Constipation in adults. What to do and how to treat constipation in adults using medications and folk remedies? There was no chair for a long time

Each of us faces such problems from time to time. For some this does not cause much discomfort, but for others it is a serious and painful problem.

Long-term constipation causes

Long-term constipation occurs as a result of the fact that intestinal peristalsis is softened due to weakening of its muscles. The problem can last from several days to months. One of the reasons is weakness of the body due to illness, poor nutrition, or surgery. Lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle also leads to prolonged constipation.

Changes in the structure of the intestines, as well as organs located close to it, can interfere with the movement of feces.

Inflammatory bowel diseases are an obstacle to the passage of feces due to a tumor or adhesions.

In some cases, there is a discrepancy between the capacity of the colon and the contents of the intestines.

Neurological autonomic disorders often make changes in the functioning of internal organs. This occurs as a result of mental stress, frequent stressful situations, conflicts and disruption of the daily routine. Many people are familiar with the situation when a problem appears during a trip, even a long one, as a result of a change in climate or situation. As a rule, upon returning home everything returns to normal.

Prolonged constipation in a child

Long-term constipation in a child can occur at any age, both in infants and preschoolers. This is the most common childhood pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

One of the organic causes is Hirschsprung's disease. This is a congenital underdevelopment of the nerve endings of the intestinal wall, which leads to a narrowing of the lower parts of the large intestine and expansion of the overlying ones. The presence of this rare disease can be assumed if the newborn has no stool almost from birth.

Dolichosigma is an elongation of the sigmoid colon, which, due to increased mobility, disrupts the formation and movement of feces. Among children aged three to four years, the disease occurs in 40% of cases.

The main causes of prolonged constipation in young children are:

adhesive process;
incorrect diet of a nursing mother;
adapted formula unsuitable for infants;
switching to another milk formula;
rickets;
dysbacteriosis;
protein allergy;
long-term use of medications;
thyroid problems

Prolonged constipation in an adult

In an adult, the main cause of prolonged constipation is improper and irregular nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle. In the rhythm of modern megacities, stress and increased psychological stress accompany a person every day. For some people this results in one-time intestinal problems, but for others it becomes a chronic condition.

A lack of vegetables and fruits in the diet and low fluid intake leads to deterioration of motor skills and hardening of stool. This is called nutritional constipation. People who work in offices are characterized by hypokinetic constipation. Intoxication of the body due to frequent use of drugs and chemicals, as well as smoking and alcohol leads to persistent toxic constipation.

It happens that a healthy person who leads an active lifestyle and eats right has problems with bowel movements. Being at work most of the time, he deliberately holds back the process, since this is sometimes inappropriate or impossible.

If a problem arises, you should definitely consult a proctologist and, if necessary, a neurologist or gastroenterologist. It is necessary to do an endoscopic examination and evaluate the condition of the intestines. Only after serious diseases have been excluded is drug therapy prescribed.

Long-term constipation in the elderly

Up to 60% of elderly patients face the problem of long-term constipation. This can be either an independent disorder or a symptom of gastrointestinal diseases. The main causes of the problem are:

small amount of food;
frequent use of laxatives and diuretics;
small amount of daily fluid;
lack of dietary fiber;
menopause;
hypercalcemia;
diabetes;
multiple sclerosis;
hypothyroidism;
atherosclerosis;
decreased tissue repair;
hypoxia;
denervation of the nerve nodes of gastrointestinal motility

The main mechanism is a decrease in pelvic blood flow, weakness of the pelvic floor muscles, and decreased sensitivity of the sphincter. Muscle tone decreases and feces transportation slows down.

The main treatment is aimed at normalizing stool. For this purpose, physical activity, sports, and physiotherapeutic procedures are indicated. Normalization of the diet with the inclusion of dietary fiber is of great importance. For their successful absorption, you need to drink at least one and a half liters of water daily.

Long lasting constipation, what to do?

To get rid of long-term constipation, you need to establish a drinking regime. Drink up to ten glasses of plain water per day.

At the slightest bowel urge, do not ignore it.

Do not abuse laxatives.

Eat little and often. Try to do this at the same time.

Physical activity is required. Start with morning exercises.

Eat more fiber-rich foods. These are stewed vegetables, cereals and dried fruits. Consume low-fat dairy products. Lovers of sweets should give preference to marmalade, marshmallows and jam, as well as plums and oranges.

Eliminate rice, semolina porridge, and white bread from your diet. Try not to eat cakes, garlic, onions, mushrooms, canned food and legumes.

Long-term constipation treatment

To treat long-term constipation, you first need to determine the cause of the disease. Often, prescribing the right dietary regimen helps eliminate the disease. If the diet does not bring the desired results, then drugs are used to stimulate peristalsis, especially if the tone of the colon is reduced. The use of suppositories and enemas is indicated. Therapeutic massage sessions and gymnastics are recommended.

Breathing exercises help create differences in intra-abdominal pressure and stimulate peristalsis. Inhale with your stomach, then hold your breath as much as possible, then exhale as much as possible while holding your breath. Repeat the exercise three times and on a quadruple inhalation you need to push hard. Then rest and repeat several more times.

Treatment with laxatives is carried out under the supervision of a physician.

You can use traditional medicine recipes.

Pour boiling water over ground wheat bran for thirty minutes. Then drain the water and add a teaspoon of the pulp to any dish. After a week, increase the amount to two spoons. After another ten days, take two tablespoons three times a day.

It is useful to eat boiled beets and drink spinach juice. You can mix it with celery or carrot juice.

Use twenty grams of Vaseline oil or thirty grams of castor oil per dose.

Half a glass of young potato juice a day is beneficial.

Pour two teaspoons of Alexandria leaf and one hundred grams of prunes into three glasses of boiling water. Leave for three hours, then strain. The resulting decoction should be taken in three tablespoons.

Enema for long-term constipation

An enema is used to quickly cleanse the intestines. In order to cause intestinal contractions, the temperature of boiled water should be about twenty degrees. The insertion depth should be no more than ten centimeters. After administering the enema, try to relax and breathe deeply. You can stroke your stomach in a circular motion. If you need to repeat the procedure, you need to take a break for one hour.

