Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs inhibit certain enzymes in your body from producing prostaglandins , which are hormone-like substances that can signal various muscles—including those in your digestive system—to contract, which can help you poop. Sometimes the release of prostaglandins can make you poop too much, like during your period. Some blood pressure medications reduce how often the smooth muscles in your intestines contract and move food along.
Other medications, like allergy drugs, antacids, and iron pills can all back you up, too, according to the Cleveland Clinic. If your constipation kicked off when your new medication regimen did, your doctor may be able to suggest other drug options without this frustrating side effect.
Sometimes seeing a doctor is just a necessary step towards spending less time worrying about constipation and more time actually enjoying your life. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
Other symptoms include poor appetite, back pain, and general malaise. The usual methods to relieve occasional constipation e. Convinced there is no solution for their illness, some of these individuals begin to withdraw from society. Most complications of chronic idiopathic constipation result from the intense straining needed to pass stool. These include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, diverticular disease, rectal bleeding, and rectal prolapse.
The next time you feel constipated, consider trying one of these easy home remedies. Learn what typical bowel movements should include, as well as tips to poop more…. Laxatives can help relieve constipation and promote regular bowel movements. Learn more about natural laxatives. Citrucel powder is a type of fiber supplement used for constipation. This article explains its uses, effectiveness, and potential side effects. Kombucha is a fizzy drink that's full of health benefits, but you may want to know whether it can help relieve constipation.
This article explains…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. The more of these symptoms you have the more likely you are to be constipated. Abdominal bloating is often part of many bowel complaints, including constipation. Constipation is bothersome but usually not serious. If the simple measures described later do not help and your symptoms persist, then you will need to consult your GP. Also, a sudden slowing up of your bowel, especially if you are aged over 40, should also be reported. Try not to take laxatives before seeing your doctor.
Your doctor will diagnose you according to the number or severity of symptoms as above. They may also want to examine your abdomen to check for any tenderness, swelling or blockage. Further investigation is usually unnecessary and will depend on your symptoms, age and possibly whether you have a history of bowel problems in your family. In rare cases the bowels may not be working properly because the bowel itself is diseased.
If your doctor has any concerns, they may organise one or more of the following investigations:. Regular use of laxatives is generally not encouraged but occasional use is not harmful. Things to consider:. Nevertheless, the balance of scientific evidence suggests that laxatives do not cause any damage to the bowel and there is no evidence that using them puts you at risk of getting colon cancer. Sometimes doctors will advise people to take laxatives and some people do need them longer term, if your doctor has advised them, they are unlikely to be harmful in the long term.
Suppositories or mini-enemas are more predictable than laxatives and tend to be very well tolerated and effective. They are especially useful for people who have difficulty with needing to strain to evacuate their bowel.
It may be best to use laxatives only with proper guidance. Taking laxatives does not result in weight loss, they work on the large bowel and most of the goodness from food is absorbed in the small bowel. Taking high doses of laxatives long term can be harmful.
If you suspect an eating disorder is the reason that you are taking excessive laxatives, please discuss this with your GP. If you remain troubled with constipation despite strict adherence to the measures described before, you may need further treatment. These can include:. It can cause feelings of sluggishness and bloating, but there is no evidence that bugs or toxins leak from the bowel into any other part of the body.
Another common idea is that constipation may lead to cancer but there is no evidence that long-term constipation increases the chances of getting bowel cancer. It is important to remember that the vast majority of cases of constipation are easily resolved with simple diet, lifestyle or medication change.
However if constipation does not respond to different treatments there can be medium to long term effects including:.
Guts UK is the charity for the digestive system. We are the only UK charity funding research into the digestive system from top to tail; the gut, liver and pancreas. Visit our website to see our past and current research, or contact us for further information. This video from Colorado Children's Hospital about constipation is a great tool that the whole family will understand.
Skip to content Search Menu Donate. Constipation Download printable version. Overview 2.
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