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www!.webmd!.com/digestive-disorders/featur!.!.!.
"Chronic Constipation: Facts vs!. Myths"--by Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD

Chronic Constipation: What Is It!?
The definition of chronic constipation varies among different people!. For some people, chronic constipation means infrequent bowel movements for weeks at a time!. To others, chronic constipation means straining or having difficulty passing stools!. Generally, the definition of chronic constipation is a stool frequency of less than three per week that lasts several months!.

Chronic Constipation Myth: If you don't have one bowel movement a day, it's abnormal!.
The Truth: Less than 50% of people have one bowel movement a day!.

Chronic Constipation Myth: Fewer than five or six bowel movements a week is considered to be chronic constipation!.
The Truth: 95% of adults have bowel movements between three and 21 times per week!. The entire range -- even just three bowel movements a week -- is normal!.

Chronic Constipation Myth: Toxins accumulate in the intestine when bowel movements are infrequent!.
The Truth: Contrary to popular belief, there is NO evidence that "toxins" accumulate when bowel movements are infrequent or that constipation leads to disease such as cancer!. However, if you are still constipated after trying fiber, laxatives, or milk of magnesia, it is time to consult a doctor for an evaluation!.

Chronic Constipation Myth: The number of bowel movements increases with age!.
The Truth : Actually, the number of bowel movements decreases with age!.

Chronic Constipation Myth: Chronic constipation does not affect that many people!.
The Truth:Chronic constipation is a serious issue, affecting 15% to 20% of the U!.S!. population!.

6 Keys to Relieving Chronic Constipation:
1!. GET REGULAR --Go to the bathroom at the same time each morning!. Make this your morning "habit," as colonic motor activity is highest at this time!.
2!. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY--Don't ignore the urge to go!. Peristalsis of the bowel -- the movements that trigger a bowel movement -- come and go!. If you ignore this urge, you may lose the opportunity!. The longer stool stays in the bowel, the harder it gets as more water is reabsorbed, and the more difficult it is to expel!. The urge to defecate also increases after mealtime, so take advantage of your body's signals!.
3!. RELAX !!--Because STRESS can interfere with relaxation of the whole body, including the bowels, it's important to use some type of relaxation technique daily, like meditation or yoga!.
4!. INCREASE FLUIDS-- It's recommended that you drink at least eight glasses of liquid (preferably water) each day!. Drink more on hot days and when you are exercising!.
5!. BULK UP YOUR DIET--Dietary fiber and bulk fiber laxatives such as psyllium or methylcelluose -- taken with plenty of fluids -- work well for relieving chronic constipation!.
Harris H!. McIlwain, a Tampa-based rheumatologist, believes that wheat bran is the most effective fiber in relieving chronic constipation!. "Wheat bran adds bulk to the stool and increases the rate of movement of the stool through the bowel," says McIlwain!.
6!. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT MEDICATIONS--
Medications and laxatives can help relieve constipation, but they must be taken carefully and for short periods of time!. Consult with your doctor before taking any medication!.

Chronic constipation may be associated with normal or slow stool transit time, functional defecation disorder (dyssynergic defecation) or a combination of both!. With slow-transit constipation, there is a prolonged delay in the transit of stool through the colon!. Dyssynergic or outlet obstruction (also called pelvic floor dyssynergia) is characterized by either difficulty or inability to expel the stool!. With pelvic floor dysfunction (dyssynergic defecation), the muscles of the lower pelvis that surround the rectum (the pelvic floor muscles) do not work normally!. A third type of constipation occurs with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) where constipation alternates with bouts of diarrhea!.

If you're a baby boomer born between 1946 and 1964, you may wonder if chronic constipation tends to increase with age!. As adults age, we tend to become more sedentary, eat and drink less, and take in much less fiber in our daily diet,
all of which are habits that aggravate chronic constipation!.
More problems occur when you are constipated and start depending on laxatives!. Within days, this laxative habit can aggravate the cycle of chronic constipation and the need to take another laxative and then another!.

