Hard stool, constipation or constipation - What is stool constipation?
Stool constipation is the name for difficult emptying or the complete absence of emptying of the bowels. The problem with stool occurs in people of all age groups, but it is more common in women and increases with age (on average, one in three people over 65). There are many causes, but the most common problem is a low-fiber diet and a lack of movement. Fortunately, most prisons are temporary and not serious in nature.
In this article
Normal characteristics of stool - color, appearance, quantity
The frequency of stool is not and cannot be the same for everyone. It will depend on the age, lifestyle, diet and metabolism of the individual, but as long as it is within the limits in between 2-3 stools a day do 1 stool in three days it can be said that it is a normal stool. Normal stool color is light to dark brown, while appearance the stools listed in the picture Bristol scale stools (Type 3 and 4) in the amount of approx. 120-140g per day.
When we take food into the body, nutrients are separated in the intestines, while the remaining waste substances form excrement in the large intestine. It should be excreted in the stool within 18-24 hours (how long it takes to digest food), and if this does not happen, the probability of constipation increases.
Constipation or constipation?
In our country, the term constipation is more often used for the problem with emptying the bowels, but this is not justified and it should be emphasized that the meaning of the words constipation and constipation do not refer to the same thing:
- constipation - irregular stools with difficult bowel movements that occur less than 3 times a week for at least 12 weeks. The stool is scanty, hard and dry, and can be in the form of balls. During emptying, there is often pain and a feeling that bowel emptying is incomplete.
- constipation – represents the complete absence of spontaneous bowel movements. It can be accompanied by severe pain and pressure in the lower abdomen, and even nausea or vomiting.
How does prison come about?
Although there can be multiple factors that lead to constipation, the mechanism of the problem is always the same. Constipation occurs when digestion is poor and slow, or ingested food moves too slowly through the digestive system, and stays for a long time in the large intestine, where most of the water from food is absorbed. Then the stool is too drying and it becomes too hard and harder to move on. The longer this condition lasts, the stool dries out even more and creates a "vicious cycle" that results in constipation.
Causes of constipation
Due to busy lifestyles, poor nutrition, lack of time, stress and lack of movement, the increasingly common occurrence of constipation has become a feature of modern times. When you add other factors that can lead to constipation, it is not unusual for it to affect 20-30 percent of the population at some point.
- diet poor in fiber - fibers increase bowel motility. Insoluble fibers increase the volume of stool and speed up and facilitate its passage through the intestines, encouraging them to work (wheat bran, vegetables and whole grains), while soluble fibers in combination with water form a gel-like mass and thus help soften the stool so it slides more easily through the intestines (oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils and peas, prunes, figs and dates)
- insufficient fluid intake – liquid is needed to soften the feces so that the intestines can more easily expel the hard stool
- sedentary lifestyle / lack of physical activityand - physical activity stimulates the muscles of the intestines to work and be active
- stress
- travel, change of routine, new climate
- pregnancy - in pregnant women, the fetus puts pressure on the mother's intestines, making it difficult for them to work
- older age - reduced bowel activity (especially in bedridden patients)
- delaying bowel movements - the defecation reflex weakens over time if we ignore it too often, so the condition of constipation worsens
- the road use of laxatives - by regularly taking especially stimulating laxatives, the digestion gets used to their action and the intestines become "lazy"
- use of certain drugs - opioids, antacids, antidepressants, iron, diuretics, antihypertensives, antihistamines, antiepileptics
- metabolic diseases - hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia, diabetes
- Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, stroke
- intestinal permeability and function disorders
Hard stool in children it has a similar cause as well as in adults (poor-fiber diet, insufficient fluid intake, delaying defecation, stress) and this is a common occurrence during childhood, and most often occurs around 2-3 years of age. years of life when children are weaned from diapers, start kindergarten, change their routine and begin to participate more actively in choosing food.
Symptoms of stool constipation
Symptoms vary from person to person and not all of them have to be present, and that it depends on the intensity and duration prison problems. The sooner we react and solve the problem, the weaker the symptoms will be and they will not progress to a more serious condition.
