Health
Constipation: These causes are behind a sluggish bowel
19.11.2022, 14:29
| Reading time: 6 minutes
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Düsseldorf.
Many people suffer from constipation. But even small changes in everyday life can get the digestive tract going again.
Anyone who thinks that they have to have a bowel movement several times a day is wrong: Some people only have it three times a week – and according to experts, this is also a normal condition in many cases. The difficulties usually start as soon as the usual rhythm in the body changes and stomach pain appear.
The Gastro-Liga – an independent expert organization dedicated to fighting diseases of the stomach, intestines and liver, as well as metabolic and nutritional disorders – states that in Deutschland three percent of the population are young, eight percent are middle-aged and 20 percent are older constipation leiden.
A survey by the independent statistics portal Statista showed that 23 percent of people who take monthly Stomach and intestinal problems suffer constipation Women are affected more often than men. Read about this: Bowel problems in women – How to find help
Rare bowel movements: psychological causes of constipation
“This affects women more often than men because they usually have weak connective tissue,” says Victoria Fernandez-Jesberg, a proctologist and thus a specialist in rectal problems. “After several births, the body and thus also the colon change,” says the senior physician at the clinic for visceral, minimally invasive and oncological surgery in the Marien Hospital in Düsseldorf.
Talking about the constipation is often difficult for those affected – because digestion is still a taboo subject that people struggle with in the “quiet place”. “Even small changes can be helpful,” says Fernandez-Jesberg. Although she is a surgeon, she only wants to use a scalpel when there is no other option. And first try to find out the possible causes of the constipation in special consultation hours with questions.
According to the expert, they can too psychological be. Has anything changed in life? A breakup, a new job, parents in need of care? Does he falter? bowel movement maybe in this context? How often do patients actually go to the toilet and what happens when they do so? All of these are questions that need to be resolved. “Most people don’t even know the feeling of feeling bloated. From their point of view, it suddenly appeared,” says the proctologist, describing typical cases. Also interesting: Why constant stress is so dangerous
Constipation: Change in diet as a common cause
Case study 1: The slim woman in her early 30s who suddenly finds herself in a different situation due to her career change. Before that, she mostly sat in the office, drinking several coffees and a liter of water during the day. Now she is constantly on the move as a personnel consultant – on the one hand that means stress and on the other hand she often doesn’t know where the nearest one is Toilette located. Consequently, she avoids drinking to avoid embarrassment. The problem of constipation develops gradually.
“In this or comparable new life situation, there are two options: One means to stop the situation – which would mean accepting a quieter office job again,” explains Fernandez-Jesberg. According to the expert, the other would be a slow change in the eating habits, until those affected have possibly gotten used to the new circumstances. “So always have a drink with you and dare to ask the way to the toilet even in strange places,” she recommends doctor. Also read: Public toilets – Sanifair raises prices
Intestine: The protuberance can be removed with the help of an operation
Case study 2: The woman around 60, mother of two children, who constantly has the feeling that a kind of table tennis ball is stuck in her intestines. He doesn’t seem to be emptying completely and she has to help with her finger. “In such cases, a bulge has often formed in the intestinal wall, in which part of the stool remains,” explains proctologist Fernandez-Jesberg. On the other hand, no help pelvic floor exercisesbecause this phenomenon is irreversible.
Instead, she advises a small one surgical intervention through the anus using the keyhole method: “We pull the bulge inwards into the intestine, remove it and sew up the tissue.” Since the intestine has no nerves at this point, there is usually no pain, she reassures.
Sluggish intestines: Eating the wrong diet or not exercising enough lead to constipation
In addition to the causes described in the case studies, there are a number of other possible reasons for constipation that affect men and women alike. “Like too few fiber in the daily diet or too little exercise,” says Alexandra von Herbay, chief physician of the clinic for internal medicine at the St. Vincent Hospital in Düsseldorf. “A tumor can also be responsible for the fact that nothing is progressing in the intestine.” With a colonoscopy find out if that is the case.
Ideally, however, the digestive organ gets going again as soon as you provide it with whole grain bread instead of stuffing white bread, eat bananas or chocolate sparingly and prepare yoghurt with wheat bran instead. In addition, the chair can be reduced with the help of magnesium-containing drinks or psyllium husks, which are found in the Drug store to buy there, be made softer. Read here: Vegetarian and vegan for kids – is that healthy?
Constipation: Medications can also be to blame
Also take a look at the package insert medicationthat you take can be helpful: For example, painkillers such as morphine or psychotropic drugs can affect digestion. It may be necessary to talk to the doctor treating you about the dosage or a change in medication. In addition, there is also the possibility of regulating the bowel movement with medication.
However, both experts advise against taking laxatives regularly. “They can only be taken on holiday at short notice, if they are alien Food cause constipation,” says Victoria Fernandez-Jesberg. Alexandra von Herbay adds: “In the long run, they can make the intestines even more sluggish and should only be used after consulting a doctor.”
This article first appeared on morgenpost.de.