Conditions Caused By Constipation

Constipation can cause problems for your body. If you are suffering from constipation you will no doubt strain to pass the hard stools when having a bowel movement, this straining can cause haemorriods and anal fissures. Straining can also cause a condition known as rectal prolapse, this is when a small amount of the intestinal lining is pushed out of the anal opening.

Constipation can also cause you to suffer from a condition known as fecael impaction. This is when the hard stool is so impacted in your colon that normal pushing can not expel it and an enema is needed to break up the stool and remove it.

When your bowel is clogged with faeces due to constipation, it provides an ideal environment for harmful bacteria and parasites to thrive. Poor bowel cleanliness is the source for many disorders for the body, such as:

? Appendicitis
? Arthritis
? Cancer of the colon
? Clotting in deep veins
? Diverticulitis
? Gall-bladder problems
? Heart disorders
? Hiatus hernia
? Varicose veins

Intestinal toxaemia and auto-intoxication are caused directly from intestinal constipation. Constipation aids in the lowering of your body?s resistance, thus leading to many acute and chronic illnesses.

Intestinal constipation causes extra workload for your other excretory organs such as:

? Kidneys
? Liver
? Lungs
? Lymph
? Skin

by causing cellular constipation. This causes the functioning of these organs to become overworked and depleted. Repair and growth are delayed, the ability to eliminate waste products is limited and cellular metabolism becomes sluggish. The cells become dead and inactive, instead of active and alive, this process helps in the decline of organ and tissue functioning ability.

Constipation causes auto-intoxication, this is a process where your body literally toxicants itself by keeping decaying matter within your colon. The toxins which are released within your bowel, find their way into your bloodstream and from there around your body. This slowly affects every cell in your body and causes illnesses.

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Infant Constipation

Concerning Infant Constipation, while all agree that hard, dry and painful stools are the symptoms of Constipation, the frequency of bowel movements is controversial amongst pediatricians. Normally a newborn infant does it quite frequently, eight to ten times a day for about four weeks until the frequency drops to about one to two times per day by the eighth week. But there is a very firm school of thought amongst many physicians that even up to four days without a bowel movement, for breast-fed babies, is no cause for alarm. Breast milk is well constituted, so that the whole of it is absorbed by the baby?s digestive system, and what passes as stool is some curdled protein and stomach juices and mucus.

With formula-fed infants the baby does not use up all the bulk and the residue, if allowed to build for too long, would lose the water content and become very hard. So the frequency of bowel movements for these babies should be more. Babies do grunt and become red in the face while passing stools. This is quite normal until the anal sphincter muscles learn to relax and expand when making a bowel movement.

Parents can give about two ounces of water or diluted juice, if the stools are hard. Bicycling the legs and giving a gentle tummy massage helps if the baby has not had a bowel movement for too long. But if the Constipation is accompanied by severe vomiting, pain or other problems it calls for immediate consultation with the doctor. The parents should not attempt to treat the infant with laxatives or anything else. It is normal that babies undergo a phase of Constipation when solid foods are introduced. A corresponding increase of liquids like diluted juice would help manage the problem. A different type of solid food, avoiding constipating ingredients, will also help to solve the problem.

If Constipation persists, the pediatrician may recommend the use of mild laxatives, suppositories or enemas. These should be discontinued as soon as the baby is free of the symptoms. Continued usage of any aid to treat Constipation should be avoided.

Constipation provides detailed information on constipation, cat constipation, causes of constipation, chronic constipation and more. Constipation is affliated with Are Cold Sores Contagious?

Constipation In Children

If you think your baby has constipation just because he has infrequent stools, then you better think again. Having infrequent stools does not really mean constipation although this malady is characterized by erratic bowel movement.

Constipation is a result of a deficient and wrong diet, inadequate intake of fluids or a problematic colon. Babies who take in too much refined food can be candidates for constipation.

So how does one know when a child has constipation? A child may have constipation if he has very dry and hard stools. A person?s feces or solid waste passes through the colon because the latter normally gets rid of the water that is within the stool. However, when the colon is not functioning well, it may remove too much of the water in the feces resulting to very dry and hard stool, thereby resulting to constipation.