You can use this method several times a month, otherwise it becomes addictive. In addition, the intestinal microflora is washed out.

Long-term constipation consequences

With prolonged constipation, cracks in the anus or hemorrhoids may appear. Feces enter the body through the intestinal walls and poison it with toxins. Intoxication leads to loss of performance, sleep disturbance, fatigue and irritability.

This also affects the body's immune system. His resistance decreases.

Damage to the intestinal mucosa leads to internal bleeding. Deformation of the rectum or its degeneration may occur.

Constipation leads to decreased appetite, belching and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. The skin of the face becomes flabby and pale, loses elasticity.

The most serious complication is colon cancer. The tumor develops against the background of carcinogens during stagnation in the intestines.

Children develop abdominal pain and their general health worsens. In severe cases, mental development may be delayed. As a result of disruption of the intestinal microflora, dysbacteriosis develops. Chronic constipation leads to decreased immunity and allergic diseases. Abuse of laxatives provokes fecal incontinence.

In a pregnant woman, prolonged constipation is the result of a harmonious imbalance. Especially in the last trimester, when the uterus puts pressure on the intestines.

Constipation for more than 4 days in an adult: what to do and when to go to the doctor

Constipation is an unpleasant phenomenon in which the process of normal bowel movements is difficult or impossible. Most often, constipation occurs due to an unhealthy lifestyle - inappropriate nutrition, poor resistance to stress, insufficient fluid in the body. However, these factors do not always lead to constipation. Physiological problems cannot be excluded, which may be associated with various neoplasms inside the intestines and colon, as well as with poor peristalsis. The question arises: when an adult has constipation for 4 days, what should you do?

Stagnation of feces for several days causes a certain discomfort: a person begins to feel unwell, performance is impaired, and mood deteriorates. If constipation does not resolve within 5 days or longer, then this is a good reason to worry about your own condition. Therefore, it is necessary to do everything possible to empty the intestines as soon as possible and begin treatment.

Main causes of constipation

Everyone has faced the problem of constipation at least once in their life. Such a delicate problem often remains ignored, and as a result, a person has a whole bunch of troubles associated with untimely treatment of the disease. Constipation can occur for a variety of reasons, and here are just a few of them:

poor lifestyle and nutrition;
low physical activity, causing stagnation in the intestines;
insufficient fiber intake;
insufficient fluid intake;
stress;
change of environment;
taking certain medications;
change of activity mode;
consumption of excessively thick nutritional mixtures (in children);

intense sports activities;

weakening of the abdominal muscles;

presence of hemorrhoids or anal fissure;

presence of gastrointestinal disease;

the appearance of a neoplasm that interferes with the passage of feces;

insufficient secretion of intestinal mucus.

If you have been constipated for three days and you don’t know what to do, then the only right solution is to visit a doctor. He will carry out the necessary diagnostics, prescribe treatment and allow the intestines to be optimally quickly released to avoid the occurrence of intoxication and colitis.

Constipation in adults and children: acceptable norms and deviations

Bowel movement rates can vary surprisingly from person to person. Thus, the maximum permissible norm can reach from 2-3 bowel movements per day, to 1 time in 3 days. However, if there is no urge to go to the toilet for 4 days or more, then this may indicate the presence of a certain type of pathology or a disorder in the functioning of intestinal motility.

Constipation for 5 days or more - is it dangerous?

Constipation for 5 days in an adult – what should be done? Five days of constipation already causes noticeable discomfort, significantly disrupting the normal functioning of the body. Within 5 days, not only general intoxication begins, which threatens the appearance of colitis, but also the formation of fecal plugs.

This threatens to clog the intestinal passage, preventing the normal passage of feces. So, after five days a person may experience the following symptoms:

feeling of fullness in the intestines;
painful sensations in the abdomen;
increased gas formation;
bad feeling;
increased fatigue;
feeling of malaise.

Prolonged constipation, which lasts more than one day, is typical for pregnant and lactating women. This is usually associated with a tense psychological state, which directly affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Another reason could be a sudden change in hormonal levels.

Constipation in children

Intestinal stagnation in children is also not a rare phenomenon. It occurs for virtually the same reasons as in adults. However, due to increased metabolism, the process of intoxication during constipation occurs much faster. This poses a significant threat to the child's health.

Self-medication in this case is not appropriate. If after five days or more you do not know what to do and the symptoms of constipation do not change, then you need to call a doctor at home.

To alleviate the child's condition, you can try to do an enema with the addition of glycerin oil. However, if the baby’s well-being does not improve, then complex treatment is necessary, which can only be prescribed by the attending doctor.

Additional symptoms of constipation that should alert you:

abdominal pain;
gas formation without waste gases;
complete absence of any bowel movement for 4 days or more;
presence of blood streaks;
mucus secretion;
the presence of undigested food in the stool;
Externally, the feces resemble peas.

The success of treating a child with constipation is efficiency. You should not delay eliminating stagnation in the intestines if in the future you do not want to deal with its consequences in the form of hemorrhoids, fissures in the anus, and others.

Particularly difficult cases - constipation for 10 days or longer

In medical practice, there are cases when people push their problem to such a state where it is extremely difficult to eliminate it without consequences. Constipation that lasts 10 days is a critical situation that only a highly qualified doctor can help with.

Within ten days, fecal plugs appear, which make it impossible for feces to pass through the intestines. The person suffers from unbearable pain, nausea appears, and the temperature rises significantly. It is also possible that extensive intoxication of the body and blood may occur, which puts the patient’s life at risk.

If a patient has constipation for 10 days or more, surgery may be indicated. After such a long period of time, fecal stones may appear in the intestines, which can create complete obstruction. In these cases, the patient is prescribed a number of diagnostic measures and begins extensive treatment.