Not only do lifestyle habits put boomers at risk for chronic constipation, but McIlwain says that many over-the-counter and prescription medications commonly taken to treat arthritis, back pain, hypertension, allergies, and even depression can result in chronic constipation!. "When older adults are treated with multiple medications for health problems, chronic constipation can be the result," says McIlwain!. "The most common medications that aggravate constipation are narcotic analgesics like codeine and Tylenol (Tylenol #3), oxycodone (Oxycontin), proposyphene and acetaminophen (Darvocet), and hydromophone (Dilaudid), which are sometimes used for severe pain of osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, disc disease, and other problems!. Because these stronger pain medications are known to cause chronic constipation, many physicians go ahead and treat the constipation at the same time the pain medications are prescribed -- before chronic constipation develops and becomes severe and unmanageable!."
For people of all ages, certain medications do result in chronic constipation, including some analgesics for pain, antidepressants, and medications to treat hypertension, among others!. Iron supplements that many women of childbearing age take in their daily multivitamin increases the chance of chronic constipation, as can pregnancy!.

What does McIlwain recommend to boomers for relieving chronic constipation!? "Stay active and exercise daily; watch your fluids and drink even when you don't feel thirsty, as older adults sometimes lose this thirst mechanism that alerts us to drink fluids!. Add more fiber to your diet and maybe consider a stool softener, if necessary!."
McIlwain also recommends low-dose Phillips? Milk of Magnesia or Ducolax? Milk of Magnesia to his patients for relieving chronic constipation!.

When to See Your Doctor:
If you have chronic constipation or if constipation is new or is a change in your normal bowel habits, give your doctor a call!. Because chronic constipation may be an early symptom of serious problems such as colon cancer, your doctor will ask about your medical history, perform a physical examination, and then do laboratory testing for screening purposes!. Some medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, irritable bowel syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and diabetes can also cause chronic constipation!. Treating the disease itself may help in relieving chronic constipation!.

Your doctor will perform a rectal examination to look for hemorrhoids or tears caused by straining and will check the function of the anal sphincter muscles!. If your medical history, physical exam, and lab results give no clues as to the cause of chronic constipation, your doctor may order an imaging study of the colon and rectum to rule out more serious problems such as an obstruction!. If your doctor finds that your chronic constipation needs regular medical management, you might consider going to a gastroenterologist with special interest and expertise in the field of constipation!. Assistance from such a health care provider can go a long way towards relieving chronic constipation long term and improving your quality of life!. When you meet with your doctor, have a list of questions ready to ask him or her, and be assertive when describing the signs and symptoms of chronic constipation!.

When Chronic Constipation Is a Warning Sign
Changes in your bowel habits may be a warning sign of a viral or bacterial infection, obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or colon cancer!. If you have one or more of the following symptoms, call your health care provider:

Constipation that lasts for more than two weeks
Severe diarrhea lasting more than two days
Mild diarrhea lasting a week
Unexplained urges to have a bowel movement
Bloody diarrhea
Black or tarry-colored stools


Other sites to see for help:
1!. How to Treat Constipation
Learn about a treatment option for constipation here!.
www!.constipationanswers!.com

2!.www!.webmd!.com articles--Constipation in Adults
Constipation refers to a decrease in the frequency of bowel movements!.!.!.skin changes!? Do you usually prefer the warm weather!? Do you usually feel tired!? Do you have a family history of constipation or!.!.!.
WebMD Medical Reference from eMedicineHealth

3!.Medical history and physical examination for diverticulitis
A health professional usually will take a medical history and perform a physical exam if you have symptoms of diverticulitis!.If!.!.!.health professional usually will take a medical history and perform!.!.!.

4!.Constipation Home Remedy
www!.greattastenopain!.com - End chronic constipation today! Get FREE guide 'Pain-Free In 1 Day'!.

(The article above is nearly word-for-word copy/paste of the webmd site!. The ads mentioned at the end are just on one page of 9 pages of similar ads!.)


My opinion--there may be a family history of chronic constipation but it is NOT from so-called "redneck inbreeding!."Www@QuestionHome@Com

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