What Can You Drink For Constipation

How Much Juice Should I Drink For Constipation Relief

People can either make juices at home or purchase them in stores.

To avoid experiencing adverse side effects, people should start by drinking small quantities of juice. Try a quarter or a half serving during the first few days.

People who can tolerate small amounts of juice can slowly increase their juice intake until they reach 12 servings per day. Guidelines often suggest that this is 4 ounces up to 8 oz .

Increase dietary fiber slowly over a few days or weeks, as sudden increases can cause digestive discomfort and diarrhea and even worsen constipation.

When purchasing premade juices, try to get 100 percent fruit juices. Some fruit juices and fruit drinks contain fruit concentrate and lots of added sugar. These types of juices will not offer the same constipation relief as 100 percent fruit juice.

In addition to drinking fruit juices, people can find relief from constipation by making simple dietary and lifestyle changes.

Dietary and lifestyle changes that may help relieve constipation include:

• increasing fiber intake from solid foods
• eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
• staying hydrated

Complications Of Chronic Constipation

Some of the complications of chronic constipation include:

• Faecal impaction the lower bowel and rectum become so packed with faeces that the muscles of the bowels cant push any of it out.
• Faecal incontinence an overfull bowel can result in involuntary dribbling of diarrhoea.
• Haemorrhoids constant straining to open the bowel can damage the blood vessels of the rectum.
• Rectal prolapse the constant straining pushes a section of rectal lining out of the anus.
• Urinary incontinence the constant straining weakens pelvic floor muscles. This makes the involuntary passing of urine more likely, especially when coughing, laughing or sneezing.

Laxatives Stool Softeners And Other Products

You can buy stool softeners at any pharmacy. They will help you pass stool more easily.

Your provider may prescribe a laxative to relieve your constipation. It may be a pill or liquid. Do not take it if you have severe stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting. Do not take it for more than 1 week without consulting your provider. It should start to work in 2 to 5 days.

• Only take a laxative as often as your provider recommends. Most laxatives are taken with meals and at bedtime.
• You can mix powder laxatives with milk or fruit juice to make them taste better.
• Always drink plenty of water when you are using laxatives.
• Store your laxative medicine safely in a medicine cabinet, where children cannot get to it.
• Do not take any other laxatives or medicines before talking with your provider. This includes mineral oil.

Some people get a rash, nausea, or a sore throat while taking laxatives. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children under age 6 years should not take laxatives without the advice of a provider.

Bulk-forming laxatives such as Metamucil or Citrucel can help pull water into your intestines and make your stools more bulky.

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When Should I Call My Child’s Healthcare Provider

• Is constipated for more than 2 weeks

• Cant do normal activities because of constipation

• Cant get a stool out with normal pushing

• Has liquid or soft stool leaking out of the anus

• Has small, painful tears in the skin around the anus

• Has red, swollen veins in the rectum

• Has belly pain, fever, or vomiting

• Has changes in urination, weakness in the legs, or back pain

Otc Laxatives For Constipation Relief

Several types of over-the-counter laxatives can relieve constipation, such as:

• Stool softeners, like Colace or Surfak, add moisture to the stool to keep them from being too dry and hard. However, you might develop electrolyte imbalance if you use stool softeners too often.
• Fiber supplements, such as Benefiber, Citrucel, or Metamucil, increase the amount of fiber in your body, which draws water to make stool softer and bulkier. If you don’t drink enough water with fiber supplements, you may end up even more constipated.
• Osmotics, like Miralax, pulls water into the colon for easier bowel movement. Some side effects include bloating, nausea, and increased thirst.
• Stimulants or contract laxatives, such as Dulcolax or Senokot, act on the intestinal wall and increase muscle contractions to help you pass stool more easily. You may experience belching, cramping, and diarrhea as stimulants are more likely to cause uncomfortable side effects.
• Rectal laxatives, like Pedia-Lax or Dulcolax, are often used as enemas or suppositories to cause contractions in the intestinal wall or keep moisture in the stool.

Many individuals tend to overuse laxatives, which can cause your body to become dependent on them.

It’s best to avoid using them habitually because severe cases of dependence may cause damage to the tissues, nerves, and muscles of your intestines and bowels.

If you do decide to use laxatives, start with a quarter or half dose to see how it affects your body.;

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When To See A Doctor For Constipation

You should contact your doctor if you go beyond three days without a bowel movement and this is unusual for you, says Davis.;

While hormonal changes and the lack of physical activity may result in the occasional bout of constipation, chronic constipation or extremely infrequent bowel movements can have several causes, which include:

• Colonic diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis
• Abdominal mass, or an abnormal lump in the abdomen, caused by a cyst, immune reaction, or cancer
• Defecatory disorders, like insufficient relaxation of anal sphincter or impairment of rectal sensation;
• Neurological conditions, like multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury

If you experience symptoms like severe abdominal pain, unintended weight loss, blood in the stool, or vomiting, you need to get in touch with your primary care provider.

Nuts And Seeds For Constipation Relief

Nuts are a filling food that is also packed with fiber to help ease constipation.