Help at home

Some help can be provided at home if constipation lasts no more than 4 days. The main thing in this case is not to overdo it and not make it worse for yourself. You also need to be sure that constipation has a natural cause and is not caused by possible tumors and weak muscle tone. What can you do if constipation takes you by surprise? So, you can resort to the following measures:

do not ignore the urge to defecate, even if you are very busy;
drink more water;
introduce more fresh fruits, grains, legumes, and vegetables into your diet;
find a place in your daily routine for physical exercise - it not only helps improve peristalsis, but also perfectly relieves stress;
avoid stressful situations and, if necessary, take a sedative;
If defecation is excessively difficult, use a mild laxative.

You need to be wary if constipation is replaced by intestinal upset, which is also accompanied by discomfort in the stomach and gas formation. Such symptoms may indicate irritable bowel syndrome. Such a diagnosis requires consultation with a doctor and the prescription of a specific treatment and prevention regimen.

How can a doctor help?

If there are suspicious symptoms that accompany constipation, seek medical attention. It is also better not to delay going to the hospital if constipation has become a real problem that does not go away no matter what you do.

In addition to a diagnostic examination, your doctor can help your problem in the following ways:

After prescribing laxatives, you must carefully read the instructions for them. Also, when improvements in peristalsis appear, the drugs should be abandoned, as serious addiction may occur.

Prevention

A number of preventive measures will prevent the recurrence of constipation. They consist of maintaining proper nutrition and regular exercise. Also, if you are prone to constipation, it is advisable to follow these rules:

It is advisable to eat 3-4 times a day at the same time;
do not delay the urge to defecate;
saturate your diet with fruits and vegetables;
reduce consumption of flour products, coffee, carbonated drinks;
If possible, eat in small portions, which will greatly facilitate the process of assimilation and digestion.

If you have difficulty defecating, you should not exhaust yourself trying to relieve yourself. First, you should wait until the constipation goes away on its own. Modification of feces, which may impede its normal evacuation, is considered normal in medicine if it does not occur excessively often.

What to do and how to treat constipation in adults using medications and folk remedies?

A healthy lifestyle among modern men and women has recently taken its place of honor among other, very numerous, priorities. Finally, we began to pay attention to whether we were eating well, moving enough, and getting enough sleep. We take vitamins, dietary supplements and probiotics, take care of our body, and engage in prevention.

But despite this, an organism that works “like a clock” is a rarity. According to medical statistics, every second adult has a tendency to constipation or already suffers from it. Moreover, the majority of “patients” do not consider this a problem and do not even realize that constipation is a disease that needs to be treated.

Defecation is a natural physiological process that no one focuses on if it occurs normally. Occasional delays and difficulty in bowel movements are also not a cause for concern. A person truly begins to worry that something is wrong with his intestines when he feels heaviness, weakness, pain in the abdomen, and all attempts to go to the toilet are unsuccessful.

Symptoms of constipation in adults

Constipation is a sensitive issue, and it is clearly not a topic that is usually discussed with friends. In most cases, people simply do not know the symptoms that indicate an incipient disease and do not attach importance to them, so the first signs of constipation often go unnoticed. How can one determine that an adult has started constipation, and where is the limit when the physiological norm of bowel movements of an adult turns into pathology?

In common parlance, constipation is considered to be retention of bowel movements for several days. This is true, but only partly. The fact is that each organism has its own “biological clock,” that is, the rhythms of all ongoing processes. Due to these individual characteristics, there is no single “average” frequency of bowel movements for everyone.

The norm can be considered emptying several times a day or 3 times a week. But there is one condition - a person should not feel any discomfort in the intestines either between “big” hikes or during the process itself.

The second criterion for the presence of a tendency to constipation is difficult bowel movements. Long sitting on the toilet, straining in attempts to “squeeze out” feces, pain and fissures in the anal area - these are the signs that allow us to judge the presence of the disease, even if bowel movements occur without delay. Systematically recurring symptoms indicate chronic constipation. The severity of the disease is characterized by the severity of pain, dyspepsia, and the presence of signs of intoxication of the body.

Causes

The overwhelming number of cases of constipation in adults is a consequence of an irregular and unbalanced diet and a “sedentary” lifestyle. Often, stool retention occurs against the background of psychological stress (psychogenic causes) and various uncomfortable situations (situational constipation, as a rule, one-time).

The objective factors of intestinal dysfunction should not be ignored. These include pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and diseases of other organs and systems that affect the digestive processes in the body.

There are many medical classifications of constipation, one of them is based on the causative factor:

Alimentary constipation in adults is characterized by insufficient or compacted feces, which occurs when there is a deficiency of plant fiber in the diet and dehydration. This problem is caused by a diet unbalanced in the amount of vegetables, fruits and grains, and low fluid intake. The result is the formation of hard stools and impaired intestinal motility.
Hypokinetic constipation worries people who spend a lot of time in conditions of reduced physical activity. These are mainly representatives of all kinds of “sedentary” professions. This complication often occurs in bedridden patients.
Endocrine constipation, as its name implies, appears in patients with hormonal disorders. These include hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and ovarian failure in women. In such cases, problems with stool are one of the indirect signs of endocrine diseases.
Toxic constipation in adults is the result of abuse of certain medications or prolonged intoxication of the body with chemicals. Thus, uncontrolled use of antispasmodic and sedative drugs leads to a decrease in peristalsis of the intestinal muscles and, accordingly, persistent constipation. A similar effect is produced by chronic poisoning with lead, nicotine, and narcotic drugs.
Reflex constipation is associated with diseases of various parts of the digestive system, when the process of digesting food and removing its residues is disrupted due to insufficient functions of the gastrointestinal tract (liver, gall bladder, pancreas, intestinal sectors, etc.). Sometimes pathologies of other organs can also affect the intestines.
Mechanical constipation in adults occurs if there is an obstacle to the movement of feces. There is no need to talk about congenital pathologies in relation to adults, since if such a problem exists, it is either eliminated in the first years of life, or is compensated, and the patient has been living adjusted to his disease since childhood. The occurrence of organic constipation in an adult is a serious condition, since in case of intestinal obstruction, doctors first of all suspect a tumor, and it is possible that it is malignant. Other causes of mechanical constipation may be polyps, scars, adhesive disease after inflammation and abdominal surgery.
Psychogenic (neurogenic) constipation is defecation disorders that have no obvious objective causes and are explained by pathologies of the nervous system or psychological problems of the patient. We will consider this type of constipation separately.

