Ways to Relieve Constipation Quickly

Most people can have constipation at some point of their life. It is a change of bowel movement in which becoming less frequent than usual and followed with other discomforts such as passing dry, hard stools or even you may need to strain when defecating. The good news it is treatable, even it may improve on its own. There are also ways to help relieve it more quickly!

How do you know if you have constipation?

Typically, constipation causes less frequent bowel movements. In general, having three bowel movements or fewer per week is categorized constipation. Other symptoms include:

1. Passing lumpy, dry stools (harder than usual). These can be hard enough to make you strain when you defecate.
2. Uncomfortable bloating feeling.
3. Feeling of fullness even after bowel movement, or unable to completely empty bowel.
4. You may also feel that there is a blockage in the rectum.
5. Depending on the severity of the problem, you may even need to press your stomach with hands to help pass the stools.

If you experience some of these constipation’s discomfort symptoms for the last 3 months, it can be considered chronic (lost lasting). In some cases, constipation can also strike suddenly (acute, but infrequently).

How do you get constipation?

You can get it for numerous different reasons since it can be attributed by many factors. But in general, you’re likely to have it if you:

1. don’t drink adequate water (dehydration)
2. don’t have adequate dietary fiber
3. or if you have lack of physical activity (becoming a sedentary individual)

It is also more common in older adults and women, but it can affect anyone at any ages. Taking particular medications (such as sedative and some hypertension medicines) can also contribute to cause constipation.

In some cases, it is also caused by the following causes:

1. Hormonal conditions, especially some that affect the balance of fluid in the body. These include pregnancy, thyroid problems (both overactive and underactive thyroid), and diabetes.
2. Difficulty with your pelvic muscles or other muscles involved in elimination such as weakened pelvic muscles, dyssynergia, and anismus.
3. Problem with nerves of bowel (colon and rectum). It is usually caused by neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune neuropathy, and spinal cord injury.
4. Any conditions that cause blockages in the bowel such as bowel cancer or other cancers that lead to bowel obstruction, canal fissure, and bowel stricture.

Ways to relieve constipation quickly

In most cases, it is harmless and not serious. But sometimes the treatment is necessary, depending on the underlying cause and how severe it is!

The treatment usually begins with lifestyle changes, particularly with diet high in fiber and exercise. But if these changes are not enough to relieve the problem, medical intervention may be required.

Lifestyle changes

What you eat does have an effect on your bowel movement. Even your dietary diet may be the most important thing you need to concern to cope with constipation. Adequate fiber from your diet plays a key role to raise the stool’s weight and quicken its passage through bowel.

To relieve your constipation, there may be specific amount of fiber recommended by your doctor you need to eat through diet. But in general, aim for at least 14 grams of fiber in your 1,000 calories!

And if you get used with low-fiber diet, don’t make a significant increase in dietary fiber in a short time. Instead, increase it gradually till your body gets used with the change. Eating lots of fiber when your gut is not ready may cause another problem, such as diarrhea.

What else? Here are other lifestyle measures of what you need to do (DOS) and what you need to avoid (DON’TS) to cope with constipation:

Some probiotics may help, too

You might familiar with some of the following names; Lactobacillus, Sacchromyces boulardi, and Bifidobacterium. They are probiotics – what actually are they?

They are bacteria that can promote digestion in the gut. You can get them from food (such as yogurt) or in supplements. But do they work for constipation?

The answer is still debatable, not fully known. While some studies suggest that there is a link between some probiotics and constipation relief, others studies find that the evidence is not yet ‘strong enough’.

In general, getting probiotics from food is worth a try and also safe for most people. But if you take them in supplement, it’s recommended to check with your doctor first!

Fish oil

It is high in omega-3 fatty acids, very good for your heart. But did you know that it is also good for your digestion? According to some studies, omega-3s have contribution to help relieve symptoms of ulcerative colitis, including constipation.

You can get fish oil from food (such as in mackerel, salmon, tuna, sardines, and herring) or with supplement. It’s recommended to begin with foods! But if you think it’s not enough, fish oil supplement may be your option.

