Constipation Treatment

Constipation, like any other medical condition is not a very pleasant thing to deal with. A weird knotting in the stomach, the bloated feeling, the pain that ensues due to the increased pressure in the intestines, all of which can be taken as some of the reasons that contribute to the discomforting feeling. While constipation for anyone is a difficult prospect to deal with, when there is constipation in children, it leads to a whole lot of worry for the parents. The younger the child, the more the worry. Similarly, constipation during pregnancy can lead to added pressure on the system of the mother to be. That is why ensuring an effective constipation treatment becomes important. In this following article, we will try and understand the reasons why constipation can come about in children and adults, what are its symptoms and how to go about treating the same.

Causes and Symptoms

The symptoms of constipation will distinctly make through in the following way:

• Constant bloating in the stomach
• Constant lethargy
• Infrequent bowel movements
• Difficulty in passing stools
• Hard stools that could lead to small tears in the anal passage.
• Increased heat in the stomach.
• Swelling of anal veins and piles (In pregnant women)

There can be various causes of constipation. While there might be certain causes that are noticed in children, there are most that can be seen in both children and adults alike.

Dietary Factors
The main reason that leads to constipation is that there is a lack of fiber in the diet. Fiber is responsible for drawing water to the intestines and therefore leading to bowel movements. When there is no fiber, there is no water and therefore no processing of bowel movements. Along with fiber, there are several other nutrients, the deficiency of which can cause constipation.

Similarly, if there is less consumption of water and other liquids, it can definitely lead to constipation in adults and children alike.

In infants and newborns, the excess consumption of milk can lead to constipation. It is important to note that newborns usually pass bowels less frequently than adults, so if a newborn hasn't done his/her daily ablutions, it does not mean that there is a need to carry through with the treatment immediately.

A change in dietary habits can also cause constipation, it has been seen. Inclusion of newer foods or a change in the routine can also cause constipation.

Impending Fear
This is usually true of children, but can be a factor for adults as well. When there is constipation, the stools harden and cause a lot of pain. They can also lead to tears in the anal passage so that every time one tries to use the restroom, there is pain. Thus the tendency is to avoid passing motions. This is especially true of children who do not understand the complications of doing that.

Similarly if there is a shift in the routine or there has been an unpleasant experience during potty training, it can lead to developing constipation in children.

Treating Constipation

Constipation treatment varies or depends on age, severity of the condition and the specific group (pregnant women) that is suffering from the condition. Let us understand the varied treatment forms.

Treatment in Adults

• Drinking water, especially hot water, is known to increase the pressure on the stomach and therefore cause bowel movements. This is one of the most effective constipation remedies to use.
• Using stool softeners will help to soften the stools and therefore eliminate the pain and the difficulty as well.
• Increasing fibrous foods in their diet (whole grains, bran, cereal) can act as a great remedy for constipation.
• Including fruits and vegetables (esp. All citrus fruits, apples, papayas, bananas, apricots, spinach, raw beets and prunes.)
• Including psyllium husk as an alternative herb for increasing the fiber in the body.
• A raw garlic clove consumed first thing in the morning helps to digest the food, quell the acids and leads to a bowel movement.
• Almond oil/castor oil/olive oil mixed with warm milk and consumed at night acts as an effective laxative and forms an effective constipation remedy.
• Mix apple cider vinegar (2 tbs) in warm water and consume to take care of constipation.
• Avoid foods that can aggravate constipation. These include carbs, sugar, coffee, cakes and bread.
• Carrying forth several forms of exercises for treating constipation can also be looked into. These include - Walking, rubbing the tummy in circular motions, sleeping on the stomach with one leg bent and raised to the chest, bending the thighs and placing the feet under your buttocks or simple spot jogging. All these forms help in building pressure on the stomach and relieving constipation.

Treatment in Children

• Giving them hot water works well in increasing the pressure on the intestines and leading to proper treatment.
• Stool softeners work very effectively with children because they help to take away the pain that comes from passing hard stools.
• Including fiber in their diets (beans, broccoli, bran, whole grain bread, peas, crackers) is a great constipation cure.
• Flax seeds or flax oil is another remedy that is seen to work wonders for children and infants.
• Psyllium husks are also a great remedy to the constipation problem because they increase the fiber content in the body.
• Bathing the baby in warm water, massaging the stomach as well as carrying forth cycling actions with the legs is known to help stimulate bowel movements.

Treatment in Pregnant Women

• Drinking warm water is one of the safest and most effective ways of stimulating bowels, aiding digestion and thereby relieving constipation.
• A high fiber diet which includes whole wheat grain, bran and cereals needs to be increased.
• Including fruits (citrus, apples, apricots, prunes) and vegetables (spinach, cabbage etc) is an effective way of getting fiber into your body and thereby treating constipation.
• Prunes is also known to be an effective way of treating constipation. These can be had in any form, like raw, cooked or juiced. It helps to draw water to the body, make the stools softer and thereby lead to pain free bowel movements.
• Castor oil is also one of the main remedies that are made use of when a person has constipation. This can be had plain or as a solution with milk. However, make sure that you consult your doctor when it comes to determining the dosage.
• Safe exercising is another effective way of carrying forth constipation treatment. Simple walking, spot jogging, yoga poses like sitting with the knees bent and feet tucked under the buttocks are some effective ones.

Constipation can lead to a lot of discomfort and pain and affect the general day-to-day activities of a person, not to mention the complications that can arise due to this condition (Especially in pregnant women). Now that we have understood what causes constipation and how to go about treating the same, we can do the needful and ensure that we maintain proper health.