• Almonds, pecans, and walnuts have more fiber than other nuts. Just 1 ounce of almonds contains 3.5 g fiber, 1 ounce of pecans contains 2.7 g fiber, and 1 ounce of walnuts has 1.9 g fiber.
• Seeds are another good fiber-filled choice for constipation relief. A scant 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds contains 1.1 g fiber, while 1 ounce of pumpkin seeds has a whopping 5 g fiber. Sprinkle seeds on top of salads for added fiber and crunch.

Remember that nuts and seeds are high in calories, so keep portions small. Choose nuts and seeds that are raw or dry roasted, rather than roasted in oil.

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What Lab Tests And Other Medical Tests May Be Done To Find The Cause Of My Constipation

Your doctor can order no tests or many types of tests and procedures. The decision of which ones your doctor might order for you depends on your symptoms, medical history, and overall health.

Lab tests: Blood and urine tests reveal signs of hypothyroidism, anemia, and diabetes. A stool sample checks for signs of infection, inflammation, and cancer.

Imaging tests:Computed tomography , magnetic resonance imaging or lower gastrointestinal tract series may be ordered to identify other problems that could be causing your constipation.

Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy an internal view of your colon with a scope may be performed. During this procedure, a small sample of tissue may be taken to test for cancer or other problems and any found polyps will be removed.

Colorectal transit studies: These tests involve consuming a small dose of a radioactive substance, either in pill form or in a meal, and then tracking both the amount of time and how the substance moves through your intestines.

Other bowel function tests: Your doctor may order tests that check how well your anus and rectum hold and release stool. These tests include a certain type of x-ray , done to rule out causes of outlet dysfunction constipation, and the insertion of a small balloon into the rectum .

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

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What To Eat And Drink To Help Your Digestion

We all get a little stuck sometimes.

Constipation can be caused by a host of things: A poor diet, a poor exercise routine and often stress can all contribute to discomfort on the toilet.

In most cases, adding a little extra fiber to your diet can help get things moving. The body can’t fully digest the nutrient, so it comes out in the stool while promoting a healthy intestine. Fruits and veggies are naturally full of the stuff, but some individual foods can help make you more regular than others. According to the Institute of Medicine, men should consume about 38 grams of fiber a day and women should consume 25. Most Americans fall short, eating only 15 grams or so each day.

The foods listed below can help loosen things up; keep it handy for when things don’t come as smoothly as you’d wish. And while an irregular series of bowel movements is not usually something to worry about, if the problem persists for more than three weeks or you’re experiencing extreme discomfort, it’s definitely time to seek advice from an expert.

1. Raspberries

All berries boast a mighty fine amount of fiber, but at 8 grams per cup, raspberries stand out. Store a bag of the tart fruit in the freezer and whenever constipation strikes, add them to your fiber-tastic cereal or oatmeal.

2. Coffee

3.Water

4. Oranges

5. Prunes

6. Popcorn

7. Flax

8. Brown Rice

9. Spinach

10. Yogurt

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Foods That Make You Poop Immediately: Constipation Home Remedies

Written byBel Marra HealthPublished onMarch 23, 2017

Food provides the body with the nutrition it needs to function properly, but sometimes, getting too much of the wrong food can lead to constipation and leave you searching for foods that make you poop.

What we eat is supposed to go from our mouths, into our belly, and out. Digestion time varies from person to person, but it generally takes anywhere from six to eight hours for food to pass through the stomach and small intestine. It then enters the large intestine to further digest, and then undigested food is eliminated. Some foods will have us running to the washroom quicker, while others lead to uncomfortable constipation. For instance, lots of fruits can keep people full, but they can also cause the runs. Fried foods, on the other hand, can make you constipated. So can painkillers, since they contain elements that can bind receptors in the digestive tract. Although some people assume all fruits will help get things moving, certain fruitssuch as unripe bananascontain a lot of starch, which moves really slowly through the digestive system.

Most dieticians will tell you that a well-balanced diet is best to keep you regular. While you do want to have foods that help you poop, you dont want to go overboard, and you should know what makes you poop instantly so you can avoid mad dashes to the washroom.

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How Is Constipation Diagnosed

The tests performed by a;doctor will depend on the duration and severity of the constipation, since most persons experience constipation at one time or another. The doctor will also take into account the patient’s age, and whether there is blood in the stool, recent changes in bowel habits, or weight loss.

Diagnosing constipation may include:

• Medical history. The doctor will ask for a description of the constipation, including duration of symptoms, frequency of bowel movements, and other information to help determine the cause of the constipation.

• Physical examination. A physical examination may also include a digital rectal examination , in which the doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to evaluate the tone of the muscle that closes off the anus. This examination also helps detect tenderness, obstruction,; blood, amount and caliber of stool, and if enlargement of the rectum is present.

Other diagnostic tests may include:

How Is Constipation Diagnosed In A Child

The healthcare provider will ask about your childs symptoms and health history. He or she will give your child a physical exam. Depending on how old your child is, you might be asked questions such as:

• How old was your baby when he or she had their first stool?