Since high dose of fish oil carry some health risks (such as bleeding risk), it’s recommended to consult first with your doctor – especially true if you have bleeding disorders or if you’re taking certain medication (such as blood-thinning medications).

The use of laxatives

Laxative is a common medicine prescribed to help empty bowels. In fact, most of doctor visits for constipation result in a prescription for the use of laxative. It can be used when lifestyle measures are not enough to relieve constipation.

There are some types of laxatives, and each type has pros and cons (side effects). These include:

1. Bulking-agent, (fiber) laxative. It is the most common type recommended for constipation. It can add bulk to the stool, making it easier to pass in a bowel movement.
2. Stimulant laxative. It can be prescribed if you need almost instantaneous relief or if you’re completely miserable from constipation. It stimulates the intestine’s lining, making the stool move faster through colon. It can be the stool’s hydration booster, too. But it may cause laxative dependency and weaken the natural ability of the body to defecate.
3. Lubricant laxative, such as mineral oil. It can help make the stools slippery (as the name suggests), making them move through the bowel more easily.
4. Stool softeners (emollient laxatives). They work by drawing more water from gut to help moisten the stool.
5. Osmotic laxative. It usually contains hydrating agents to draw more water from the surrounding tissues into the gut so thus you have softer stools.

Castor oils

This yellowish liquid oil is used to help treat several conditions, including for a quick constipation relief. Its laxative-substance content is the main reason.

But don’t take it before your bedtime because it works quickly (its quick effect may make you wake up)! Another drawback, it has bad taste. However, you can take it with orange juice or another sweetener. Taking chilled castor oil is also good idea to cope with its bad taste.

Although it is safe for most people, but take it in moderation! Taking it in large amounts may cause overdose.

How about herbs?

It’s undeniable that herbal therapy is one of the oldest treatments in many different cultures around the world. And there are also some different herbs for constipation to choose from. But in general, they can be categorized into two main groups: herbal therapies with stimulant laxatives and fiber laxatives.

Stimulant herbs include the use of aloe, senna, and cascara segrada. And for fiber-laxative herbs, these include barley, fenugreek, and flaxseed (not flaxseed oil).

Many people are looking for alternative treatments such as herbs because they believe that these natural approaches come with no risk. But in fact, not all herbs are safe! For instance, the use of senna for constipation may lead to cramping.

Therefore, it’s better to consult with a professional herbalist before taking any herbs! And if you’re taking other medications, talk first with your doctor!

Other medical interventions

Laxatives are often prescribed for constipation. But they are not the only one. Here are other constipation medications:

… Continued …

1. Medications to hydrate the gut by drawing more water into the gut. These include linaclotide (Linzess) and lubiprostone (Amitiza). They work in different ways, though they have the same goal (drawing water into the intestines, making the stools move quickly and easily). They may be prescribed if your constipation is not enough to be treated with over-the-counter laxatives.
2. Some clinical trials and studies are continuously going to find constipation medications that work better.

Surgical treatment option

It is usually recommended when other treatments don’t successfully relieve constipation. It also can be used for constipation associated with the following conditions:

1. Rectocele (Posterior prolapse). Any conditions (such as childbirth) that put extra pressure on fascia (thin wall of fibrous tissue between rectum and female genital organ) can be potential to cause rectocele.
2. Anal fissure. It is a small tear in the moist, thin tissue that lines the anus. There are several causes of anal fissure. Even passing large, hard stools when defecating may also lead to this problem. It can affect anyone, though commonly found in young infants. Lifestyle measures are usually enough to relieve the problem. But in a few cases, surgery may be required to treat it!
3. An abnormal condition that causes narrowing body passage (stricture), particularly such as a canal or a tube in the body.

If constipation is caused by the abnormally slow movement of stool through large intestine (colon), and other treatments fail to work – surgery to remove a part of colon may be suggested (though this option is rarely necessary).

Biofeedback training

It can be used for pelvic muscle training.  This can help you learn how to use and relax your pelvic muscles at the right time when you defecate, so thus you can pass the stools easily.

During therapy, special devices are used to help you learn how to properly relax and tighten your pelvic muscles. A professional therapist will guide you to do it.