Constipation in the head: psychological reasons

Some of the factors that disrupt the process of defecation in humans lie in the field of neurology. This is a rupture of the integrity of nerve fibers due to injury, inflammation and tumors in the brain or spinal cord, destruction of neurogenic connections due to nervous diseases and their drug therapy.

They can affect the mechanism of bowel movement in a variety of stages: from suppression of peristalsis to disruption of the anal sphincter.

But it happens that a person eats normally, leads an active lifestyle, does not suffer from serious diseases, but his intestines constantly or periodically “fail.” No other explanation for how to look for the cause of these problems “in the head” comes to mind.

One of the common causes of constipation is deliberately holding back bowel movements. This is due to the lifestyle of an adult. Most of the time he is at work, school and other places where going to the toilet may be impossible or inappropriate.

If an adult is embarrassed or disdainful to visit toilets in public places, something needs to be done about this, since such behavior only harms his body. “Be patient until home” once is no big deal, but systematic suppression of the urge “in a big way” sooner or later leads to a serious malfunction of the emptying mechanism.

Another – situational – type of constipation, the so-called traveler’s constipation. In this case, a person simply cannot “get things done” in “camping” conditions: on a train, at a station, etc. In people susceptible to such constipation, similar problems occur quite often, not only in stressful situations, for example, while in the hospital, but also in quite harmless ones - at a party, at the dacha, etc.

Many explain this by the force of habit to their “native” bathroom, where a person feels comfortable and protected. In an unusual environment, he cannot relax, and therefore the defecation mechanism does not work. It has been noticed that many adults have developed peculiar rituals associated with “toilet gatherings” over many years.

For example, having gotten used to visiting the “closet” with a book in his hands and a cigarette in his teeth, a person develops a corresponding reflex in his body, and, finding himself in other conditions, the intestines refuse to work.

Recently, doctors have identified defecation disorders associated with irritable bowel syndrome as a special type of constipation. This is a symptom complex characterized by various functional disruptions in the intestines, not due to any objective reasons. This disease is usually associated with stress, psychological trauma, and prolonged nervous strain. In this case, constipation is one of the many manifestations of IBS.

How to determine the type of constipation in adults?

The symptoms and complaints that accompany constipation can vary greatly from person to person. This depends not only on the reason that caused the bowel disorder, but also on the nature of this disorder. From the point of view of the mechanism of fecal retention, constipation can be atonic or spastic. (Read more about intestinal atony and its treatment)

Atonic constipation is formed when the intestinal tone is reduced: weak peristalsis is not capable of transporting feces with normal intensity, causing them to slow down and stop.

Spastic constipation is caused, on the contrary, by hypertonicity of the intestine, when its walls contract randomly, causing spasms in one area or another. Thus, the stool is simply clamped by the intestine itself and cannot move further.

How can you independently determine what kind of constipation is tormenting a patient? To do this, it is enough to know the signs of both disorders - they differ significantly and their differentiation is not difficult.

What urgent measures should be taken in case of constipation for 5 days in an adult and what to do if stool retention occurs during pregnancy?

How often does this phenomenon happen in our lives? It's different for everyone. But no one is immune from this. The frantic pace of life, unhealthy diet, overeating, stress are some of the main factors contributing to this.

How many days of constipation is acceptable? How many days is considered normal? How to get rid of constipation?

And what needs to be done to avoid such a phenomenon?

How many days is considered constipation in adults?

There is a simple rule to find out whether you are constipated or not: you should have a bowel movement once a day. If there is no stool for two days or more, we can safely talk about constipation.

Only a doctor can determine how many days constipation may last in a particular person.

Is deviation from the norm acceptable?

As mentioned above, the norms may be different for everyone. The generally accepted norm is once every 1-2 days. But, as medical practice shows, stool 3 times a week can be considered a physiological norm.

What you should pay attention to is the unpleasant sensations that accompany the complete or partial absence of stool:

abdominal pain and bloating;
abdominal distension;
colic;
loss of appetite;
increased nervousness.

What to do if you have stool retention?

1 day

In this case, talking about constipation is hardly appropriate at all. You just need to wait (of course, if there is no corresponding discomfort or discomfort). If you feel heaviness, you can drink kefir, eat prunes, or take a mild laxative (which is not recommended).

2 days

Perhaps this is a reason for you to change your diet, eliminating everything fried and smoked, alcohol, coffee, strong tea, rice porridge, and carbonated drinks.

It is necessary to consume more fiber, giving preference to vegetables and fruits.

If you feel unwell, you can do an enema.

But two days of constipation, most often, is not even felt at all if you feel comfortable.

3 days

If there is heaviness and pain in the abdomen, you need to do either an enema or take a mild laxative, of which there is now a huge choice.

But basically, the measures are the same as in previous cases.

4 days

Here everything is a little more serious. It is urgent to get rid of feces so as not to cause intoxication of the body. The most effective way is to do an enema.

You should know that four-day constipation already belongs to the category of long-term constipation, and may be a consequence of some pathological changes in the body.

5 days

Urgent action must be taken! After all, there is a danger of not only intoxication, but also the formation of fecal plugs.

Fecal impaction can clog the intestinal passage, blocking the passage of feces.

A five-day stool retention may be a consequence of intestinal pathologies (tumors, adhesions, polyps). To find out the exact reasons, you need to consult a doctor!

For an enema, you can use water with glycerin oil (or Vaseline).

6 days

It is urgent to cleanse the intestines!

7 days

Constipation may be accompanied by the following unpleasant sensations:

headache;
nausea;
drowsiness;
discomfort in the intestines;
general weakness;
increase in body temperature.

