Are you constipated? What should you do?

Did you poop today? In addition to having common postures, some people also have common problems when it comes to going to the toilet, such as difficulty defecating. If you find yourself failing to poop every three to five days, it means that your intestinal nerves are sending you a warning that you need to give them more care and help!

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1. When food enters the body...

As the saying goes, what goes in comes out. Food goes through the digestive system from the mouth and undergoes a major transformation in the human body, undergoing various processing steps during the process. Our digestive system is like a miniature chemical factory, with large and small pipes and machines inside, and the pipes transport an astonishing variety and quantity of various foods. Under the control of the nervous system at all levels, these foods are chewed and stirred in the mouth, then enter the stomach through the esophagus, followed by the 5-7 meter small intestine, and finally reach the colon, where they stay for a while until the human body excretes the residue. During this period, if there is a problem when the food, this outsider, visits any of the above-mentioned processing workshops, it may cause difficulties in the final "exit".

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For example, problems with the food itself. Low-fiber foods and insufficient water intake increase the likelihood of constipation. Problems with the nervous system. Psychological factors such as depression and anxiety caused by the accelerated pace of life and changes in the work environment play an influencing role in the defecation process. Unreasonable medication. Abuse or unreasonable use of laxatives will aggravate constipation. Problems with the digestive system. External intestinal motility disorders, intestinal secretion disorders, changes in visceral sensitivity, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, and intestinal nervous system dysfunction may all cause constipation.

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So, those with traveler's constipation, slow-digestion constipation, stubborn "it's not my toilet that can't stand it" and hemorrhoids...which category do you belong to?

Link : The prevalence of constipation in adults in China is 7.0%~20.3%, and the probability increases with age. The prevalence of the elderly in China is 15%~20%, which is higher in rural areas than in cities, and higher in the north than in the south. The prevalence in men is lower than that in women, and the ratio of male to female prevalence is 1:1.22~1:4.56.

2. The more you work, the smoother it will be.

So, how do we know if we are constipated? According to the definition given in the 8th edition of Internal Medicine, constipation refers to difficulty or straining to defecate, poor defecation, reduced frequency of defecation, and small amount of dry and hard stool. The core symptoms are difficulty in defecation and reduced frequency of defecation.

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It is easy to understand that defecation is difficult, but what about reduced frequency? How often is it normal to have a bowel movement? According to the consensus of recent research, "reduced frequency of bowel movements" means less than 3 bowel movements per week. Many constipation patients are troubled by symptoms such as long bowel movement time, anorectal obstruction, abdominal distension or cramps, loss of appetite, etc. In more serious cases, the feces discharged are dry and hard like sheep feces, or manual defecation is required (of course, with fingers). In other words, if you have a bowel movement interval of more than two days or frequent bowel movements are uncomfortable, you need to be vigilant.

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Many patients usually sit on the toilet for half an hour after this happens. The harder they try, the more difficult it becomes. Over time, they also develop mental disorders about defecation. The medical community generally believes that age, gender, occupation, education, psychological disorders, abuse of laxatives, and bad bowel habits are all risk factors for constipation.

3. Let go of the burden and restore intestinal power

How big is the risk of constipation? First of all, it will affect the organs that are in direct contact with excrement. Because of the difficulty in defecating and excessive force, anal pain, anal fissures, hemorrhoids and anal papillitis often occur. At the same time, because of the repeated stimulation of the intestines by dry stools, constipation can also induce or aggravate intestinal tumors such as colorectal cancer and rectal cancer. Patients with underlying diseases, such as cerebrovascular accidents and acute myocardial infarction, may suffer from aggravation of their condition and even risk of death if they develop constipation. Patients with chronic constipation will have a reduced quality of life, causing a significant economic and social burden.

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What should we do at this time? Of course, we should relieve the symptoms first, and then consider restoring normal intestinal motility and defecation physiological functions. For example, we can temporarily use laxatives, enemas and other means to relieve symptoms, but we should avoid the long-term use of irritant laxatives (laxatives should not be used indiscriminately, let alone for a long time). After solving the imminent problem, it is to improve and adjust the lifestyle, such as choosing a reasonable diet, drinking plenty of water, exercising, and establishing good bowel habits. In terms of diet, it is especially important to increase the intake of fiber and water. Since fiber is basically indigestible, it can make the digested food into lumps and soften, helping food to pass through the intestines easily without squeezing the intestines, and also avoiding the occurrence of hemorrhoids.

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Of course, if the symptoms of constipation are not relieved after 4 to 8 weeks of basic treatment, it is recommended to seek medical attention in time and choose appropriate medication under the guidance of the doctor. After all, your body is your own. While enjoying the rich modern diet and entertainment life, we must always pay attention to our own metabolic status. A good lifestyle and scientific eating habits are the secret to maintaining good health.

Tips : Since colon activity is most active in the morning and after meals, it is recommended to try to defecate in the morning or within 2 hours after meals. Concentrate on defecation and reduce external interference, such as not bringing a mobile phone into the toilet; try to control the time of each defecation within 10 minutes. Author: Tan Hao, doctor, acne master.

Audit expert: Huang He

Source: Chongqing Science and Technology Museum

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