Coping with Constipation
More than 4 million Americans claim to be constipated most or all of the time. Some studies have estimated this number to be as high as 55 million, according to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)
Temporary, or acute, constipation is usually caused by a lack of high-fiber food, liquids, and exercise. Some common constipation causes include:
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Not drinking enough liquids
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Pregnancy
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Irritable bowel syndrome
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Lack of exercise
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Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement
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Laxative abuse
As later chapters will explain in greater detail, your diet plays a major role in your bowel habits. Eating a high-fiber diet and drinking plenty of liquids are the easiest and most effective changes to make to eliminate constipation.
There are several natural products that you can take to relieve constipation. Magnesium is essential for relaxation of smooth muscles, including the large intestine, and it also can have a slight laxative effect. To add it to your diet, begin with 200 milligrams magnesium oxide or magnesium citrate every night. Until your bowels move regularly, you can increase the dosage in 200-milligram increments every few days. The dose for magnesium is individual, so begin low and increase the dosage as needed. Reduce the dosage if you experience loose bowels.
Daily consumption of certain probiotic fermented dairy products may have an effect on occasional constipation and can also help shorten long intestinal transit time, improving regularity.
Rhubarb root powder (Rheum officinale) is one of the safest and least violent irritant laxatives, but it should be reserved for occasional use only. Another natural treatment you can take is triphala. Triphala, an Ayurvedic remedy for regulating the bowels, is a combination of three fruits that tone the muscles in the large intestine. It should be used on a regular basis, however, and not just when temporary constipation occurs.
See your health care provider if constipation has continued with no improvement for several weeks after changing dietary habits. If the person experiencing constipation is a child or an elderly person, call sooner.
Some medications can also cause constipation. If you take these medications and are having problems passing stool, talk to your physician:
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Pain medications (especially narcotics)
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Antacids that contain aluminum and calcium
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Blood pressure medications (calcium channel blockers)
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Antiparkinson drugs
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Antispasmodics
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Antidepressants
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Iron supplements
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Diuretics
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Anticonvulsants
