Constipation

Introduction

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disease that affects individuals of all ages, affecting about 16% of the population worldwide (Salari, 2023). It refers to a condition in which a person has infrequent or difficult bowel movements.

In general, a person is considered to be constipated with bowel movements fewer than three times a week and passage of small amounts of hard and dry stool. Constipation can lead to pain and discomfort and significantly affect the quality of life of an individual.

If left untreated, it can cause various health complications, including hemorrhoids, anal fissures, fecal impaction and rectal prolapse. Prolonged constipation can also impair the microbial balance in the digestive system, thereby weakening the strength of the immune system.

Causes

Lifestyle causes
- Inadequate intake of dietary fiber, such as vegetables, fruit
- Inadequate intake of fluid
- Ignoring the urge to pass stool
Side effects of certain medications, such as strong pain medicines, allergy medications, antiseizure medications
Weakness and incoordination of pelvic floor muscles
Blockage the stool passage due to damages to colon or rectum tissues

Risk Factors

Age: older individuals have a slower metabolism and weaker muscles along their digestive tract
Gender: female is more prone to constipation due to changes in hormones during pregnancy and after childbirth
Getting little physical activities
Possessing a mental illness, such as an eating disorder or depression

Risk Factors

Age: older individuals have a slower metabolism and weaker muscles along their digestive tract
Gender: female is more prone to constipation due to changes in hormones during pregnancy and after childbirth
Getting little physical activities
Possessing a mental illness, such as an eating disorder or depression

Symptoms

Having trouble with passing stool
Passing hard, dry or lumpy stools
Passing only small amounts of stools at a time
Straining or pain while having a bowel movement
A feeling that your bowels have not empty emptied
Frequent nausea or vomiting

Graph + description of effects + citation, incl. studies for different age groups if applicable

From the study, after treating 20 adults of mean age 35.6 (± 15) years affected by chronic functional constipation with L. reuteri twice a day for 4 weeks, a significant increase in the frequency of bowel movements was observed (Ojetti, 2014). At week 4, the mean increase of bowel movements per week in the group treated with L. reuteri was higher than in the group treated with placebo by 1.6 times, suggesting L. reuteri is effective in relieving constipation symptoms (Ojetti, 2014).

Treatment

Alteration in diet and lifestyle
- Consume more dietary fibers: Fiber adds bulk to stool to facilitate bowel movement. Fiber-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, beans, cereal and whole-grain bread.
- Consume more water to soften stools
- Perform adequate physical activities to improve bowel movement
- Maintain healthy bowel habits: Try to have bowel movement at the same time every day to establish a regular habit. As soon as you sense the need to go, use the bathroom.
Probiotic supplementation: Probiotics can balance intestinal health by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria to prevent constipation. It can also break down dietary fiber and sugar into butyric and acetic acids to promote intestinal peristalsis and facilitate smooth defecation.