Constipation is the most common disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, which occurs at any age. This unpleasant phenomenon causes serious discomfort and is often accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and other unpleasant symptoms, and prolonged disorder can lead to serious disruptions in the functioning of the body. How to treat constipation, causes and symptoms of diseases that can cause intestinal problems and measures to prevent them.
Signs of prolonged constipation
A delay in bowel movements of 2 days or more indicates a bowel dysfunction. When it comes to long-term constipation, irregular bowel movements may persist for several weeks. In this case, accompanying symptoms appear:
- feces become hard and dense;
- there is a feeling of incomplete bowel movement after defecation;
- injuries and inflammation of the anus occur;
- defecation is difficult (strong straining is required);
- intestinal motility worsens due to the accumulation of feces;
- I am worried about bloating and flatulence.
With constipation, there is not necessarily a complete retention of stool for several days. Solid feces can be released frequently, three to four times a day, but in small portions. In this case, the intestines do not empty completely, which is a deviation from the norm. The symptoms listed above persist in this case.
No bowel movement for more than two days, what should I do?
Constipation for 3 days, what should I do? If you notice signs of stool retention, you need to switch to proper nutrition. The therapeutic diet consists of avoiding heavy foods and including more fruits, vegetables, cereals and dairy products in the diet.
If constipation for 3 days in an adult is accompanied by deterioration in health and fever, then you should visit a doctor. Such signs indicate an inflammatory process in one of the gastrointestinal tract organs and a diet in this case will be useless.
Constipation for 3 days in an adult, what should you do if the pathology is accompanied by intoxication? You should definitely seek medical help. And before going to the doctor, the patient should take sorbents and increase the amount of water he drinks per day. This will remove toxic substances from the body and alleviate the condition.
When is prolonged constipation chronic?
There are strict medical criteria1 by which a diagnosis of chronic constipation is made. The condition is said to occur when two or more of the following symptoms persist for at least 12 weeks over the past year:
- the need to strain in 25% of bowel movements;
- the number of bowel movements per week is less than 3;
- hard, fragmented stool in 25% of bowel movements;
- the need for manual assistance with 25% of bowel movements;
- a feeling of blockage (plug) in the rectum and its incomplete emptying during and after 25% of bowel movements;
- absence of diarrhea and signs that can be used to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome.
In any case, only a doctor can determine whether constipation is episodic or chronic.
Delayed bowel movements in older people: what to do?
Constipation in the elderly for 10 days is quite common. Almost 60% of older people suffer from problems with bowel movements.
Some of the reasons for poor bowel movements include:
Constipation in the elderly often occurs due to decreased blood circulation in the pelvis, weakening of the pelvic floor muscles and decreased sensitivity of the sphincter. Therefore, this problem should be treated by a specialist. Therapy is carried out using physiotherapy, light exercises, normalization of diet and drinking regime.
Common causes of long-term constipation
Impaired movement of feces in the intestines
. The reason for this may be mechanical obstacles that completely or partially block the intestinal lumen: congenital anatomical defects of its walls, polyps, benign and malignant tumors, etc. Because of them, feces are retained in a certain area of the intestine and form a plug. As a result, a person experiences prolonged constipation for no apparent reason.
Taking certain medications
. Long-term treatment with antibiotics, antidepressants, and antispasmodics can negatively affect the tone, motor function and composition of the intestinal microflora. Such disorders can lead to fecal retention for 6-7 days or longer.
Sedentary lifestyle
. Lack of physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle and forced long-term immobilization (for example, bed rest after surgery) provoke congestion in the pelvic area. Due to lack of blood supply and innervation disorders, intestinal motility and sensitivity are reduced. This can lead to the development of constipation.
Pregnancy.
Intestinal tone in women is affected by hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. In the second and third trimester of pregnancy (from about the 16th week), the pressure of the enlarged uterus reduces the sensitivity of the rectum. As a result, pregnant women may not have bowel movements for 4–5 days or longer. Irregular bowel movements can also be caused by a decrease in physical activity over a long period of time, taking calcium and iron supplements, which are often prescribed to expectant mothers.
Read more about constipation during pregnancy in the section “Constipation in Pregnant and Lactating Women”
Psychological reasons.
Long-term constipation may be associated with a fear of bowel movements. It usually occurs when defecation is accompanied by sharp pain (for example, with anal fissures, hemorrhoids, etc.). Constipation can persist for a week, 10 days or longer during strong emotional experiences, depression and stress.
Delayed bowel movements in older people: what to do?
Constipation in the elderly for 10 days is quite common. Almost 60% of older people suffer from problems with bowel movements.
Some of the reasons for poor bowel movements include:
frequent use of diuretics and laxatives;
- recumbent lifestyle;
- insufficient amount of daily fluid;
- atherosclerosis;
- softening of the muscles of the peritoneum and intestines;
- changes in hormone production;
- unhealthy diet, etc.
Constipation for 10 days in the elderly often occurs due to decreased blood circulation in the pelvis, weakening of the pelvic floor muscles and decreased sensitivity of the sphincter. Therefore, this problem should be treated by a specialist. Therapy is carried out using physiotherapy, light exercises, normalization of diet and drinking regime.
