What Can You Do For Constipation

Keep Your Dog Hydrated

Dehydration is one of the most common causes of constipation. The first step to helping your dog feel better is to make sure they have access to plenty of water. This might mean putting multiple bowls of water throughout the house, as well as carrying a travel bowl when youre on the go.

If your dog doesnt like to drink water, make sure to offer them plenty of affection or even a treat when they do this will help them think of drinking water as a positive experience.

Another way to motivate your dog to drink water is to add some chicken or bone broth to the water, as the flavor can make it more enticing for them. You can even put a teaspoon of ginger in there to calm your dogs stomach even more. Finally, you might consider giving your dog ice cubes to chew on. Some dogs enjoy this and its an easy way to ensure they get more water in their diet.

Side Effects Of Constipation

As mentioned above, constipation is a common condition however, it should be noticed that chronic constipation could be dangerous for peoples health. There are some serious complications that may appear when you are constipated for a long time, including the systematic symptoms listed such as pain, stress, heart diseases and malnutrition. Furthermore, in some cases, constipation also leads to hemorrhoids and even cancer.

To the elderly, who are suffering cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, constipation is even more dangerous as a straining and difficult bowel movement can increase blood pressure, a risk of cerebral embolism, shortness of breath and so on, which may cause sudden death. The stagnation of stool in the colon for long days also cause intestinal obstruction or facilitate the development of harmful bacteria, promoting the risk of other diseases and infections.

Lifestyle Changes That Can Help You Poop

The above advice can help encourage a quick bowel movement to relieve short-term discomfort. However, some of the lifestyle changes can also keep your constipation at bay more permanently. For regularity, try to make these tips part of your daily habit.

• Add more fiber to your diet, with fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, beans, and whole grains. You should consume at least 14 grams of fiber per day for every 1,000 calories in your diet. If you need to take a fiber supplement for chronic constipation, start with a low dose and increase as tolerated. For some people, a large amount of fiber can lead to bloating.
• Exercise most days of the week with a daily walk, jog, bike ride, swim, or other form of exercise. Light exercise helps maintain proper circulation and can keep the bowels healthy.
• Consume plenty of liquids mostly water and other clear liquids every day. Aim for at least eight 8-ounce glasses of clear liquids per day.
• Manage your stress.

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Set Yourself Up For Success

Set aside time each day so you can take your time in the bathroom. Allow yourself enough time to have a bowel movement without distractions or feeling rushed. Plus, establishing a routine may help.

“Our lives can get busy, especially if you feel like you’re in a rush to get to work in the morning, but it’s important to not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement,” says Dr. Johal.

Putting some focus on the position of your body during a bowel movement can make a difference, too.

“Some people find that placing a small stepstool under their feet while sitting on the toilet makes bowel movements easier this position can help you flex your hips and place your pelvis in a more natural squat position,” says Dr. Johal.

If none of these changes help unblock you, adding processed or synthetic fiber to your daily diet, or taking a stool softener, a rectal glycerin suppository or laxatives can help.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, call your doctor, says Dr. Johal. They can help you determine what treatments might work best for you.

Effective Home Remedies For Constipation In Dogs

When your dog is dealing with constipation, its not fun for either of you. Like humans, many dogs struggle with constipation on occasion. However, if theyre experiencing constipation regularly, treatment can help them feel better. Weve rounded up 12 of the most effective home remedies for dog constipation that can help your furry friend feel better.

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We’ve All Suffered With Constipation From Time To Time But If You’ve Been Living With Constipation Symptoms That Won’t Go Away You’re Not Alone

This article was created by Takeda in coordination with HealthyWomen.

We’ve all suffered with constipation from time to time, but if you’ve been living with constipation symptoms that won’t go away, you’re not alone. Like many others, you may have brought your concerns to your health care provider, and even tried treatments but if you’re still struggling to find relief, don’t lose hope!

Chronic idiopathic constipation, or CIC, is a medical condition that affects approximately 46 million Americans and is estimated to impact nearly twice as many women as men. People with CIC have trouble going to the bathroom and experience infrequent or incomplete bowel movements over a long period of time.

To diagnose CIC, a health care professional evaluates the symptoms an individual is experiencing and then determines appropriate next steps based on the specific situation. Yet, according to a national online survey of adults with CIC and gastroenterologists, for many with the condition, relief can be hard to find even after getting a diagnosis and seeking treatment.*

If you are experiencing symptoms of CIC, its important not to give up and to be open with your health care provider about what you’re going through, says William Chey, M.D., Professor of Gastroenterology & Nutrition Sciences, and Director of the GI Nutrition and Behavioral Wellness Program at the University of Michigan Health System.