When trying to go to the toilet, pain is felt in the anus.

Necessary measures: do an enema with oils, drink more liquids (water, kefir, yoghurt), eat prunes, honey, boiled beets.

Features of a week's absence of bowel movements during pregnancy

An increase in progesterone levels, which leads to a decrease in the contractile function of intestinal motility.
Severe stress.
Intestinal compression by the uterus.

In order to restore stool, you should exclude heavy foods from your diet and not overeat. Eat more freshly squeezed juices, beets, kefir, and vegetable soups.

If you can't go to the toilet for 10 days or more

Ten days of constipation may be accompanied by partial passage of stool. The process of defecation is very difficult, with pain.

Causes of constipation from 10 days:

inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract;
pregnancy, childbirth;
postoperative period;
sedentary lifestyle;
elderly age.

If the general condition is normal, you can take independent measures:

Use an enema with added oils.
Take a laxative (preferably of plant origin, for example, Buckthorn Bark).
Change your diet.
Start doing light sports and showing more physical activity.
To refuse from bad habits.

Especially, these rules should be followed if constipation is chronic.

Very often, just changing your diet leads to positive results.

Risk of prolonged constipation

Consequences of long-term constipation:

Due to the accumulation of feces in the intestine, its walls are stretched, which can lead to inflammatory changes.
Intoxication of the body, dysbacteriosis. And, as a result, headaches and poor health.
Deterioration of liver function and metabolic disorders.
Stretching of the sphincter muscles, followed by constant leakage (incontinence) of feces.
Cracks in the intestines and rectum.
The likelihood of hemorrhoids in the future.

Changes in the body with prolonged constipation:

Headaches, lethargy, drowsiness, decreased performance.
Deterioration of skin condition, rapid formation of wrinkles, purulent inflammation on the skin (most often on the face).
Hair loss and dullness, dandruff.
Delamination and brittleness of nails.
Frequent colds and infectious diseases, due to decreased immunity.
Varicose veins (due to poor circulation and stagnation of water in the tissues).
Problems with the prostate gland in men.
Pancreatic dysfunction, liver disease.

ATTENTION! With prolonged use of laxatives, you risk acquiring “lazy bowel” syndrome.

Also, prolonged constipation can result in a cancerous tumor in one of the intestinal sections.

Prevention

A few simple rules to help avoid constipation:

Follow the diet:
- eat 3-4 times a day in small portions, with intervals between meals of no more than 4-5 hours. Have dinner 2-3 hours before bedtime;
- include the following products in your diet: fresh vegetables and fruits, bran, dairy products, beans and nuts;
- exclude from the diet: alcoholic drinks, strong tea and coffee, carbonated drinks;
- reduce the consumption of meat and flour products, easily digestible cereals;
- drink as much fluid as possible (1.5-2 liters per day).
To live an active lifestyle.
If possible, avoid stress.
After waking up, drink a glass of warm water on an empty stomach.
Maintain regular bowel cleansing.

Constipation is an unpleasant phenomenon that leads to serious consequences in the body. Therefore, it is important to follow preventive measures, not to overload yourself with negative emotions and adhere to nutritional rules. And, of course, you should not forget about visiting a doctor (in case of any suspicion).

Then it will become much easier to avoid this disease and get rid of it.

To figure out how many days is considered constipation? possible based on a simple rule: the process of defecation must occur at least once a day. The absence of stool for 2 days indicates problems with bowel movements.

How to understand that it is constipation?

Some people have bowel movements every day and most often in the morning. For others, bowel movements occur every other day and they do not feel the slightest discomfort.

So, constipation is how many days? How do you know when it's time to sound the alarm? Based on medical practice, stool up to three times a day and from 3 times a week is the physiological norm. Pathological stagnation of feces in the intestines can be suspected if, along with the absence of bowel movements, a person experiences the following symptoms:

Feeling of distension and fullness in the abdomen.
Colic.
Bloating and tenderness of the abdomen.
Complete absence of bowel movements or partial release of feces.
Nervousness.
Loss of appetite.
Pain during bowel movements.

With normal bowel movements, stool passes freely. If a person has to make an effort when trying to defecate, this also indicates the presence of constipation.

How many days is considered constipation in adults and what to do?

How many days does constipation last in an adult? The adult intestine needs to be emptied once a day. For some, the norm is to have one bowel movement every two days.

Only a doctor can determine how many days constipation is acceptable for a particular person, because each organism has its own individual characteristics and indicators.

Frequent absence of bowel movements for more than two days, accompanied by abdominal discomfort, is a reason to reconsider your diet and consult a doctor. The following products will help get rid of stagnation in the intestines:

boiled beets;
baked pumpkin;
kefir, fermented baked milk, yogurt and yogurt (without dyes);
prunes;
fresh berry compotes;
vegetables and fruits;
walnuts, etc.

It is necessary to exclude foods that cause gas formation and fermentation from the diet, and also give up alcohol, coffee and strong tea.

Constipation for more than 2 days in children, what to do?

Child constipation for how many days? If we talk about infants, then the norm for them is to defecate from 4 to seven times a day. Therefore, if the baby went to the toilet once a day, we can talk about constipation.

As for older children, their problems with bowel cleansing are indicated by the absence of stool for up to 1.5 days. For some children, this maximum is two days, however, it is better not to allow such prolonged fecal stagnation. Prolonged constipation ends in the body, accompanied by a deterioration in the overall well-being of the baby.

In case of constipation, first of all, you should change the child’s diet by eliminating heavy foods, thickeners, semolina and rice porridge and adding more fiber to the diet.

If constipation occurs in newborns, it is necessary to change the infant formula and not rush into complementary feeding. When introducing new products, it is important to monitor the reaction of the small organism and, in case of problems with stool, stop consuming them.

Constipation in adults– a state of stool retention for two to three days or more, or systematically insufficient bowel movement. A healthy adult will have bowel movements once or twice a day, usually at the same time. What to do at home when constipation occurs?

