Although constipation is not usually a serious health problem, the person will feel much more comfortable when the symptoms pass.

The normal time between bowel movements varies from person to person. Some people go to the big bathroom three times a day, while others only go to the bathroom a few times a week.

But three or more days is too long to go to the bathroom. Under normal conditions, after the third day, it becomes difficult to go to the toilet due to the hardening of the stool. Constipation is defined as going to the toilet less than three times a week.

Constipation Causes

Constipation can have many causes, often depending on your lifestyle. These may include what is eaten during a normal diet and changes in activities of daily living.

Not getting enough water or fibrous food during feeding is another cause. Consuming large amounts of dairy products can cause constipation in some people. Not moving or resisting the urge to go to the toilet for a long time can cause constipation. Stress is a separate cause of constipation.

Long-term use of laxatives also leads to constipation. At the same time, especially strong pain medications, antidepressants, iron pills, and antacids containing calcium or aluminum can also cause constipation.

It can also be caused by various eating disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, pregnancy, problems with nerves and muscles in the digestive tract, neurological problems such as colon cancer, Parkinson's disease, or multiple sclerosis, and medical problems such as an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism. symptom of constipation.

What are the symptoms of constipation?

Constipation symptoms are defined as individuals who do not go to the toilet less, have a feeling of difficulty while using the toilet, pass hard or very small stools, do not feel that their bowels are completely empty after using the toilet, and have bloating.

Also, if you feel the need to press on the belly or abdomen with your hand or help with your finger to empty the bowels, this can also be defined as a sign of constipation.

In addition to sudden constipation, if there is a feeling of abdominal pain or cramping and you cannot go to the toilet in any way and gas cannot be removed, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.

If constipation has just started and the measures taken are not sufficient, if there is blood in the stool, if weight loss occurs involuntarily and without effort, if bowel movements cause severe pain, if constipation lasts for more than two weeks, or if the size, shape, and consistency of the stool have changed significantly, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

When a doctor is consulted for persistent constipation, the doctor may recommend some tests to find the cause of the constipation: These include blood tests to check hormone levels, tests to check the rectal muscles, tests to see how waste moves through the gut, or a colonoscopy to check for colonic blockages. Keeping a record of bowel movements, stool characteristics, diet, and other factors can help find an appropriate treatment.

What are constipation treatment methods?

Constipation is a condition that usually resolves on its own without the need for a prescription. In most cases, lifestyle changes, such as exercising more, eating more fiber, and drinking more water, relieve constipation.

In addition to dried fruits such as apricots, figs, plums, and prunes, fresh fruits such as apples, grapes, and avocados, fibrous vegetables and food products such as spinach, cabbage, cranberry, celery, beet, leek, legumes, white meat, and fish, especially olives, olive oil, and thyme, are foods that are good for constipation.

Limiting the time to go to the bathroom can be just as helpful as being able to go to the bathroom without stress or interruptions. This should not be ignored upon the request to go to the toilet; one should go to the toilet immediately.

The use of laxatives may prolong the short-term lifespan, but they should not be used with caution or alone. This is because some laxatives have serious side effects.

Before using a laxative, a doctor should be consulted, and the instructions in the medicine leaflet should be followed. If constipation persists, a doctor should be consulted. With the dispensing of stronger constipation remedies, the underlying causes of constipation have emerged.