Constipation, also known as costiveness, dyschezia and dyssynergic defecation, is a condition that affects millions of people around the world. It occurs when an individual passes fewer stools in a given period of time than their normal amount and it may lead to difficulty passing stools accompanied by pain. Constipation can be caused by a person’s diet or lack of water intake and in these instances, it is a simple change in diet and water intake which could help remedy it. However, there are also more serious causes of constipation and if a change in diet and increase in water intake does not help the situation, a person should see a doctor immediately.

Constipation Remedies:

Constipation has several remedies to help relief its symptoms and help it go away completely, though these usually depend on what is causing the constipation in the first place. Most doctors agree that if a person is experiencing constipation or is prone to becoming constipated, the best remedy for constipation would be to begin eating a diet rich in fiber. He or she should also increase their fluid intake so that they stay hydrated and their stools become softer and easier to pass. In some cases, however, constipation may be hard to get rid of and may be caused by a more serious problem. One should see a doctor immediately if symptoms do not become better.

Baby Constipation:

Constipation in newborn babies and babies a few months old is a lot more common than most people think. There are no set or normal schedule for bowel movements in babies, so a parent will have to get used to their regular schedule. Constipation in babies can be noticed if a child has fewer bowel movements than normal and sometimes even signs of diarrhea can prove that constipation is present. This is because more liquefied stools may pass around dried cracked stools that are blocking the baby’s digestive tract.

Constipation Treatments:

During cases of minor constipation, a doctor will usually recommend to a patient to begin eating a diet rich in fiber, such as cereal, fruits and vegetables, though in more extreme circumstances, it may be required that a patient also take a fiber dietary supplement. It is also important for constipation treatment to drink plenty of water, before, during and after meals. This is to keep a person hydrated and their digestive tract healthy. A person may also take laxatives, but should do so sparingly, as they may have adverse effects if taken for too long.

Constipation Relief:

Aside from getting plenty of fiber and water, constipation relief is also a battle fought on other fronts. It is important for a person to be healthy and fit, a quality that helps to prevent medical conditions from arising, including constipation. Regular exercise, such as walking or jogging could help bring constipation relief. Other medical solutions for constipation relief include enemas, laxatives and switching medication if the side effects of it are causing constipation. It is important to discuss with a doctor about medication alternatives to prevent constipation in the future.

Constipation During Pregnancy:

It is not uncommon for a pregnant mother to become constipated or to begin to show signs of constipation. A woman who is pregnant will begin producing larger amounts of the hormone progesterone, a chemical that slows the movement of food in the woman’s digestive tract. Although this is required for a woman when she is pregnant and the fetus is growing inside of her, there is a possibility that it could lead to complications later in the pregnancy. Women who are pregnant should counteract this by doing the necessary precautions of high fiber diets and fluid intake as mentioned above.

Chronic Constipation:

Chronic constipation is a health disorder that affects many people, and is usually experienced through prolonged symptoms that last many years. Chronic constipation will usually make a person more prone to getting constipation if they do not have a proper diet intake. Chronic constipation may be the result of a more serious problem in a person’s digestive system, including pelvic floor dysfunction, colon cancer and thyroid gland or diabetes mellitus. Research shows that about 30 percent of Americans suffer or have once suffered from chronic constipation.

Constipation in Children:

Constipation in children is usually brought on by similar causes as adults with constipation, though there may be several additional reasons for it happening. Children are naturally fussy eaters, so a fiber disorder may be present, though some children may experience constipation because they hold in their stools for a long period of time for several reasons (usually because they feel pain while defecating). To help fight off child constipation, foods rich in iron should be given to the child, though the types of iron-rich foods should be carefully chosen based upon what the child likes.

Home Remedies for Constipation:

Constipation is usually a condition that can be treated easily with the proper foods and habits, as long as a person has plenty of patience. For instance, aside from a healthy diet that could help stimulate a person’s digestive tract, one could also take certain home remedies for constipation that have been shown to be effective. This includes 2 tablespoons of Blackstrap molasses before bed, dried grapes and apricots or drinking water with copper vessel and epsom salt added to it. A substance known as cascara sagrada has also been known to be quite effective.

Constipation Symptoms:

One of the major signs of constipation is that a person will begin to defecate less regularly than they usually do. In addition, incomplete bowel movements may also occur, along with painful bowel movements as well, caused by dry and hard stools. In addition the stools may be small and round, similar to the feces of rabbits or deer. Constipation may also be accompanied by painful a abdomen and even diarrhea, though diarrhea is usually a sign of an opposite condition of constipation. Constipation may also show symptoms through a feeling of bloatedness.

Natural Remedies for Constipation:

A lot of times, people who are constipated may rely on more natural means of providing relief from pain and discomfort caused by the constipation. Though these natural remedies for constipation may prove to be quite useful, it is also important to realize that if symptoms worsen, a person should see a doctor right away for a check up. Prune juice is one classic natural remedy for constipation because of its high fiber content and nutrition. Also, substances such as dandelion, passiflora, cascara, senna and psyllium can all help stimulate a person’s digestive tract if they are curious about how to get rid of constipation.

Infant Constipation:

The best way to tell if a person’s infant child has constipation is to check the size, shape and consistency of the child’s stools. It is normal for babies and small children to have soft and watery stools, especially if the child is being breastfed. If a baby’s stools are firm and dry, it is a strong indication that the child may be constipated, especially if the stools come out in shapes that are similar to pebbles. Dry and firm stools accompanied by constant crying that would indicate discomfort may be a sure sign of infant constipation.

Constipation Treatment:

There are several remedies for constipation that a person can use to help get rid of the symptoms of constipation with a little bit of patience and discipline. However, there are also other types of treatments that could help get rid of constipation faster. These can include lubricant laxatives as well as other types of laxatives that can be prescribed by a doctor. Laxatives should be taken with care, though as they can be quite dangerous if taken for a prolonged amount of time.

Constipation After Surgery:

One of the main reasons why constipation occurring after surgery is due to the side effects that are caused by the pain relief medication given by doctors. In addition, surgery patients are more likely to have constipation troubles than the average person who has not had surgery, especially people that were prone to constipation beforehand. A mild stool softener or laxative will generally be recommended by a doctor for a patient that is recovering from many types of surgery. Like with any situation involving surgery, a doctor will also advise a patient to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, which will also keep stools soft.

Foods that Cause Constipation:

Aside from eating the foods that may prevent or help remedy constipation, it is important for people that are prone to constipation to avoid eating or excessively eating foods that can help contribute to the condition. This can include very dry foods such as crackers or foods that are known to have little or no fiber, such as cheese, meat, eggs and ice cream. To avoid constipation, one should also drink less alcohol (though red wine will not have a negative effect) and to avoid energy drinks that contain a large amount of caffeine.

Causes of Constipation:

As mentioned earlier, there are several reasons for developing constipation, many of them minor and easily remediable. A person with a low fiber diet and a small amount of fluid intake is more susceptible to developing constipation and reversing these habits will usually result in a healthier digestive tract. Another minor cause of constipation could be a change in eating habits. If a person deviates from their normal eating schedule, for example, when he or she goes on vacation, they may develop constipation, especially in people with temperamental digestive systems.