Today we will talk about the causes and treatment of constipation in adults with folk remedies and official medicine. Below will be given in a video on the topic the recommendations of Dr. E. O. Komarovsky about the causes and treatment of constipation in children.

The frequency of stool depends on the nature of the diet and the amount of food taken. If a person eats mainly plant foods, then he will have stool twice a day, with mixed food - once, and if the food is predominantly meat, with an abundance of boiled or fried chicken eggs, then he will have stool once every two to three days.

Constipation is often observed in older people due to weak intestinal activity (sluggish peristalsis) or diet. Constipation can occur with long-term chronic diseases, general weakening of the body, the presence of mechanical obstructions in the intestines and weakening of the intestinal muscles.

So-called spastic constipation can develop due to a sedentary lifestyle, bad habits, occupational poisoning, due to mental stress (with an unstable nervous system), etc.

Constipation can cause a feeling of discomfort, heaviness in the intestines, headache, and loss of appetite.

It is necessary to remember that even short-term constipation leads to self-poisoning of the body, therefore, when they appear, urgent measures must be taken: consult a doctor, use herbs, or take enemas.

Constipation: treatment at home

Treatment of constipation with folk remedies

At home, seed powder is useful for indigestion wild carrots(take 1 g three times daily) or the following herbal laxatives.

Eat 1-2 medium-sized oranges before bed.

Senna(senna). One of the best laxatives, as it strengthens the muscles of the intestinal wall and enhances peristalsis. To prepare the infusion, take 1 tablespoon of Alexandria leaf and pour a glass of cold water for 8 hours. Drink on an empty stomach in the morning.

If you take pods of the plant, then pour ½ cup of cold water in the amount of 8-10 pieces and leave overnight. In the morning, drink the water and throw away the pods.

Drink an infusion (150–200 g) of purified rosehip berries.

Drink in the morning on an empty stomach two glasses of warm water with 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

Have a glass before bed kefir with a tablespoon of sunflower oil.

Onion tincture. Fill two thirds of the bottle with chopped onions and fill to the top with alcohol or vodka. Let it brew for 14 days. Take 10 drops before lunch.

It is useful for those suffering from constant constipation to drink compote of dried cherries and apples(200 ml 3-4 times a day), sauerkraut brine with yeast(1/2 cup warm), water in which lingonberries were soaked, water, in which they boiled for a long time oats or plums

Juice radishes is a good remedy that enhances peristalsis. Drink ½ glass 3 times a day.

Cucumber pickle has laxative properties. Cucumbers should lie in this brine for at least a month without spices and seasonings.

For spastic constipation, drink fresh potato juice one third of a glass 3 once a day.

For prolonged constipation, use the following juices and vegetables:

Boiled root vegetables and red beet juice.
Garden carrot juice. It acts very gently and is a good laxative, especially for children.
Spinach and beet juice in a 1:1 ratio. It is recommended to drink them 2-3 times a day throughout the day. They work even better if mixed with carrot and celery juice.

tablespoon honey dissolve in a glass of warm water and drink in the morning on an empty stomach (the product is not recommended for cholecystitis and colitis).

Decoction gooseberry fruit is a mild laxative.

At persistent constipation Traditional medicine also recommends the following herbal remedies.

Decoction of plantain lanceolate. Pull out a small plantain bush and boil it in 400 ml of water for 6-8 minutes. Leave for 1 hour, strain. Drink the decoction throughout the day. Continue the course of treatment for 1 month. After the course, patients forget about constipation for almost a year (it is advisable to harvest plantain in May).

Decoction of black elderberry leaves. 20 g of leaves per 200 ml of boiling water. Leave for 1 hour, strain. Drink 2-3 times a day after meals.

Horse sorrel root decoction. Effective 12 hours after administration. Pour two tablespoons of root into half a liter of boiling water and cook for 30 minutes in a water bath. Strain. Drink 200 ml at night.

Kelp powder(sea kale). To achieve a laxative effect, take 1 g of dry herb powder (at the tip of a knife) 2-3 times a day. The remedy is effective for chronic constipation, especially in old age.

Elecampane root powder take 1 g 4-5 times a day for flatulence and sluggish digestion. Drink with honey. A decoction of rhizomes is considered a good remedy for flatulence.

Decoction of senna leaves(senna). Pour 10 g of leaves (2 tablespoons) into a glass of water, boil for 10 minutes, cool, strain. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

Infusion of burdock seeds (burdocks). Take 2-3 tablespoons of mature burdocks and pour a glass of boiling water for two hours. Strain. Take half a glass at night.

Infusion of blackthorn flowers and leaves. Infuse and drink as tea.

Joster fruits laxative (buckthorn laxative).

Infusion. Pour one tablespoon of fruit with a glass of boiling water, leave for two hours in a warm place. Strain. Take half a glass at night.

Decoction. 20 g of crushed fruits per 200 ml of water. Boil for 10 minutes, leave for 1 hour, strain. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.

Decoction of buckthorn bark. Pour one tablespoon of crushed bark into a glass of boiling water and simmer for 20 minutes over low heat. Strain. Drink half a glass in the morning and at night.

Infusion of dill fruits. Pour one tablespoon of crushed fruit into 300 ml of boiling water and leave overnight. Drink in 2-3 doses.

Anise fruit infusion. Brew and drink like tea.

Wheat bran. Pour two tablespoons of bran into a glass of hot milk and leave for 1 hour. You can boil the bran in milk for 15 minutes. Drink in one go.

Dry bran also has a laxative effect. They are taken one third of a glass 2 times a day. The course of treatment is 1 month.

Common blueberry fruit. For constipation, it is recommended to eat fresh blueberries. Blueberry decoction has the opposite properties.

With the constant use of laxatives, it is necessary to change them monthly, since over time the body gets used to them, and the effectiveness of their action decreases.

Medicines: laxatives

General contraindications to the use of plants with laxative properties are: intestinal obstruction, acute febrile conditions, appendicitis.

For occasional constipation, you can resort to laxatives (castor oil, Glauber's salt, etc.), but this should be done extremely rarely.