- less than three stools per week
- scanty, dry and hard stool, often in the form of balls
- pain and cramps in the abdomen and when defecating
- a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowels
- discomfort, bloating and feeling of fullness in the rectum
- nausea, vomiting, heartburn
- humor
What if we ignore the problem
If we know that digestive constipation is caused by the slow passage of stool through the intestines, where it dries up due to too long absorption of water, especially in the large intestine, then it is logical that after that the passage will slow down even more until it comes to a complete stop. If we do not react in time and the constipation lasts, the condition can become complicated and can lead to:
- rectal bleeding – blood comes from the intestine due to strong strains, hemorrhoids or damage to the mucous membrane
- anal fissures – bleeding on the skin around the anus because cracks are formed due to strong stretching by hard stool
- hemorrhoids - dilated blood vessels in and around the anus due to increased pressure on them
- diverticulitis – infection of bag-like expansions in the intestine (diverticula) due to stool that has been retained there
When should you see a doctor urgently?
Constipation is in most cases of mild to moderate intensity and as such is most often treated at home in a natural way by changing diet and lifestyle, and by reaching for some of the laxatives that we can buy without a prescription. However, if the following conditions occur, react promptly and visit a doctor.
- sudden onset of constipation
- Stool constipation lasts longer than three weeks
- if you do not solve the problem on your own within 3 days
- dark chair
- blood in the stool
- elevated body temperature
- humor
- weight loss
- severe stomach pains
- severe pain during and after bowel movements
What is the cure for constipation and hard, irregular stools?
When it comes to poor and slow digestion, we often don't react immediately, thinking that things will sort themselves out, but when the condition persists or gets worse, we start to wonder how to get rid of stool constipation. We can approach the problem from several sides, but a quick cure for hard stool is not a permanent solution, so the first aid for constipation is always the introduction of changes in lifestyle and diet. If this does not help us or the condition is more serious, we will seek help in herbal and synthetic medicines.
Change in diet and lifestyle
- increase the consumption of rich foods fibers and combine an equal ratio of soluble and insoluble fiber. The best anti-constipation foods are: raw fruits, vegetables, whole grains, prunes, bran, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, chickpeas
- reduce the intake of processed products, salt, sugar, meat and dairy products
- increase intake liquids - about 2 liters of water, unsweetened teas, herbal juices or even mineral water
- reduce the intake of caffeine and alcohol - they have a diuretic effect and promote dehydration and therefore dry stools
- probiotic food (probiotic yogurts) - establishes normal intestinal microflora and supports their function, combine probiotics with prebiotics (vegetable fibers, inulin, fructooligosaccharides) because they are food for probiotics
- increase physical activities - at least a few shorter (10 min) walks a day, at least an hour after a meal while part of the food is digested
- do not delay the urge to defecate
- try to monitor that the chair is always at approximately the same time of day
- help yourself by changing your sitting position on the shell – leaning back and raising your knees above hip level
Natural laxatives
They are by composition rich in fiber which stimulate the formation of mucus in combination with water, and increase the volume of the stool in order to stimulate bowel activity and make it easier to get out. A natural laxative against constipation works by taking with plenty of water.
- Ground flax seeds
- Psyllium husks
- Dried figs and figs
- Chia seeds
Medical preparations
If we haven't solved the problem by changing lifestyles and using natural laxatives, then in agreement with a pharmacist or doctor, we reach for laxatives, some of which are over-the-counter and some with a prescription and differ in their mechanism of action. In order to be able to permanently get rid of stool constipation, it is extremely important take them briefly and do not exaggerate their use because this leads to disturbances in the establishment of a normal stool rhythm. It should be emphasized that after the use of laxatives, especially if they lasted longer than recommended, as a result, constipation normally occurs for a couple of days. This is the time needed to accumulate a sufficient amount of stool, which again starts the physiological rhythm of bowel movements. The best laxative as such does not exist, because it depends on each case, and choosing the right one will depend on the condition and the severity of the symptoms.
- dietary supplements with fibera - they are consumed with plenty of water and increase the water content in the stool and its volume
- Probiotics - bring the intestinal microflora into balance
- teas for hard stools and teas for stomach problems
- osmotic laxatives - draw water from the surrounding tissues into the stool (e.g. lactulose, magnesium citrate)
- lubricants / "softeners" - oils that lubricate and soften the stool to make it easier to pass through the intestines (e.g. paraffin oil)
- stimulants – stimulate the intestines to work faster and contract by stimulating nerve endings (e.g. bisacodyl)
Accessories
When none of the above helps, it remains to solve the problem radically.
- enemas - the introduction of liquid into the rectum to soften the stool, stimulate the bowels and stimulate the urge to pass stool
- surgery - in case of cancer, intestinal narrowing and other structural changes
- manual stool removal
If you have noticed any of the above problems, we recommend that you consult your doctor or pharmacist.