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GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT

Constipation

Constipation - patients having bowel movements less frequently than three times a week. If stool is hard and difficult to pass, patient is constipated whatever be the frequency.

Causes

Acute

  • Dehydration

  • Acute intestinal obstruction

  • Acute appendicitis


Chronic

Functional

  • Rectal stasis

  1. Faulty habits

  2. Impaired consciousness

  3. Painful anal area (anal fissure)

  • Colonic stasis

  1. Decreased food intake

  2. Decreased fibre residue

  3. Endocrine dysfunction

  • Irritable bowel syndrome

Organic

  • Endocrine and metabolic diseases

  1. Myxoedema

  2. Diabetes mellitus

  3. Hypercalcaemia

  4. Hyperparathyroidism

  • Myopathic diseases

  1. Amyloidosis

  2. Systemic scleriosis

  3. Myotonic dystrophy

  • Neurologic diseases

  1. Autonomic neuropathy

  2. Cerebrovascular disease

  3. Hirschsprung's disease

  4. Multiple sclerosis

  5. Parkinson's disease

  6. Spinal cord diseases

  • Structural diseases

  1. Anal fissure

  2. Haemorrhoids

  3. Megacolon

  4. Diverticulitis

  • Psychological conditions

  1. Depression

  • Medications (antacids, anticholinergics, antidepressants, antihistamines, calcium, calcium channel blockers, clonidine, diuretics, iron, opioids)

  • Others

  1. Pressure on rectum from tumors or gravid uterus

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Treatments

  • Constipation is a symptom of many diseases. A physicians job is to first find the cause of it and then to treat the cause so that symptoms like constipation go away. After investigating into the cause appropriate acute or chronic remedy is needed. This helps in improving the bowel movement and overall digestion process which will reduce symptoms like constipation. 

  • Other precautions like proper diet which has more fibers and less oil and daily exercise should also be practised along with medicines.

Constipation
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