Constipation Treatments
A widespread condition
It has been reported that 2-30% of the population report suffering from constipation. Such a wide-range for the incidence rate make for unclear statistics, but even at the low end of 2% one would say constipation is a concern to many people.
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Defining constipation
To an individual, seeking constipation treatments and the diagnosis of constipation may be very well-defined and clear. However, to the medical establishment, constipation is actually difficult to pin down and diagnose. This is because there is considerable variation in frequency of bowel movements from individual to individual. For some people, going once a day is perfectly normal, whereas for others going once every three days is considered a lifetime norm.
There have been several attemps to clarify the matter. For example, the definition of chronic constipation according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a governmental research agency, is a condition in which a bowel movement occurs only once every three days. Another, more thorough set of diagnostic criteria, was formulated by the Rome Foundation, an organization specializing in studying and unifying our understanding of gastrointestinal disorders. The Rome criteria list out a constellation of symptoms, and patients must be able to claim several before the criteria guidelines would consider them constipated.
Seeking the causes of constipation
In light of the difficulty of diagnosis, it is not surprising that pinning down the causes is equally difficult, and perhaps an even more serious matter. The chronic condition itself may be an indicator of another illness, some benign and others more serious. For example, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one cause of constipation. The prospects for patients with IBS is mixed, even when it is not life-threatening, it can have a severe negative impact on quality of life for sufferers. Another more benign example is dietary: a diet low in fiber combined with poor bowel habits can cause constipation.
Treatments and cures
Whethe a primary cause can be identified or not, many people wish to alleviate the condition or symptoms associated with the condition. For low frequency, occasional incidences, it might be worth it to seek a natural or over-the-counter (OTC) constipation medication. The most common of constipation treatments are the OTC laxatives. There is probably no best laxative as every individual is different. Prescription medications are next on the list. It is not always straightforward to pick a constipation cure that will work immediately. It may take some experimenting to find the right kind of laxatives.
Maintenance and management
Patients must also think of modifying their future lifestyle to reduce chronic constipation. For example, they should carefully consider whether their intake of insolube fiber is sufficient. Referencing an authoritative source is important for accurate accounting of all intake. Regular use of laxatives may also be called for, as long as caveats regarding chronic usage can be resolved. What works very well for one person may only work so-so for another. Our particular physiologies may play a role in determining the efficacy of any constipation cure.
A role for psychology
The mind set of a patient may play a big role. Those who experience adverse bowel-related conditions tend to feel anxious about bowel movements. This feeling feeds back on itself, inhibiting the urge to eliminate and making the condition worse. As a result, the problem becomes psychological and physiological.
Avoiding scams
Because gastointestinal health is of concern to such a broad swath of the population, many claims have arisen regarding devices or medicinal supplements of curing constipation. Many will have heard of enemas with questionable substances, herbal remedies and mechanical devices purporting to detoxify the colon. The reader is invited to review some of these claims objectively. In particular, the American Cancer Society has produced a page warning against such colon cleanse therapies.
In summary, the origins of chronic constipation are varied, ranging from lifestyle choices to genetic predispositions. Treatment of the underlying cause is vital, but so are methods of treating the symptoms of the condition. These include constipation medication, laxatives, medical diagnostics and high fiber therapy.