporadic bowel movements, passing stools with strain, passing hard stools, abdominal bloating, cramps, and flatulence, along with a wish to expel, but not being able to do so. A constipated person may also experience headaches, nausea, pale complexion, halitosis, dizziness, and coated tongue.

If irregular bowel movements persist for more than one week, medical intervention is needed. Also, if constipation continues in spite of taking adequate fiber and fluids and exercising, a doctor should be consulted.

The doctor checks for hardened matter in the abdomen with the help of his/her fingers. They may also carry out a rectal examination. The other methods to diagnose constipation are blood as well as stool sample analysis in the lab, which tells about internal bleeding or signs of systemic disease; barium enema, which informs about intestinal blockage; and sigmoidoscopy, which involves examining the sigmoid part of the colon through a flexible tube containing a magnifying lens.

There are also “marker studies” conducted in which the patient is asked to swallow a capsule that contains markers. They get displayed on X-rays, which the doctor takes repeatedly for a few days. This diagnoses the condition that may be caused due to malfunction of intestinal muscles.

Natural Treatments
 Eat plenty of fiber. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and salads are the best sources.
 Take whole grain bread and cereals.
 Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. Warm water is preferable.
 Cook food with turmeric, ginger, fennel, cumin, black pepper, coriander, and asafetida. They help in digestion.
 Start exercising for proper blood and nutrition circulation to the bowels.
 Avoid sleeping immediately after a meal.
 Always answer nature’s call. Suppressing it may lead to chronic constipation.
 Take a glass of warm milk before going to bed. It serves as a mild laxative.
 Take fresh juice either early in the morning or before bedtime. This cleanses the colon. The best juices are of carrots, grapefruit, spinach, asparagus, apple cider vinegar, orange juice with olive oil, and mixed juice of apple and pear.

Constipated people should avoid or take in moderation cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, tea, coffee, whole milk, ice cream, fried foods, fatty meats, cheese, pastries, sugar, white flour, and processed foods.

Talking of herbs, Triphala, which is an Ayurvedic herb, works wonders for intestinal cleansing. It comprises of 3 herbs viz; Haritaki, Amalaki, and Bhibitaka. Besides this, buck thorn bark, alfalfa, cassia pulp, castor oil, psyllium seeds and husk, guar gum, turkey rhubarb, senna pods, dandelion leaves, and aloe gel (which is anti-inflammatory and also used to treat skin disorders) are used for treating constipation.

Tips For Increasing Fiber Intake
 Include bran and oatmeal in breakfast menu.
 Adds fruits like bananas, berries, and apple to cereals. Fruits with skin are a rich source of fiber.
 Instead of taking a glass of orange juice, eat a whole orange. The fruit contains 6 times more fiber than the juice.
 Include kidney beans, white and black beans, and lentils in the diet.

Each one, at some point of their life, has experienced constipation. The condition can be easily treated through some wise changes in the diet as well as lifestyle. However, if the problem persists for more than 3 weeks even after treatment, one should consult a doctor. There might be some underlying cause.