How to get rid of long-term constipation?
To decide what to do about constipation and how to eliminate its unpleasant symptoms, you need to understand the cause of intestinal dysfunction. If infrequent bowel movements continue to bother you for several weeks, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will draw up a diagnostic program, and after identifying the cause of long-term constipation, he will select medication treatment. In addition to therapy, it is important to follow advice on adjusting your diet and lifestyle. We present some of them below.
Avoid foods and drinks with a fixing effect
It is recommended to exclude from the daily menu:
- strong tea, coffee, cocoa, whole milk, alcohol;
- mayonnaise and other fatty or hot sauces, seasonings;
- confectionery products based on margarine and vegetable fats;
- onion and garlic;
- fatty meats and fish;
- rice and semolina;
- rich bakery products.
Increase the amount of fiber and dairy products in your diet
It is necessary to add foods to your daily menu that naturally stimulate your intestines. These include:
- fresh kefir, yogurt, low-fat sour cream;
- sunflower and olive oil;
- fresh vegetables (cabbage, beets) and herbs;
- lean poultry;
- wholemeal bread;
- dried fruits.
Drink enough fluids
Lack of water can lead to hardening of stool, so you need to monitor your drinking regime. In 1 day you should consume at least 2–2.5 liters of liquid. The best option is clean drinking water, unsweetened fruit drinks, herbal teas. In addition, it is recommended to include more juicy vegetables and fruits in your diet.
Avoid physical inactivity
Moderate physical activity stimulates the gastrointestinal tract. In order to get rid of week-long or longer constipation, it is recommended to walk daily in the fresh air and do exercises. The following exercises are considered especially useful:
- "bike". While lying on your back, you need to pull your legs towards your stomach. Then you need to perform the movement as when riding a bicycle: one leg straightens, the other at the same time bends at the knee;
- straightening the legs. While lying on your back, both legs should be pulled towards your stomach and then spread to the sides. Repeat 5–10 times;
- abdominal breathing. In any comfortable position, you need to breathe deeply with your stomach, protruding the abdominal wall as much as possible as you inhale and drawing in as you exhale.
Do self-massage of the abdomen
To stimulate intestinal motility, you can massage the abdomen in a clockwise direction. Place the palm in the navel area and make circular movements with light pressure.
No bowel movement for more than two days, what should I do?
Constipation for 3 days, what should I do? If you notice signs of stool retention, you need to switch to proper nutrition. The therapeutic diet consists of avoiding heavy foods and including more fruits, vegetables, cereals and dairy products in the diet.
If constipation for 3 days in an adult is accompanied by deterioration in health and fever, then you should visit a doctor. Such signs indicate an inflammatory process in one of the gastrointestinal tract organs and a diet in this case will be useless.
Constipation for 3 days in an adult, what should you do if the pathology is accompanied by intoxication? You should definitely seek medical help. And before going to the doctor, the patient should take sorbents and increase the amount of water he drinks per day. This will remove toxic substances from the body and alleviate the condition.
MICROLAX® for long-term constipation
MICROLAX® helps relieve constipation by helping to soften stool and remove it from the intestines. The drug is available in a convenient microenema format. It is suitable for all age groups: it can be used by pregnant and lactating women, the elderly, and children from the first days of life. MICROLAX® begins to act within 5–15 minutes after application2.
Find out which laxative is best to choose from our video!
1 Rome III Diagnostic Criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders.
2 In accordance with the instructions for medical use of the laxative MICROLAX®.
Preventive measures
In addition to regular massage and special morning exercises, the complex of preventive measures against constipation also includes proper nutrition and regular physical activity.
Your diet should definitely include dishes made from whole grain cereals and legumes, as well as a large number of vegetable and fruit salads. Bread is another source of fiber that prevents fecal retention. It is recommended to eat slowly, chewing each product thoroughly.
It is also important to monitor the amount of water you drink. If you can’t use it in its pure form, you can add lemon juice or natural bee honey to the glass. It is believed that half a liter of warm water in the morning on an empty stomach is the surest way to prevent constipation. In the evening before going to bed, it is useful to drink a glass of warm liquid.
The best solution is to go to the toilet at the same time every day. It is advisable to go there about 20 minutes after eating. It is the aroma of food that makes the gastrointestinal tract work actively.
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Treatment
It is best to go to the doctor, undergo a full examination, and get advice on treatment. But if constipation in adults is a rare occurrence and the causes of their occurrence are known, then you can try treatment with folk remedies.
Here are some common and time-tested recipes:
- Flax seeds. 1 teaspoon of seeds is poured into 100 ml. boiling water, leave for half an hour, filter, consume throughout the day.
- Apples, baked in the oven, 3-5 pieces.
- Boiled beets with peel on an empty stomach.
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil in the morning.
- A glass of kefir (you can add a tablespoon of vegetable oil) 2-3 hours before bedtime.
- Freshly squeezed carrot or pumpkin juice, cucumber pickle.
Herbal medicine has also proven its worth and offers treatments using herbs and honey. Here it is best not to experiment, but to buy a ready-made set of herbs. Many people have received healing by using ready-made infusions according to the instructions.