In simple words, constipation occur when the body?s solid waste stay in the colon, thereby extracting more fecal stool than what is necessary. This happens when a person?s colon has lesser movement as a result of a diet that does not properly stimulate the colon to do its normal function. Constipation also occurs when there is a barrier in the GI tract as when there are problems with the anus or a tumor blockage.

Babies, especially those who are breast-fed, do not really experience constipation because the baby absorbs nearly all of the milk and there is little residue left. Infants naturally release their waste less often but it does not mean they are constipated. However, when they are ready to get their feces off, they usually do it with a lot of grunting and forcing. This should not worry parents though because it is normal as the baby?s anus may still be a little taut and needs more stretching before the stool can be released.

It is a different story though for formula-fed babies who can get constipated due to the milk residue in the colon. When these infants become toddlers and given a more solid diet later on, then they can be more prone to getting constipation.

For babies with really tight anus and who regularly experiences discomfort when passing stool, it is best to have a rectal examination by a trusted doctor to make sure there is no obstruction in the anus.

So how is constipation in children treated? One way of avoiding and treating child constipation is to improve his diet. There are mothers and even doctors who recommend the mixture of Karo syrup, the one used for hotcakes, with the baby?s milk. The intake of fruit juices like apple or prunes may also help in loosening the stool.

Always seek your pediatricians advice.

The author is a regular contributor to Constipation Gone where more resources are freely available.

Using psyllium for relieving constipation

If you have asthma, do not take or use psyllium. Some people with asthma have had allergic reactions to psyllium and the powder from psyllium can cause an asthma attack.

Some you may be allergic to psyllium. If you are, you may become constipated or develop dark areas under your eyes.

Psyllium is the fiber part of seed husks from plantain. It is high in a soluble fiber that is called mucilage, so it absorbs water and becomes bulky. It contains almost no insoluble fiber, yet it acts like it has both soluble and insoluble fiber. Stomach enzymes do not easily breakdown psyllium, so it moves into your colon like insoluble fiber.

Psyllium fiber acts on your colon relieving constipation.

In your colon, psyllium activates peristaltic action and helps to clean your colon of any stagnation that has occurred there. By adding moisture to dry hard fecal matter, psyllium helps to move fecal matter through your colon. As psyllium seeds bulk up in your colon, they push against your colon walls stimulating peristaltic action. The soluble fiber in psyllium provides food for good bacteria, which helps them to multiple.

One added benefit of psyllium is its ability to pull toxins out of bowel pockets known as diverticuli.

Psyllium is a popular ingredient in many remedies on the market for relieving constipation. Choose a psyllium product that does not have sugar, maltodextrin, or artificial sweeteners. If possible, buy psyllium in bulk form from a health food store, which may offer it in bins. In this form, it is processed less and usually contains no additives.

Heres how to use for relieving constipation.

For mild constipation, take 1 teaspoon in a glass of juice or warm water 3 times a day.

Work up to taking one teaspoon of psyllium by starting with teaspoon in a glass of water or juice. The next day take teaspoon and so on until you are taking one teaspoon. Do the same when considering taking up to 2 teaspoons of psyllium.

Start by taking 1 teaspoon just before going to bed. After drinking your glass of psyllium seeds, follow this up each time with another 8 oz of clear distilled water.

For moderate constipation, take 2 teaspoons in a glass of juice or warm water daily. Start by taking 2 teaspoons at breakfast time.

It can take up to 3 days to get constipation relief and that depends on the dose you take.

Use psyllium seeds with care. Some cases have been found where psyllium seed parts have lodged in the colon wall, causing an irritation. When using excessive psyllium seeds, it is possible that it can deposit on your colon walls if you have deposited toxic waste there. This adds to the encrustation along your colon wall.

Continue to drink water during the day, up to 4-6 glasses a day, when using psyllium seeds. This helps push the seeds through your colon and not deposit along your colon walls. Remember the seeds bulk up and absorb water and you dont want them to cause constipation by bulking up and getting stuck in your colon.

Use psyllium seeds only long enough for relieving your constipation. Excessive use of psyllium can cause allergic reactions and can cause constipation if used incorrectly.


Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid e-books. He writes a newsletter called natural-remedies-thatwork.com and his information on other topics can be seen at http://www.stop-constipation.comor at http://www.constipation-remedies.for--you.info