If you have or have had chronic constipation, then the expression above is familiar.
Does constipation accompany you to the toilet frequently?
If you labour regularly to take a dump or pass hard, painful stools, then this is for you.
What Is Chronic Constipation?
Chronic constipation is when you cannot pass stool when you have the urge, strain to pass faeces, or pass hard, pebble-like poo for three months or more.
It can also be when you have fewer than three bowel movements a week for months or when a lot of solid, dry stool gets stuck in your back passage, making it impossible for you to stool. This situation is also called faecal impaction.
Chronic constipation can occur as a result of many factors. You may have tried some measures listed here to avoid constipation without a positive outcome. If so, then this article is for you.
Read on to learn some causes of chronic constipation and what you can do to avoid them:
What You Eat & How You Live
Eating numerous low-fibre meals like cheese, milk, or food with high-fat content, is bad for your digestive tract.
Likewise, a sedentary lifestyle can lead to constipation due to reduced muscle tone and inactivity.
What You Can Do:
Eat food rich in fibre like cereal, vegetables, beans, brown rice and bread. Ensure that your body gets enough physical activity. Thirty minutes of brisk walking five times a week is enough for you.
Underlying Illness
Apart from your lifestyle and diet, some diseases can cause chronic constipation as well. They include hypothyroidism, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome.
What You Can Do:
You can book a thyroid function test, or blood sugar check to know if you have these diseases at Lifepro lab if you are in Lagos.
Your Mental Health
In addition to the causes listed above, your mental health plays a crucial role in your bowel function. For example, anxiety can activate your sympathetic nervous system, which in turn stops digestion. So, if you have Generalised Anxiety Disorder, you may be prone to chronic constipation.
Also, depression increases your chances of being chronically constipated due to reduced activity and changes in diet.
What You Can Do:
If you are depressed, constantly anxious or think you may be depressed, you can speak to a doctor for a thorough assessment and professional help.
Medications
Some medications can cause chronic constipation. Iron supplements, painkillers like ibuprofen and codeine are a few of such drugs.
What You Can Do:
You should get your medications reviewed by your doctor if you routinely take some drugs and you are experiencing chronic constipation.
Toilet Habits
Delaying or holding back your stool can increase your chances of developing chronic constipation. The longer poo stays in your bowel, the harder it becomes. And you should know that if it is hard, it will not move smoothly.
What You Can Do:
If you feel you have to go, go! Do not punish your digestive tract.
What if I keep pushing in the toilet?
If you have chronic constipation or regular episodes of constipation, you should speak to a doctor immediately.
Chronic constipation can lead to piles (haemorrhoids) and tears in your anus (anal fissures). You may also end up pushing your intestine through your anus (rectal prolapse).
Furthermore, if you notice blood in your stool, have constipation with stomach pain, lose weight unintentionally, and find it difficult to pass stool, you should speak with a doctor.
You can do so here.
Doktorconnect
