Constipation

 

Constipation is a very common condition, which is believed to affect around 80% of the population at some time in their lives. It is hard to put a definite figure on the numbers affected, as often people do not even go to the doctor for a diagnosis.  Over the counter treatment for constipation is big business.  Usually constipation is not serious, and is relatively short lived. Constipation is actually a symptom, and not a disease.  It is therefore important to look at what might be causing it.  By making the appropriate measures to address the cause, this condition can often be fairly quickly alleviated.  This knowledge can also help to prevent its reoccurrence.

 

It is a condition which affects the large intestine, also known as the bowel.  The bowel absorbs water from the food as it passes through it.  The bowel also contains harmless bacteria, which help to break down the food residue.  Muscle contractions assist the food residue’s journey along the bowel, allowing it to pass into the rectum.  By this time, the remaining matter should be fairly solid. Here it waits until the body sends messages that it is ready to be expelled.  If too much water is absorbed, or alternatively, the muscle contractions are too slow, you can end up being constipated.

 

The following is a guideline as to when a healthcare professional would consider an individual as being constipated:

 

• Only having a bowel movement once or twice a week.
• Having to strain to pass a bowel movement more than 25% of the time.
• Passing hard, dry faeces more than 25% of the time.
• After bowel elimination, there is still a feeling that the bowel has not been properly emptied more than 25% of the time.

Ideally, having a bowel movement after every meal would be great!   However, most healthcare professionals suggest that normal elimination can take place anywhere between 3 times a day, and 3 times a week.

 

Having a healthy bowel is very important to our overall health and wellbeing.  If the problem of constipation becomes chronic, it can mean a build up of toxins, which can end up being reabsorbed, back into the blood stream.  This means that your immune system has to work harder to keep you well.