Correct defecation is comfortable, fast and easy defecation every day in the morning, once a day, at the same time after breakfast. Constipation, on the other hand, can be described as a change in bowel habits, difficult and infrequent defecation, very hard or very small stool, difficult or infrequent (at least three times a week) defecation.
People with constipation may also need to defecate frequently due to the feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestines after defecation. First of all, constipation is not a disease, it is a subjective complaint that varies from person to person and is interpreted in different ways, and it is a very common problem. Many factors contribute to constipation, the problem of constipation becomes more frequent as we get older, and the habit of irregular defecation inevitably causes anal diseases such as hemorrhoids and fissures over time.
HOW IS CONSILENCE DIAGNOSED?
Constipation can usually be diagnosed by history and physical examination. A part of the physical examination of the patient with this complaint is the examination of the rectal region. rectal examination; It is the examination of the inside of the rectum with a gloved finger to feel for a mass, stenosis or abnormality and to check for blood in the stool.
Most people self-treat for constipation at home. However, if any of the following complaints accompany constipation, a gastroenterology specialist should be consulted.
If constipation is new onset
If you have constipation for more than three weeks
If you have a family history of colon cancer
If you see blood on the toilet paper or stool,
If there is weight loss,
If there is fever,
If there is a history of weight loss
World health organization for colon cancer screening, even if there is no complaint 50-60- He recommends that everyone over the age of 70 should have a colonoscopy once, and a stool occult blood test once a year in the intervening years.
HOW TO TREAT Constipation?
Treatment of constipation includes changing eating habits, consuming foods high in fiber and using laxatives (laxatives) if necessary. These treatments can be tried at home before applying to a healthcare provider. However, if there is no bowel movement within a few days, they should contact a healthcare provider for further assistance.
Lifestyle changes; Bowel movements are most active after meals, so the best time to defecate is right after a meal. If body signals about bowel movements are ignored, the signals become weak and weak over time and the feeling of defecation gradually decreases. Consuming caffeinated beverages in the morning may be helpful for increasing bowel movements. In addition, if there is no disease that prevents drinking water, consuming at least 2 liters of fluid a day and regular exercise are lifestyle changes that should be made to prevent constipation.
Increasing the fiber content in the diet: Increasing the fiber content of the diet can eliminate or relieve constipation. The recommended amount for dietary fiber is 20-35 grams per day.
Many fruits (citrus fruits, prunes, apricots, peaches), vegetables (peas, beans, lentils), some breakfast cereals (oats, bran) and snacks (almonds, peanuts) are excellent sources of dietary fiber and It can be particularly helpful in the treatment of constipation.
However, if we increase the fiber in the diet too much, this can cause bloating or gas in the abdomen. For this reason, side effects can be reduced by starting with a small amount of fiber and increasing the amount of fiber until the stool becomes more frequent and soft.
WHAT WE SHOULD NOT USE FOR CONSILENCE TREATMENT
In the treatment of constipation, emollient laxatives, natural products and homemade enemas are not recommended.
Softening laxatives have a higher risk of side effects and the effect is the same as for other treatments. As with many natural products, natural products used for constipation also contain active ingredients found in commercially available laxatives. However, their dosage and purity are not carefully controlled and these products are not generally recommended. Homemade enema preparations (like various soapy enemas) can be extremely irritating to the lining of the gut and should be avoided.
Specialist Dr. Ufuk AVCIOĞLU
Gastroenterology
