You have found this article because you fear that you may be constipated and you want some answers concerning the issue of knowing what to do if you are. You might be surprised that many people who fear that they are constipated really don't meet the criteria for this common ailment.
Regularity is defined as having anwhere from three bowel movements a day to only three bowel movements a week!
You read it right, three movements a week. So if you are having more than three a week you aren't constipated according to medical definition.
If you are under three bowel movements a week you are not alone. There are a reported four million Americans that have this ailment and they are spending over 725 million dollars a year on laxatives to relieve their condition. Laxatives are not a long term solution, there are natural remedies that can give prompt relief.
Most people are under the illusion that all constipation is a result of not having enough fiber in their diet. This is not necessarily true and in some cases taking in too much fiber without adequate fluid intake can actually exacerbate your problem
There are a multitude of subtle causes of this intestinal distress. Here is a quick list..
The answer to the question "what to do if I am constipated?" is not easily answered since each case can be very specific from one individual to another. Here are four suggestions that I would offer you if you want to address this problem beginning today. First, if you are having less than three bowel evacuations a week I would encourage you to visit your physician and to make that priority number one. Since some rare cases of constipation can be caused by cancer it just makes sense to make your doctor aware of your problem. Your physician can review your medications to make sure they are not the source of your suffering. He may even prescribe something that will give you immediate help. Second, increase your intake of water. My health insurance provider is offering discount points if I will consume forty ounces of water a day. There must be something to this water advice! I encourage you to do the same and see if you get some improvement. Third, increase your physical exercise. If you have a sedentary job then you might find great improvement by incorporating a walk into your daily schedule. Fourth, add some fresh fruit to your diet daily. This will increase both soluble and insoluble fiber to your colon and I have real preference for apples but any fresh fruit will do. fresh fruit to your diet daily.
Give these simple suggestions a try and I hope you find the relief you are seeking!
Regularity is defined as having anwhere from three bowel movements a day to only three bowel movements a week!
You read it right, three movements a week. So if you are having more than three a week you aren't constipated according to medical definition.
If you are under three bowel movements a week you are not alone. There are a reported four million Americans that have this ailment and they are spending over 725 million dollars a year on laxatives to relieve their condition. Laxatives are not a long term solution, there are natural remedies that can give prompt relief. Most people are under the illusion that all constipation is a result of not having enough fiber in their diet. This is not necessarily true and in some cases taking in too much fiber without adequate fluid intake can actually exacerbate your problem
There are a multitude of subtle causes of this intestinal distress. Here is a quick list..
- Excessive use of antacids
- Muscle imbalance (pelvic floor problems)
- Food supplements or vitamins (calcium and iron)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Diverticulitis
- Too much sugar
- Too much caffeine
- Lack of exercise
- Lack of water consumption (dehydration)
- Many prescription medications (read the drug disclaimers and side effects)
- Allergy medications
- Too much dairy
The answer to the question "what to do if I am constipated?" is not easily answered since each case can be very specific from one individual to another. Here are four suggestions that I would offer you if you want to address this problem beginning today. First, if you are having less than three bowel evacuations a week I would encourage you to visit your physician and to make that priority number one. Since some rare cases of constipation can be caused by cancer it just makes sense to make your doctor aware of your problem. Your physician can review your medications to make sure they are not the source of your suffering. He may even prescribe something that will give you immediate help. Second, increase your intake of water. My health insurance provider is offering discount points if I will consume forty ounces of water a day. There must be something to this water advice! I encourage you to do the same and see if you get some improvement. Third, increase your physical exercise. If you have a sedentary job then you might find great improvement by incorporating a walk into your daily schedule. Fourth, add some fresh fruit to your diet daily. This will increase both soluble and insoluble fiber to your colon and I have real preference for apples but any fresh fruit will do. fresh fruit to your diet daily.
Give these simple suggestions a try and I hope you find the relief you are seeking!