• How often does your child have a bowel movement?

• Does your child complain of pain when having a bowel movement?

• Have you been trying to toilet train your toddler lately?

• What foods does your child eat?

• Have there been any stressful events in your child’s life lately?

• How often does your child poop in his or her pants?

Your childs provider may also want to do some tests to see if there are any problems. These tests may include:

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Home Remedies For Constipation

Constipation is a very common digestive disorder that affects people of all ages.

Constipation is medically defined as having three or fewer bowel movements in a week. In case of severe constipation, it reduces to less than one bowel movement in a week.

It is caused by difficulty in passing stools mostly because the colon has absorbed more water from the food in the colon, making the stools very dry and hard. This may even lead a person to strain too much to empty the excessively hard stools.

Other symptoms are a bloated abdomen, stomach ache, abdominal cramps, nausea, abnormally small or large stools,;acidity, loss of appetite, bad breath, headache, depression, acne, and mouth ulcers.

Some of the main causes of constipation are a poor diet with low fiber intake, insufficient water intake, irregular defecation habit, lack of physical activity, pregnancy, aging, changes in routine,weakness of abdominal muscles, hemorrhoids, stress, intake of certain medications, laxative abuse, and certain disease conditions.

This problem can be very frustrating aside from causing discomfort. There are many home remedies to enhance the functionality of your digestive system and treat constipation. These remedies are very easy to follow and very powerful.

Here are the top 10 home remedies for constipation.

• Grapes

Things You Should Never Do When Youre Constipated

Theyll only make your clogged pipes worse.

We all have those days when it’s so tough to have a bowel movement that even the throes of childbirth look like a cakewalk. In fact, it happens more often than you think: According to the Women’s Health Foundation, more than 4 million Americans suffer from frequent constipation. And as luck would have it, women are three times more likely to get blocked up than men. Some doctors speculate it’s because our colons are slightly longer, adding more twists and turnsand potential roadblocksto our digestive tracts.

But while the bloating and abdominal pain associated with a gridlocked gut may be common, the symptoms aren’t something you should simply flush down the drain. “Very severe constipation is not only very uncomfortable, but it can also lead to blockage of your colon , which then may require more invasive treatment than laxatives alone,” says Lee Ann Chen, M.D., a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Medical Center. Translation: The last thing you want to do when there’s a kink in your pipes is partake in anything that might plug you up even more. To help move things along when you just can’t go, make it a point to avoid these poop-blocking behaviors:

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Stop Taking Certain Medicines Or Dietary Supplements

If you think certain medicines or dietary supplements are causing your constipation, talk with your doctor. He or she may change the dose or suggest a different medicine that does not cause constipation. Dont change or stop any medicine or supplement without talking with a health care professional.

Dried Fruit For Constipation Relief

• Dried fruit is a smart choice if you’re feeling constipated, as it actually contains more fiber than fresh fruit per serving.
• An easy snack is raisins, with 7 g fiber per cup .
• Aside from prunes, dried fruits such as figs, raisins, and dried apricots are excellent sources of fiber.
• Add dried fruit to cereal, or bake it into bran muffins. Soak it in water to soften it if it’s hard to chew.

Just remember that while dried fruit has more fiber than fresh fruit, it also has more calories.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Constipation In A Child

Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. They may include:

• Not having a bowel movement for a few days

• Passing hard, dry stools

• Having belly bloating, cramps, or pain

• Not feeling hungry

• Showing signs of trying to hold stool in, such as clenching teeth, crossing legs, squeezing buttocks together, turning red in the face

• Small liquid or soft stool marks on a child’s underwear

The symptoms of constipation can be like other health conditions. Make sure your;child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Best Foods To Eat When Constipated

Use this quick pick list of high-fiber foods,;and then explore more in-depth about why these foods will help your constipation. You will also find precautions for those who may be sensitive to some of the foods on the list.

• Fruit:;Berries, peaches, apricots, plums,;raisins, rhubarb, and prunes are some of the best high-fiber fruits. For a fiber boost, eat the peel as well.
• Whole Grains: Steer away from white flour and white rice and enjoy whole grains instead, which provide more fiber. Whole grains include oats, brown rice, whole wheat, quinoa, barley, and rye.
• Vegetables: Whether you’re eating the leaves, stalks, or roots, you’ll get fiber from vegetables, including what is in potato skins.
• Nuts: Walnuts and almonds will also add fiber to your diet.
• Seeds: Several kinds of seeds are excellent sources of fiber. You can add them to your smoothies or sprinkle them on yogurt or salads. Chia, ground flaxseeds, and psyllium are some of the most touted.
• Beans and Legumes;:;Legumes such as chickpeas, soybeans, lentils, navy beans, and kidney beans are good sources of fiber. However, they have a well-earned reputation for being gassy. If you have irritable bowel syndrome , beans and legumes are on the;list of high;FODMAP;foods that may exacerbate IBS symptoms.
• Hot Tea: An herbal tea made with anise or fennel might be a soothing way to ease your constipation.

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