From pharmaceutical preparations you can take Regulax (1 cube in the evening, before bed), Forlax (dissolve two sachets in 500 ml of water and drink in the evening), Kafiol (1 cube at night), Purgen.

Preparations of rhubarb, buckthorn, joster, senna leaf, and aloe preparations (sabur tincture, dry sabur extract) are popular.

Video on the topic

Constipation in adults: causes, treatment

About the treatment of constipation according to Neumyvakin

Ivan Pavlovich Neumyvakin – Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, State Prize laureate.

Cause of constipation in a child: Dr. Komarovsky

Dr. Komarovsky will show on the diagram the mechanism of defecation and name the most common cause of constipation in children.

How to treat constipation in children: Dr. Komarovsky’s school

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you how best to treat constipation in children so as not to harm the growing body. Receive valuable recommendations from Dr. Komarovsky!

Constipation- this is a delay in stool for 3 or more days, or when less than 300 grams of stool is excreted in 72 hours.

How often should you have a bowel movement?

The presence of daily stool is typical, but it must be borne in mind that, for example, 10% of healthy people can have stool once every 2-3 days, provided there is no discomfort in the abdomen and satisfaction with bowel movements (the act of bowel movement naturally in medicine is denoted by the word – defecation). In general, the normal frequency of stool, in the absence of any pathology in the human body, is from three times a day to three times a week.

Causes of constipation.

As food moves through the digestive tract through peristalsis (contractions of the intestinal muscles), the body takes nutrients and water from it. As a result of this process, feces are formed and the urge to stool appears. There are thousands of reasons for not having bowel movements at the right time. The most dangerous pathology is intestinal cancer. Acute constipation is highly suspicious for cancer. Colon cancer occurs in 3-5% of all people and most often over the age of 40 years. Moreover, out of the total number of all intestinal cancers, up to 70% occur in the rectum, i.e. to the final segment of the colon, ending with the sphincter of the rectum (or the so-called anus). The first 7-10 cm of the rectum from the anus are accessible to conventional digital examination. There is no need to be embarrassed if the doctor offers you this examination because... What's at stake is nothing less than your life. If detected early, colon cancer is completely curable and this is the main thing! The most common cause of constipation is a diet and lifestyle that predisposes to constipation. When a person consumes an insufficient amount of dietary fiber, liquid, moves little, takes any medications that affect intestinal motility (by the way, uncontrolled use of laxatives leads to constipation), does not go to the toilet when he wants to and abuses products such as strong sweet tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, semolina and rice porridge, potatoes, blueberries, red wine, marinades, smoked meats, meat sausages, fatty meats, spicy foods, white bread, pastry products, baked goods made from premium flour, he becomes constipated. Of the variety of other causes, one cannot fail to note diseases of various organs and systems, starting directly from the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, etc.) and ending with hereditary conditions (for example, elongated sigmoid colon , Hirschsprung's disease, etc.), diseases of the nervous (paraplegia, cerebral palsy, etc.), endocrine (diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease), genitourinary (prostatitis) systems and even mental (depression, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, etc.) and psychological (work in different shifts, unsanitary conditions in the toilet, morning rush) problems of the individual.

How to treat constipation and what to eat?

Self-medication for constipation can only make the situation worse. See your doctor if you are experiencing constipation for the first time, if constipation has lasted three weeks or more, if you notice blood in your stool, and if you have pain in your abdomen or perineum. As opposed to self-medication, self-help is an integral part of successful treatment not only for constipation, but for any other disease. The main thing in self-help for constipation is changing your diet and lifestyle. You need to eat at least 4-5 times a day, in small portions. It is necessary to eat a sufficient amount of fiber-rich food and drink a sufficient amount of fluid (at least 2 liters per day, hypertensive patients and people with cardiac pathology at least 1.5 liters). This helps the passage of stool through the intestines, increasing the bulk of the stool and softening it. Of course, increasing physical activity helps normalize stool frequency. The following foods are rich in fiber: legumes, for example, peas, mature beans; vegetables: carrots, beets, pumpkin, zucchini, all types of cabbage; fruits and berries: apples, bananas, dates, dried apricots (apricots, peaches), figs, raisins, plums (prunes), raspberries, strawberries. There is a lot of fiber in whole grain cereals: wheat, buckwheat, pearl barley, oatmeal. There is a lot of fiber in seaweed, as well as in sunflower halva. Currently, the lack of dietary fiber can be easily compensated for by dietary bran. Starting with 3-4 spoons added to porridge, kefir, if necessary, you can increase the amount of bran to 10-15 spoons. Vegetable oil is useful. You need boiled lean meat and fish. Fresh low-fat fermented milk products without sugar are needed: kefir, yogurt, acidophilus. Recommended mineral waters: “Essentuki” No. 4, 17, “Slavyanskaya”, “Lipetskaya”, “Demidovskaya”, “Krainskaya”, “Kozelskaya”.

Do I need to take a laxative?

Any medicinal laxatives should be used only on the recommendation of the attending physician. Long-term use of these drugs leads to an increase in dose, addiction, deficiency of vitamins A, D, E and K and others, loss of important microelements, dehydration, dysbacteriosis, liver and kidney damage, and severe allergic reactions. It is important to periodically replace laxative drugs with one mechanism of action with drugs with a different mechanism. Typically, laxatives are taken in short courses. These medications are not intended for long-term use. The exception is the so-called mass-forming laxatives. They consist of oat bran and psyllium (brand: Metamucil), polycarbophil (brand: FiberCon) or methylcellulose (brand: Citrucel). Bulk-forming laxatives work naturally by increasing the weight of stool and the volume of water in it so it passes through the intestines more easily. Mass-forming laxatives can be taken daily and long-term.

How to take mass-forming laxative?

For a mass-forming laxative to work, it must be taken every day. Follow the directions on the package. Start with a small dosage and drink plenty of fluids. Increase the dosage every 3 to 5 days until the desired effect occurs. To improve the taste of the mass-forming laxative, you can take it with fruit juice.

