Although treatment for constipation depends on the cause, severity, and duration of the condition, dietary and lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms in most cases and can also help prevent constipation in the future.
Making Dietary Changes to Treat Constipation
A diet with enough fiber (20 to 35 grams each day) helps form soft, bulky stool. This makes the stool easier to pass. A doctor or dietitian can help you plan an appropriate diet that is high in fiber. High-fiber foods include:
* Beans
* Whole grains and bran cereals
* Fresh fruits
* Vegetables such as asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and carrots.
For people who are prone to constipation, limiting foods that have little or no fiber (such as ice cream, cheese, meat, and processed foods) is important as a way to prevent constipation.
Lifestyle Changes for as a Constipation Treatment
Other changes that can help prevent and treat constipation include:
* Drinking enough water and other liquids such as fruit and vegetable juices and clear soups
* Engaging in daily exercise
* Reserving enough time to have a bowel movement.
In addition, the urge to have a bowel movement should not be ignored.
Treating Constipation With LaxativesMost people who are mildly constipated do not need laxatives. However, for those who have made dietary and lifestyle changes and who are still constipated, doctors may recommend laxatives or enemas for a limited time. These constipation treatments can help retrain a chronically sluggish bowel. For children, short-term treatment with laxatives, along with retraining to establish regular bowel habits, also helps prevent constipation.
A doctor should determine when a person needs a laxative and which form is best. Laxatives taken by mouth are available in liquid, tablet, gum, powder, and granule forms. They work in various ways, including:
* Bulk-forming laxatives
* Stimulants
* Stool softeners
* Lubricants
* Saline laxatives.
Bulk-Forming Laxatives
Bulk-forming laxatives are generally considered the safest, but can interfere with absorption of some medicines. These laxatives, also known as fiber supplements, are taken with water. They absorb water in the intestine and make the stool softer. Brand names include Metamucil®, Citrucel®, Konsyl®, and Serutan®.
Stimulants
Stimulants cause rhythmic muscle contractions in the intestines. Brand names include Correctol®, Dulcolax®, Purge®, and Senokot®. Studies suggest that phenolphthalein, an ingredient in some stimulant laxatives, might increase a person’s risk for cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a ban on all over-the-counter products containing phenolphthalein. Most laxative makers have replaced or plan to replace phenolphthalein with a safer ingredient.
Stool Softeners
Stool softeners provide moisture to the stool and prevent dehydration. These laxatives are often recommended to treat constipation that occurs after childbirth or surgery. Products include Colace® and Surfak®.
Lubricants
Lubricants grease the stool, enabling it to move through the intestine more easily. Mineral oil is the most common example.
Saline Laxatives
Saline laxatives act like a sponge to draw water into the colon for easier passage of stool. Laxatives in this group include Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia® and Haley’s M-O®.
People who are dependent on laxatives need to slowly stop using them. A doctor can assist in this process. In most people, this restores the colon’s natural ability to contract.
Other Constipation Treatments
Treatment for constipation may be directed at a specific cause. For example, the doctor may recommend discontinuing medication or performing surgery to correct an anorectal problem, such as rectal prolapse.
People with chronic constipation caused by anorectal dysfunction can use biofeedback to retrain the muscles that control release of bowel movements. Biofeedback involves using a sensor to monitor muscle activity, which is simultaneously displayed on a computer screen. This allows for an accurate assessment of body functions. A healthcare professional uses this information to help the patient learn how to use these muscles.
Surgical removal of the colon may be an option for people with severe symptoms caused by colonic inertia. However, the benefits of this surgery must be weighed against possible complications, which include abdominal pain (stomach pain) and diarrhea.