All statistics below are from the Current Insights about Constipation survey.

When To See A Doctor For Constipation

Most individuals have experienced some form of constipation in their lifetime. While constipation can go away on its own, it is helpful to know what can ease the discomfort of this common ailment. If home remedies for constipation or OTC products do not produce a bowel movement, an individual may need to seek medical attention. Untreated constipation can lead to an impacted bowel.

Constipation may be a symptom of a greater health concern, consult your doctor or healthcare professional if you have not had a bowel movement within a two- to three-week period of time. Furthermore, medical assistance may be needed if you are experiencing severe abdominal pain or concerning blood in the constipated stool. Ask your doctor about recommended home remedies for constipation and prevention of constipation in the future.

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What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Constipation

Different people have different bathroom habits. So someone who doesn’t have a bowel movement every day isn’t necessarily constipated. One person might go three times a day, while another might go once every 23 days.

But if you’re going less than you normally do, or if it’s often hard or painful to go, you might be constipated. A person with constipation might:

• feel full or bloated
• feel pain when making a bowel movement
• have to strain to make a bowel movement
• notice a little blood on the toilet paper

Q: How Can I Prevent Or Get Rid Of Constipation

A: Dr. Zutshi emphasizes the big three: Water first. Fiber next. Exercise third.

• Water: Drink a lot. Juices, water, tea and coffee count toward your water intake. People who have normal bowel movements should aim for at least 64 to 80 ounces of water daily. Those who tend to be constipated should drink more.
• Fiber: If you cant get enough fiber from food, talk to your doctor about a supplement. Good supplements to try include Metamucil®, Citrucel® or Benefiber®.
• Exercise: Increasing your exercise can be as simple as walking more. You dont need to be a hardcore athlete.

If you think youre having issues with constipation, Dr. Zutshi advises you to be proactive.

See a gastroenterologist to figure out if everything is OK. And if you have not had a colonoscopy, and youre over 50, its time to schedule one.

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Overcoming The Calcium Effect

There are numerous things that can be done to keep calcium from causing constipation.

Let’s look at each of these.

1.Balance out calcium with magnesium

2.Take calcium in smaller, more frequent doses

3.Switch to a calcium that is better absorbed

4.Get more of your calcium from food

5.Less calcium might be better

For Serious Constipation There Are Options

If your constipation is severe and does not improve withchanges to your diet and lifestyle, there may be other options that you candiscuss with your doctor. Surgery is the very last option.

A wide range of laxatives are available, plus there arepro-motility drugs that a doctor can prescribe. Sometimes at-home remedies canbring relief, too, like dietary vegetable or mineral oil to lubricate thebowels.

Heres the bottom line: Try simple fixes first, but if theyfail, dont suffer needlessly. If you think your bowel movements are not whatyou would consider normal, discuss it first with your primary care physician, whocan talk with you about treatments or refer you to a specialist who can helpget your bowels moving again.

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Can Switching From Breast Milk To Formula Cause Constipation

If youve recently switched to formula after exclusively breastfeeding your baby, you may notice changes in your babys poop. Its not uncommon for it to become harder or change color.

You may also notice an increase in gas, particularly if your baby is transitioning to using a bottle. Every baby is different though, and you may not notice much of a change.

Looking at supermarket formula displays can be enough to set your head spinning.

First, there are three different forms of formula you can choose from:

• powders

Then, within these forms, they may be:

• milk-based formulas
• specialty formulas, like organic options

Some formulas advertise themselves as easier to digest.

This can be because they are homogenized, which means theyre processed in a way that breaks down molecules for easier absorption. Or they may be made with ingredients designed to be easier on the digestive system.

For many parents, the answer lies in asking fellow parents and caregivers about their experiences with formula and researching the ingredients to find one that feels right.

How Much Fiber Should You Take

Fiber that comes from whole foods is called dietary fiber. Fiber that’s sold in supplements, or added to fortified foods, is called functional fiber. The Institute of Medicine has set an adequate intake for total fiber, which includes all sources. Getting this amount of fiber should be enough to stay healthy. Doctors may recommend higher doses of fiber.

