Constipation nowadays, is a common occurrence and it affects a significant number of people in the Western world. Specifically, the frequency that it appears is influenced by the age and gender. The percentage of its display through epidemiological studies, is 12.5 23%. It is influenced by several factors, but it is not yet known and mainly it affects women. It also affects older people, due to decreased in food intake, reduced motility, muscle atony of the perineum and various medications.Some causes of constipation
• Lifestyle, such as inadequate food intake or fiber, ignoring or suppressing the feeling of defecation, insufficient exercise, pregnancy.• Drug site effects (eg opiates, anticholinergics, antidepressants)
• Endocrine metabolic diseases(hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia, diabetes mellitus)
• neuromuscular diseases (disease Parkinson, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury-spinal cord, etc.)
• Psychological (depression, anorexia)
• Irritable bowel
• Abuse of laxatives
• Haemorrhoids, fissures, rectal prolapse
Individuals who experience constipation should take general measures around this issue, like for example to be informed about how to deal with it, change their lifestyle by living a more physically active life and enrich their diet with fiber and many fluids. In the situations where the problem is bigger and these changes are not enough to address constipation, then we may apply pharmaceutical or rarely surgical therapeutic approach to the problem. As mentioned above, the dietary management of constipation suggests a daily intake of 25 grams of fiber, which we can take from fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
For instance, prunes and their juice, seems to have a special ability to stimulate bowel movement and also the bran especially from wheat(wheat bran) increases the stool volume by absorbing water and helps in defecation. It is very important that along with the intake of fibers you should increase the fluid intake during the day. Equally important is that you eat breakfast.
So the natural treatment of constipation involves obtaining adequate amount of fiber and fluids along with exercise and the avoiding of suspension for defecation.