Does mass-forming laxative have side effects?

Some swelling, gas, or cramping may occur initially, especially if the starting amount of the medicine is large or if the dosage is increased too quickly. These symptoms should go away in a few weeks or less.

Can I try enemas?

Enemas are usually not necessary. Many people use enemas too often. Let the body cope better in a more natural way.

What if I used enemas or laxatives for a long time?

If you have been using laxatives or enemas for a long time, you will need patience: it may take several months to restore normal bowel movements. During this period, you need to eat more fibrous foods, take mass-forming laxatives, consume more water, increase physical activity and accustom yourself to bowel movements at a certain time.

Tips to prevent constipation.

Don't suppress the urge to go to the toilet.
In the morning it is useful to drink a glass of cold boiled water, and then a glass of cold kefir without sugar.
Set yourself a regular time to have a bowel movement. It is best to do this after breakfast or another meal.
Eat more fiber-rich foods.
Drink plenty of fluids - at least 8 glasses a day. This means water, juices, soup, tea and other drinks.
Don't take laxatives too often or for too long.
Do therapeutic exercises, yoga if your health allows, massage your stomach clockwise, move more.

What is constipation?

Constipation is when stool is retained for 3 days or more, or when less than 300 grams of stool is passed in 72 hours.

How often should you have a bowel movement?

What causes constipation?

There are thousands of reasons for not having bowel movements at the right time. The most dangerous pathology is intestinal cancer. Intestinal cancer occurs in 3-5% of people and most often over the age of 40 years. Moreover, out of the total number of all cases of intestinal cancer, up to 70% occur in the rectum, i.e. to the final segment of the colon, ending with the sphincter of the rectum (or the so-called anus). The first 7-10 cm of the rectum from the anus are accessible to conventional digital examination. There is no need to be embarrassed if the doctor offers you this examination because... What is at stake is nothing less than your life. If detected early, colon cancer is completely curable, and this is the main thing!

The most common cause of constipation is a diet and lifestyle that predisposes to constipation. When a person consumes an insufficient amount of dietary fiber, liquid, moves little, takes any medications that affect intestinal motility (by the way, uncontrolled use of laxatives leads to constipation), does not go to the toilet when he wants to, and abuses foods such as strong sweet tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, semolina and rice porridge, potatoes, blueberries, red wine, marinades, smoked meats, meat sausages, fatty meats, spicy dishes, white bread, pastry products, baked goods made from premium flour - everything this leads to constipation.

Of the variety of other causes, one cannot fail to note diseases of various organs and systems, starting directly from the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, etc.), and ending with hereditary conditions (for example, elongated sigmoid intestine, Hirschsprung's disease, etc.), diseases of the nervous (paraplegia, cerebral palsy, etc.), endocrine (diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease), genitourinary (prostatitis) systems and even mental (depression, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, etc. ) and psychological (work in different shifts, unsanitary conditions in the toilet, morning rush) problems of the individual.

How to treat constipation and what to eat?

The following foods are rich in fiber: legumes, for example, peas, mature beans; vegetables: carrots, beets, pumpkin, zucchini, all types of cabbage; fruits and berries: apples, bananas, dates, dried apricots (apricots, peaches), figs, raisins, plums (prunes), raspberries, strawberries. There is a lot of fiber in whole grain cereals: wheat, buckwheat, pearl barley, oatmeal. There is a lot of fiber in seaweed, as well as in sunflower halva. Currently, the lack of dietary fiber can be easily compensated for by dietary bran. Starting with 3-4 spoons added to porridge, kefir, if necessary, you can increase the amount of bran to 10-15 spoons. Vegetable oil is useful. You need boiled lean meat and fish. Fresh low-fat fermented milk products without sugar are needed: kefir, yogurt, acidophilus. Recommended mineral waters: “Essentuki” No. 4, 17, “Slavyanskaya”, “Lipetskaya”, “Demidovskaya”, “Krainskaya”, “Kozelskaya”.

Do I need to take a laxative?

How to take mass-forming laxative?

For a mass-forming laxative to work, it must be taken every day. Follow the directions on the package. Start with a small dosage and drink plenty of fluids. Increase the dosage every 3-5 days until the desired effect occurs. To improve the taste of the mass-forming laxative, you can take it with fruit juice.

Does mass-forming laxative have side effects?

Some gas or cramping may occur at first, especially if the starting amount of the medicine is large or if the dosage is increased too quickly. These symptoms should go away in a few weeks or less.

Can I try enemas?

Enemas are usually not necessary. Many people use enemas too often. Let the body cope better in a more natural way.

What if I used enemas or laxatives for a long time?

If you have been using laxatives or enemas for a long time, you will need patience: restoring normal bowel movements may take several months. During this period, you need to eat more fibrous foods, take mass-forming laxatives, consume more water, increase physical activity and accustom yourself to bowel movements at a certain time.

Tips to Prevent Constipation

Don't suppress the urge to go to the toilet.
In the morning it is useful to drink a glass of cold boiled water, and then a glass of cold kefir without sugar.
Set yourself a regular time to have a bowel movement. It is best to do this after breakfast or another meal.
Eat more fiber-rich foods.
Drink plenty of fluids - at least 8 glasses a day. This means water, juices, soup, tea and other drinks.
Don't take laxatives too often or for too long.
Do therapeutic exercises, yoga if your health allows, massage your stomach clockwise, move more.

Recipe by Professor Nadezhda Timofeevna Larchenko

This recipe combines several natural ingredients and can be used in a course lasting up to 2 months: mix 250 grams of dried apricots with the same amount of prunes, add 1 tablespoon (with top) of Alexandria leaf (senna), add 1 tablespoon of flaxseed (olive or vegetable) oils and a teaspoon of natural honey. Stir all this and store in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. Select the dose individually, starting with 1 tablespoon (with top) at night, if necessary, increase to 6 or more tablespoons.

Compiled by: Zelenenko E.A., Dyachkovsky V.K., MC "AGAPE".