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Can Constipation Cause Internal Damage Or Lead To Other Health Problems

There are a few complications that could happen if you dont have soft, regular bowel movements. Some complications include:

• Swollen, inflamed veins in your rectum .
• Tears in the lining of your anus from hardened stool trying to pass through .
• An infection in pouches that sometimes form off the colon wall from stool that has become trapped and infected
• A pile-up of too much stool/poop in the rectum and anus .
• Damage to your pelvic floor muscles from straining to move your bowels. These muscles help control your bladder. Too much straining for too long a period of time may cause urine to leak from the bladder .

When To Call Your Doctor

Constipation can often be treated at home, but chronic constipation that interferes with quality of life warrants a visit to the doctor.

Unresolved chronic constipation can result in fecal impaction. With impaction, the bowels cannot be evacuated just by the normal muscle contractions that push stool out of the body. Medical intervention is usually needed.

Speak with your doctor if :

• You have a fever, rectal bleeding or recent weight loss.
• Your symptoms interfere with sleep.
• You are frequently constipated and have a family history of bowel disease.
• You can feel a lump or mass in your abdomen or rectum.
• You are over 50 years old and chronic constipation is a new problem for you.
• You have severe abdominal pain and vomiting.
• You are not passing gas.

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When To Call The Doctor

• Your baby is irritable and seems to be having abdominal pain.
• You see blood in your baby’s stool.
• Your baby’s constipation does not improve with current treatment.

If you have any questions or concerns, call your baby’s doctor at ___________________.

HH-I-14 7/84, Revised 3/14 Copyright 1984, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

How Common Is Constipation

You are not alone if you have constipation. Constipation is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal complaints in the United States. At least 2.5 million people see their doctor each year due to constipation.

People of all ages can have an occasional bout of constipation. There are also certain people and situations that are more likely to lead to becoming more consistently constipated . These include:

• Older age. Older people tend to be less active, have a slower metabolism and less muscle contraction strength along their digestive tract than when they were younger.
• Being a woman, especially while you are pregnant and after childbirth. Changes in a womans hormones make them more prone to constipation. The baby inside the womb squishes the intestines, slowing down the passage of stool.
• Not eating enough high-fiber foods. High-fiber foods keep food moving through the digestive system.
• Taking certain medications .
• Having certain neurological and digestive disorders .

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Drink Plenty Of Fluids

Staying well-hydrated is an important part of preventing constipation. Unless otherwise directed by your doctor, try to drink about eight glasses of water per day. Other types of fluids may be okay, including tea and juice.

Keep in mind that juices are usually high in sugar. Beverages that contain a lot of caffeine or alcohol can act as diuretics and reduce fluid levels in the body.

How To Empty Your Bowels Every Morning

If you are in need of constipation relief, you may consider one or more of the following to encourage your gut to get back to normal .

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Pharmacy First Scotland: Constipation Treatment From Your Pharmacy

Constipation isn’t usually serious and can be treated by a pharmacist. Your pharmacist may recommend that you contact your GP practice if required.

Also speak to your pharmacist if you think your child might be constipated. Laxatives are often recommended for children alongside diet and lifestyle changes.

You may be able to treat constipation yourself by making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle . If these changes don’t help and the problem continues, you should see your pharmacist.

However, you should see your GP for advice if:

• you notice any rectal bleeding
• you notice any unexplained weight loss
• you have persistent tiredness
• your constipation lasts longer than 14 days without improvement

Causes And Symptoms Of Canine Constipation

Its important to know the symptoms of constipation in dogs so that you can tell when your pet needs some help. Pay attention when your dog goes to the bathroom are they straining or struggling? You might notice a difference in their stool as well.

Dogs who are constipated often have pieces of stool that are smaller and harder than normal. Theyll also whine and want to go outside more often. Constipation can also make your dog appear bloated and uncomfortable, and they may have a hunched posture. If theyre experiencing constipation regularly, they may also lose their appetite.

There are a number of different factors that can cause constipation in dogs. If they dont have enough fiber in their diet or arent drinking enough water, they may struggle to process food. They may also feel constipated as a result of eating something they arent supposed to, like hair, grass, or feces.

Other foreign objects can also cause blockages that prevent your dog from passing food normally. In more serious situations, your dog could also be experiencing constipation as a result of a hernia, enlarged prostate glands, neurological condition, tumor, or other chronic health problem.

Certain dog breeds could also be struggling with hip dysplasia or another painful condition that limits their ability to squat. This is why its so important to consult your vet if your dogs constipation goes on for an extended period of time.

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