Constipation

What is Constipation?

• Constipation is the condition of abnormal bowel movements. It can be described as passing stools less than 3 times a week, hard dry stools or difficulty while passing stools. There is no specific definition of constipation as the symptoms of constipation differ from person to person.
• It is very common and almost everybody gets constipated temporarily.
• When constipation is frequent or constant for several weeks it is called chronic constipation and need medical help to avoid complications like piles, anal fissures, anal bleeding, rectal prolapse etc.

What Are the Causes of Constipation?

• Unhealthy fibreless diet or change in diet
• Inadequate water intake
• Lack of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle
• The side effect of medications like Iron supplements, anti-depressants, antibiotics, diuretics, etc.
• Delaying the urge to pass stools that are most common in children
• Misuse of laxatives
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Hormonal disorders like hypothyroidism
• Diseases like stroke, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes
• Colon or rectum disorders like intestinal obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or diverticulosis
• Weak colon or rectal muscles or colon muscles weakening disorder like Obstructed Defecation Syndrome (ODS)
• Colon cancer
• Severe stress and anxiety
• Post-surgery complication

What Are the Symptoms of Constipation?

• Less than 3 bowel movements per week
• Constant straining while passing stools
• Hard and dry stools
• A feeling of incomplete stool evacuation
• Stomach-ache and cramps
• Feeling of bloating
• Loss of desire to eat
• Feeling nauseous
• Vomiting 
• Extremely foul-smelling faeces and flatulence
• Rectum blockage 
• Anal bleeding
• Pain while passing stools
• Involuntary weight loss

Complications of Chronic Constipation

• Haemorrhoids (piles) are lumps of painful inflamed tissues in the anal region caused by constant straining during a bowel movement in chronic constipation. 
• Hard and dry stools cause tiny tears in the delicate skin around the anus, these tears are called anal fissures.
• Rectal prolapse is caused by straining during bowel movement over a long time, can cause a small amount of the rectum to stretch and protrude from the anus abnormally.
• Faecal impaction is an accumulation of hardened stool due to constipation, that gets stuck in the intestines, particularly in the elderly. If severe and prolonged, it can lead to colonic perforation.
• Chronic constipation also increases the risk of developing a sigmoid volvulus or ‘twist’ of the colon.
• Chronic constipation also deteriorates the mental health of the patient, which can affect the cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems.

Are You Eligible for Constipation treatment? When to see the doctor?

• Constipation is very common and it is normal to get constipated. Anyone irrespective of age or gender can be affected by constipation. But chronic constipation (being constipated for 3 weeks or more) needs medical attention and the underlying cause must be diagnosed and resolved.
• Visit the doctor immediately if you are constipated and experiencing one of the following symptoms:
• Anal or rectal bleeding
• Blood in stools
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Vomiting 
• Lower back pain
• Inability to pass gas
• Involuntary weight loss 
• Consult our experienced proctologist at MEDSTAR, to rule out the cause of constipation and the best-suited treatment option for you.

Why choose MEDSTAR for Constipation treatment? The MEDSTAR Advantage

Our proctologist Dr Ashwin Porwal and Dr Sailesh Matkar at MEDSTAR are highly experienced in treating patients with chronic constipation. Dr Ashwin Porwal has invented the treatment plan for chronic constipation which includes modern science, age-old Ayurveda and Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy known as MCDPA for an effective and long term cure.

Our clinical team use several advanced techniques to rule out the exact cause of constipation which results in precise diagnosis and effective treatment of constipation in Dubai. At our centre, we have the facility of Proctoscopy, Colonoscopy, Anal Manometry, MRI Defecography, blood tests and food intolerance test.

• Constipation treatment results can be maximized by eating a fibre-rich diet, regular exercise and adequate water intake.
• Follow the instructions, diet, exercise and medication regimen properly.
• Consult the doctor if you experience abnormal symptoms like severe pain, bleeding or abdominal cramps post-surgery.

After successful treatment of constipation, our patient can expect an improved quality of life. Being constipated affects both the physical as well mental health of the patient. The use of new and research-based procedures makes our patient not worry about bowel movements anymore.

What is the normal consistency of stools?

Stools should be soft and must pass easily without straining a lot. Eating a fibre-rich diet, adequate water and an active lifestyle helps in maintaining the non-straining consistency of stools. Medications like diuretics can cause hard and dry stools. Hard and dry stool that require lots of straining is considered constipation. 

Do laxatives help?

Laxatives are a safe and relatively inexpensive option but work only for people with very mild constipation. Sometimes overuse or misuse of laxatives can worsen the situation. They must be used on the advice of the doctor only, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, with any medical condition and its ongoing medications.

When to see the doctor for constipation?

Consult the doctor if you have been constipated for more than 6 weeks and other treatment of lifestyle change and laxatives are not helping.

Also, visit the doctor immediately if you are constipated and experiencing one of the following symptoms:

• Anal or rectal bleeding
• Blood in stools
• Abdominal pain
• vomiting
• Fever
• Lower back pain
• Inability to pass gas
• Involuntary weight loss 

What are the diagnostic procedures for constipation?

• The diagnosis of constipation is based on symptoms presented but investigations are required to evaluate the underlying cause in case of chronic cases of constipation.
• Following tests are used for evaluating the cause of chronic constipation:
• Rectal examination or Proctoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Anal Manometry 
• MRI Defecography 
• Blood tests 
• Food intolerance test

How does physiotherapy help with constipation?

Weakened pelvic floor muscles can also cause constipation. These muscles are strengthened by the regular exercises of pelvic floor muscles which results in regular bowel movement.  Also, physiotherapy exercise helps in regulating the movement of colons. Our treatment plan at MEDSTAR also includes the session of physiotherapy for such exercises.

Can surgery resolve my constipation?

Most constipation conditions can be resolved with diet, lifestyle changes and laxative therapy. Surgery is required in cases of constipation due to a slow-moving colon or blocked colon that has failed all medical treatments and physiotherapy. 

At MEDSTAR, our proctologists aim for changing the lifestyle of the patient before recommending surgery option.

What is the normal frequency of bowel movement?

Normal bowel frequency can range from three bowel movements per day to three bowel movements per week. Bowel movement frequency is affected by a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, inadequate water intake, medications and medical condition of the patient. Less than 3 bowel movements per week are considered constipation and when it lasts for more than 3 weeks it becomes chronic constipation requiring medical treatment.

Is bleeding during the passage of stools is caused by constipation?

• One of the reasons for blood in stools can be constipation as hard dry stools can tear up the inner lining of the anus or rectum. This bleeding is mild and usually stops itself as soon as the tear is healed. 
• But if bleeding is constant, consult the doctor immediately. It can be a sign of haemorrhoids, anal or rectal cancer, stomach or colon ulcers etc. 

Is constipation age-specific?

No, constipation is not age-specific. Anyone can get constipation irrespective of age or gender. Nowadays almost everybody is affected by constipation due to a low fibre diet, inadequate water intake, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity and habits of smoking. Constipation is also caused by medicines like diuretics, medical conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and complication of surgeries.