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Check nowConstipation is a common digestive complaint that can, if it persists, lead to health problems such as haemorrhoids. When diagnosing the condition, doctors rely on symptoms such as reduced bowel movements, bloating or abdominal cramp. These symptoms can vary from person to person but normally feelings of constipation fade within a few days. Here, our digestive expert Ali Cullen explains the symptoms of constipation and how they can be reduced using herbal remedies and conventional medicines.
Constipation is a very common symptom and is one that most of us will have experienced and understood. It can arise as an occasional bout, or be a more permanent feature of your health.
In itself, constipation is not usually a major health problem. However, it can lead to conditions such as haemorrhoids and diverticulitis. So, although constipation can be an embarrassing topic, it is important that you discuss your bowel habits with your doctor if you have the problem.
This is one of the more common questions asked by doctors and naturopaths when taking a medical history.
Many definitions of constipation have been made in the past, but no universal agreement exists on how the condition is diagnosed. An attempt at a standard definition for constipation (and other digestive conditions) was made with the introduction of the ‘Rome criteria’ in 1988.
You are said to be constipated if, over a 3 month period, you have experienced at least 2 of the following:
Apart from going to the toilet less frequently, people describe the symptoms of constipation as:
Less specific symptoms include:
For most people, symptoms of constipation come and go depending on lifestyle or dietary factors. They often resolve with a change of diet but some people may need to resort to the temporary use of laxatives in order to kick-start bowel movements.
If you suffer chronic or long-standing constipation symptoms, seek help from your doctor.
Passing blood in your stools should always be considered a serious matter and one which you should seek help for, from your doctor.
Blood in stools can appear red and liquid (runny), or it can be mixed in with your stools making them look tar-like or black. Constipation can lead to blood in stools due to 2 main reasons:
In addition, seek help from your doctor if you suffer from long-standing constipation and notice any unexplained weight loss, sudden or abnormal tummy pains or suddenly develop diarrhoea.
Herbs have been used to help people with constipation for many years. In general, they work by either increasing the volume or bulk in the bowel (bulking agents) or increasing the muscle activity of the bowels (stimulants).
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Check the health of your digestive system using our simple test.
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